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| Proposed stops and stations for Line E |
King County Executive Dow Constantine has recommended the alignments and station locations for RapidRide E, King County Metro's Bus Rapid Transit service that will go from Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline to downtown Seattle starting in September 2013,when it will replace current Metro route #358 that travels between those two points.
According to King County Metro: "Between the Aurora Village Transit Center and downtown Seattle, the preferred E Line alignment will primarily follow the path of current Route 358. The one exception is southbound between Winona Avenue N and N 63rd Street, where the E Line will stay on Aurora Avenue N instead of serving Linden Avenue N as Route 358 currently does.
"Metro is in discussions with the City of Seattle to site a RapidRide stop on Aurora Avenue N near N 66th Street. If the city does not allow us to put southbound RapidRide stop on Aurora Avenue N, the southbound E Line will use the same route as current Route 358, with a single southbound stop on Linden Avenue N.
"There will be nearly 30 stations and stops along the E Line, spaced an average of 2,100 feet apart (not including stops in downtown Seattle). Stops are spaced closer together along parts of the route where land use suggests higher passenger turnover, and farther apart along parts with few transit attractions."
Between this fall and next spring, public input will be sought regarding connections to the RapidRide E Line, with construction of shelters, signage, ORCA card readers, etc. starting next spring.
Alas, the Rapid Ride looks like it will not hold up to it's name. Stops every few blocks, and a myriad of stops along Queen Anne doesn't seem like much of an improvement over the 358.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't there be a fast way for the people of Shoreline to get to downtown Seattle other than going to Lynnwood or Northgate and catching the express buses. Why no express from our transit center?
There is the 301 which is an express during rush hour to downtown seattle.
ReplyDeleteMy concern this is just a rebranding of the 358 since it mostly takes the same path and just seems to be a waste of money. Why not move the bus stops and be done with it?
Rebrand an existing line - what a waste. The whole idea of RapidRide is to stop the block to block service of Metro. Federal Funds to expand this program aren't supposed to be used like this.
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be the service hours aren't there, wrapped up instead in the RapidRide hours. Remember that Shoreline and LFP and Seattle form a single subarea for transit planning purposes. Perhaps the Shoreline city council folks should be speaking up for an express bus? I would imagine they are instead focusing their energies on the light rail planning, though.
ReplyDeleteand a PS for everyone complaining this is a waste - Shoreline asked for the stop frequency, my guess would be with an eye for further development along Aurora and local ridership.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the proposed map eliminates the stops near 185th and Aurora. Those stops are around the corner from the bus lines that go into Richmond Beach and/or past the Bartells.
ReplyDeleteInstead the nearest stop would be at 175th and Aurora, which has no lines going west/east from Aurora.
(The 301 does turn at 175th and Aurora, but that is a commuter line during rush hour.)
That part doesn't make sense to me.
Yes, the #301 goes from Aurora Village and Shoreline Park & Ride to downtown via 175th, it takes about 20-30 minutes in good traffic. There is some off-peak service on this route, too. Unfortunately, Metro has them depart as far away from Community Transit's Swift BRT buses as possible, though!
ReplyDeleteIt is a rebranding. The City of Shoreline is the culprit for 12 stops in 3 miles, which is almost as many as Swift has (15) in its 17 miles from Aurora Village to Everett! I suggested to Metro: cutting it to 6 stops and moving existing service hours to cover the local stops for the part of Aurora without other coverage, e.g. the #345 could join Aurora at 110th and continue to 160th or even 165th before crossing over to Shoreline Community College...or the peak-only #316 could as well, it going to 175th before crossing east. The suggestions, as usual, fell on deaf ears. When light rail comes to Northgate, let's hope that Shoreline does better in speaking up for hours. They didn't when Sound Transit express bus service was in play, hence we've watched while smaller cities Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood have enjoyed 7-day, both directions, all day bus service.