Metro Seeking Input on RapidRide K

Posted on by Nathan Dickey

After pausing work on RapidRide K (Totem Lake to Eastgate via Kirkland and Bellevue) in 2020, King County Metro has restarted planning and design of the project. Building on the planning effort started in 2019, Metro is seeking community input on various aspects of project design, including walking/rolling access and the siting of a few specific stations. The route is currently expected to start service in 2030.

RapidRide K will replace portions of current routes 239, 250, 255, and 271, and include new features familiar to other recently-opened and upcoming RapidRide lines such as upgrades for reliability, improved bus stations, and increased frequencies.

The survey first asks how the respondent is related to the route, what types of transportation they use most often, how they might be drawn to use public transportation more often, and a few questions about how they would get to and from stations on the route.

Then, it asks for input on routing and station locations, which we discuss here.

Continue reading “Metro Seeking Input on RapidRide K” | 50 comments

Are Metro service cancellations finally declining?

Posted on by Sherwin Lee
Photo via Busologist (Flickr)

Following the COVID lockdowns, many transit agencies had to contend not only with recovering lost riders but also ensuring service reliability and delivery. In addition to the pandemic itself, subsequent crises in staffing and supply chains hit transit systems hard. Drivers and maintenance staff were hard to find and spare parts needed for vehicle maintenance were often held up in other parts of the world.

Even as riders were slowly returning to transit, this double whammy meant that bus trips were often getting cancelled either due to a lack of an operator or lack of a bus. Anecdotally, I experienced this a lot myself throughout 2021-2023. Early on, it was hard to find information about what was cancelled and it wasn’t uncommon to find a scheduled trip never end up going “live” on real-time apps like OneBusAway.

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Boeing Access Road Station Project

Posted on by Martin Pagel

Sound Transit plans to build an infill station at Boeing Access Road (BAR) in Tukwila, in addition to the Graham street infill station. To start the public engagement, Sound Transit opened an online open house and will host an in-person event on Wednesday, July 16th, nearby. Again, they suggested two locations: (A) next to the Sounder tracks along BAR or (B) a bit further south along East Marginal Way South.

Area of potential future BAR station facing north along E Marginal Way South. Photo: Martin Pagel.
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Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 57

Posted on by Nathan Dickey
Last days of bad pavement on the Ballard Bridge. Photo: Nathan Dickey

Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30); RapidRide G (September 14)

Transit Updates:

King County Metro Charts Slow RapidRide Expansion in new project prioritization report.

The Gig Harbor Trolley is running now until August 31.

Pierce Transit is seeking input on its long range plan, Destination 2045.

A couple Link 1 Line downtown tunnel station entrance closures:
– The Pioneer Square Station entrance on 3rd Avenue and Yesler Way (Exit C) will be fully closed until August 9 for maintenance and repair.
– The University Street Station (soon to be Symphony Station) entrance on 3rd Avenue and Seneca Street (Exit C) be fully closed until July 17 for installation of a new electronic messaging sign.

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Graham Street Station Project

Posted on by Martin Pagel

As part of ST3, Sound Transit plans to build an infill station at Graham Street between the Columbia City and Othello stations. To start the public engagement, Sound Transit opened an online open house and will host an in-person event on Tuesday, July 16th, nearby.

Area of future Graham Street station, facing north along MLK Way. Photo: Martin Pagel.
Continue reading “Graham Street Station Project” | 65 comments

Lynnwood Link Begins Simulated Service

Posted on by Nathan Dickey
Eastside Transit video of Lynnwood Link operations testing last week.

In preparation for its August 30 opening, Sound Transit has begun simulating full service on Lynnwood Link as part of its “pre-revenue” testing. Northbound 1 Line trains will operate as usual, showing Northgate as their terminus. However, electronic signage on northbound 1 Line platforms will show the incoming trains as bound for Lynnwood.

Riders will be asked to leave the train at Northgate, then the whole train will continue north to simulate full-frequency service. Riders hoping to continue to Lynnwood will have to transfer to Sound Transit’s Route 512 until the extension opens.

Southbound trains will only accept passengers from the southbound side of platform once they arrive empty from Lynnwood, a welcome change from the previous arrangement of departing trains accepting passengers from whichever side of the platform the train happens to be waiting.

However, current riders don’t have to wait until August 30 to start seeing changes to Link.

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Repaving Begins on Ballard Bridge & 15th Ave NW

Posted on by Nathan Dickey
A southbound RapidRide D bus climbs onto the Ballard Bridge. Photo: Nathan Dickey.

Starting tonight, the stationary portions of the Ballard Bridge and 15th Avenue NW from Leary to NW 57th Street will be getting a major facelift. Associated closures will have significant impacts to buses using the bridge (specifically, RapidRide D, Route 17X, and Route 994 when it operates), and people attempting to walk, roll, drive, or otherwise cross Salmon Bay.

When the project is completed in 2025, there will be a wide planted median between NW 50th and NW 54th streets replacing a southbound lane, a new signalized pedestrian crossing at NW 51st street, and new red-painted bus lanes to help RapidRide D get past a few pinch points in the area (PDF schematic of improvements, here).

SDOT’s rendering of the new pedestrian planned for NW 51st Street, planted median, and red-painted northbound bus lane.
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Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 56

Posted on by Nathan Dickey

Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30); RapidRide G (September 14)

The Joni Earl Great Hall at Union Station is back open to the public, from 8am to 5pm. Photo: Nathan Dickey.

Transit Updates:

More midday water taxi trips for the Vashon Route. Seattle Times ($) says the additional runs hope to make up for reduced WA State Ferries service.

Four Pierce Transit operators join the 1-million-club. The “club” includes operators who have driven 1 million miles or more with zero preventable accidents.

Reconstruction of 15 Ave NW and repaving of Ballard Bridge to start July 8; overnight closures expected. No word on RapidRide D-etours, yet.

Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 56” | 144 comments