Metro riders: 2 rounds of changes coming up in October

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you ride Metro buses, two events coming up next month may affect the way you get around. Many are wondering how the October 21st-31st Alaskan Way Viaduct closure will affect routes between West Seattle and downtown, and while Metro is working on that, they also want to be sure you keep your eyes on the upcoming October 1st “service change,” just a week and a half away.

One big change will be, as reported here recently, trips will be added to Route 54, which Metro says will mean they’re “increasing frequency from 30 minutes to every 15 minutes during weekday, midday, and Saturdays to match the existing 15-minute service now offered during weekday commute periods. This is a similar level of service that will operate to and from West Seattle when the RapidRide C Line debuts a year from now.” Three other routes with Viaduct connections will get added trips in the October 1st service change – 18 Express, 120, and 358. Then, there are the reroutes on 10 routes, some serving West Seattle, that will start October 1st and last for at least four years, as well as temporary reroutes for that Viaduct closure:

Per Metro’s Linda Thielke, who we contacted today to ask for updates on upcoming changes:

Rerouting some service is another way Metro is working to avoid construction-related congestion. Starting Oct. 1, the Metro routes that currently use 1st Avenue South in the SODO area will have revised routing that is expected to last for at least four years. Routes 21, 22, 37 northbound, 56, 57, 85 Night Owl, 116, 118, 119 and 132 will move from 1st Avenue South to travel on 4th Avenue South between South Lander Street and Edgar Martinez Drive South.

Here’s the online info about the October 1st “service changes.

Last but not least, there are temporary reroutes JUST for the October 21st-31st AWV closure:

During that time, another 11 routes that currently use the viaduct will be rerouted to 4th Avenue South just for the nine-day closure. When the viaduct reopens, those 11 routes will begin using the new viaduct bypass currently under construction. Watch for more information about this closure-related reroute in early October.

Thielke tells WSB that the “turn-by-turn” details of those reroutes are still being finalized.

David September 19, 2011 (11:26 pm)

Once again. Those of us that live on the 35th corridor get ignored by Metro.

M September 19, 2011 (11:56 pm)

David, the extra 21X trips mentioned here
https://westseattleblog.com/2011/05/followup-more-details-on-looming-alaskan-way-viaduct-squeeze
don’t travel on 35th? How many more buses do you want?

David September 20, 2011 (1:10 am)

Sure, the 21X works fine if you need to be downtown by 9:15AM and/or leave downtown no later than 6:10PM. Otherwise you’re stuck with 30 minutes between buses and forced to play lower bridge/train roulette for all trips bound for W. Seattle. Looks like both 120 and 54 will run every 15 minutes and don’t get stuck using the lower bridge.

M September 20, 2011 (1:35 am)

The 120 and 54 are both future RapidRide corridors. They are also two of the routes in Southwest Seattle with the most riders. In fact, the 120 is in or near the top-10 in the entire system. Why would you want Metro to put more buses on routes where they aren’t needed?

And don’t you want to keep those popular buses moving? Not every route can take the viaduct.

As someone who lives on 35th and uses the 21 regularly, I would love to see better service but the ridership isn’t there to justify it. The people on 35th aren’t being ignored.

metrognome September 20, 2011 (2:21 am)

M — the 120 between downtown and the Burien TC is not a future RapidRide corridor, although it will connect with Line F at the Burien TC. Line F will connect the Burien TC and the Renton TC via the Tukwila Link station (where it will also connect to Line A,) the Tukwila Sounder station and S Renton P&R.

J September 20, 2011 (4:51 am)

So the Metro reroutes moving from 1st Avenue South to 4th Avenue South between South Lander Street and Edgar Martinez Drive South are subject to passenger and freight rail traffic?

Jeff September 20, 2011 (5:52 am)

I would like to remind those like Dave that they should be grateful for having a large frequency of buses going through West Seattle. Those of us who live in the unincorporated sections of South King County only have maybe one or two buses that travel in our area, and some of THOSE are habitiually late, such as the 12-late. (128)

JEM September 20, 2011 (10:48 am)

I sure hope they relocate the bus stop in front of Starbucks (1st & Stacey) to the south side of Lander!

M September 20, 2011 (11:11 am)

Thank you, metrognome. Got caught up in my own wishful thinking. Stats remain the same, though. It is a very popular route and one that merits the frequency it has.

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