Tukwila Station photo from the ST website
Southeast Seattle isn’t the only area of the county that’s going to see big bus service changes when Link opens: the Pacific Highway corridor will see not only light rail service, but soon afterwards RapidRide. Our coverage of the first proposal is here.
There are changes proposed to the 126, 128, 140, 154, 170, 174, 179, 180, 191, 194, 574, and 577.
- Route 126 is cancelled, replaced by the 140, 154, and light rail.
- Routes 128 and 140 are diverted to serve the Tukwila Link station, avoiding the mess around Seatac. Added frequency on the 140.
- The 154 will terminate at Tukwila Sounder station. Commuters from further south will have to take Sounder, and generally save a ton of time.
- New route 156 would connect Tukwila Sounder, Southcenter, Seatac station, and surrounding areas, replacing the 140’s old service to Seatac.
- Delete the 170 and connect Riverton Heights with Tukwila Link with the new 129.
- Replace the 174 with Rapid Ride A (southern half) and new route 124 (northern half)
- Adjust the 179 to serve the Federal Way TC.
- Minor adjustments to the 180 to serve Air Cargo Rd and the Seatac light rail station.
- Delete Route 191, which nearly exactly matches Rapid Ride A and Link.
- Replace the 194 with the 195, running only when Link is not.
- Increase service on the 574 and 577 to replace the southern part of the 194.
Another round of public comment concludes on February 6, after which the County Council will approve the final plan.
The Metro website has maps, pros and cons, and details on service frequency, as well as feedback methods.
A tangent on that photo -
Presumably the Rainier Valley light rail lines could be converted to bus compatibility, via the same standards in the Bus Tunnel.
Anyone know if that bridge from I-5 towards Sea-Tac could also accept buses?
Nope, the bridge and the RV alignments are not wide enough to ensure safe operations
The Rainier Beach station is center-platform, so buses couldn’t work there anyway.
There are BRT buses with doors on both sides like Eugene EmX that’ll allow center-platform operation.
Also, the tracks and electric power lines, plus the substations are already in place, and Metro’s trolleybuses run on 600 volts, not 1500. Also, we just built the rail line, why convert it to buses?
I hate replying directly to my own comments, but I was wondering if the question was about joint bus/rail use of the Light Rail Line outside the tunnel?
I believe it is being investigated for the D2 roadway (I-90 transit ramps) on East Link. I don’t believe any other current or planned link alignments envision joint bus/rail operations other than the DSTT.
I like the plans, especially the 195.
Would be even better if we did not need the 195, and could run LINK 24-7. Unfortunately, there was not money in the budget for 4 track operation. They need that small nightime maintenance window.
I still do not see why 194 has to go just so Sound Transit can boost its Link numbers.