About Arbor Heights: Route 22 tweak, and Metro’s next steps

Thanks to a tip and photo from Vic, we reported Sunday night that Metro has made a change to Route 22 service through Arbor Heights. The question remained – what else is Metro doing about adjusting Arbor Heights service? Here’s an update from county spokesperson Jeff Switzer, starting with the formal announcement of last weekend’s change:

King County Metro Transit has revised the last evening trip for Route 22 in West Seattle to make the service more consistent.

The last evening trip from Alaska Junction now continues beyond 26th Avenue Southwest and Roxbury Street, turns west on Southwest 106th Street, turns north on 35th Avenue Southwest and right on Roxbury Street. The bus then goes out of service.

The change went into effect last week, and was added to the Metro online trip planner Oct. 27. The information will be updated in the February 2013 printed timetable.

Metro staff also are reviewing other options for Route 22 that would provide service through Arbor Heights. This will require additional operating funds, which must come from Metro’s limited service contingency. Any change to the routing would most likely take place in conjunction with an upcoming Metro service and schedule change. These changes occur three times per year: February, June, and September.

The Arbor Heights cuts were a big topic two weeks ago at Sustainable West Seattle‘s Transportation Forum, and a Metro rep said there that they expected to make changes.

7 Replies to "About Arbor Heights: Route 22 tweak, and Metro's next steps"

  • anonyme October 30, 2012 (3:42 pm)

    Many buses have been added to other routes in recent weeks. Did all of these “require additional operating funds”? Why were these additions – which involve entire runs to downtown and further – not postponed until February, or longer? In the meantime, ANY change to Arbor Heights service must wait, despite the fact that we have only an hourly local shuttle? This sounds like jive talk to me, a way to make more empty excuses sound “official”.

  • Joe October 30, 2012 (10:04 pm)

    If you want bus service to Arbor Heights don’t vote for Tim Eyman trash like his 2/3 measure. That’s why we can’t raise the revenues for proper bus service, along with crippled schools and a crippled damn near everything else…

  • M October 31, 2012 (12:35 am)

    Many, Anonyme? Specific examples? They added buses to the 55, 120 and RR C and those buses came from contingency hours that Metro had set aside for just the reason they were added. Apart from those, what other routes have had “many buses” added?

  • anonyme October 31, 2012 (6:35 am)

    Those ARE the routes I was referring to. My question was how/why some routes get beefed up with no waiting time, while others are required to wait indefinitely. It’s a reasonable question for riders to ask; Metro insiders may have the real answers, but Arbor Heights residents are short on both answers, and service.
    The above response does reveal that Metro apparently knew in advance that these routes had been short-sheeted and would probably require additional buses depending on the outcry.

  • luckymom30 October 31, 2012 (12:36 pm)

    Question? Why is it that Admiral now has more route 55 buses that are a direct route to downtown Seattle, but Arbor Heights has no direct service to downtown?? Just saw more neighbors hike down 35th to Barton, most have multiple backpacks, some have luggage. If I did not know about the sucky bus service I would guess they are all going camping! At the very least Metro could have planned the #22 from Arbor Heights to Westwood Village so residents could catch a direct route to downtown.

  • Mickymse October 31, 2012 (4:38 pm)

    As has been pointed out here before, that is EXACTLY what some proposed at public meetings, luckymom30 — cut off the Downtown portion of the route to maintain service and frequency up to Arbor Heights.
    .
    Unfortunately, far too many 22 riders complained that they wanted to keep their one-seat ride to Downtown instead of having to transfer at the Junction or 35th & Avalon.
    .
    Anonyme is right that this plan was intentional by Metro, and they were pretty open and public about it. If significant numbers of Arbor Heights residents were opposed to the changes, then there was ample opportunity to make their voices heard.

  • Chad N October 31, 2012 (8:55 pm)

    Luckymom30 – Arbor Heights still has direct service to downtown during peak hours on the 21X, via the viaduct. Off-peak, the 22 provides an hourly shuttle from Arbor Heights to Westwood Village (transfer to the 120 for downtown) and the Junction. Metro has the route maps on their website.

    anonyme – In adding emergency service Metro has been responding to overloads: i.e., every seat on the bus taken, a line of people packed from the very back of the bus to the entrance, and people being left at stops because there was no more room. If the 22 had those conditions, Metro would be adding extra runs.

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