INAUGURATION WEEK: Metro plans extra buses for Womxn’s March on Saturday

We’ve received numerous inquiries about transit plans for Saturday, when tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in the Womxn’s March on Seattle. First: No, the Water Taxi will NOT be running – it doesn’t run on Saturdays this time of year and does not add extra service for special events. But Metro will be running extra buses – here’s the announcement they’re making this afternoon:

Plan ahead and leave early if you’re riding King County Metro Transit Saturday to join the Womxn’s March on Seattle. Tens of thousands of participants are expected to attend the event, which will start at 10 a.m. with a rally at Judkins Park. Transit riders should prepare for significant delays.

Metro will operate on a normal Saturday schedule and will have additional buses assigned to provide extra service on key routes. However, those buses will not have regular schedules, will not appear in the Metro’s online Trip Planner or One Bus Away, and will be dispatched based on demand. Riders should prepare for overcrowding and buses that are too full to accommodate more passengers. Sound Transit plans to operate all three-car Link light rail trains and extra trains to help with expected crowds.

Transit riders should use regularly published timetables, plan ahead, allow plenty of time and prepare for traffic delays. Metro will have extra supervisors to monitor crowds in downtown, the International District, and Pioneer Square, and will adjust to accommodate transit needs when possible.

The march is expected to leave Judkins Park at 11 a.m. and proceed through downtown to Seattle Center. Those planning to ride transit to the march can use Metro’s online Trip Planner to find service to the vicinity of Judkins Park. Service that travels to or near the area includes routes 4, 7, 14, 48, and Sound Transit Express routes 550 and 554. When planning your trip, check Metro’s Service Advisories page to find out about any known revisions to your routes.

Transit users also can follow these tips:

· Plan to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion and full buses.
· Prepare for overcrowding on buses.
· If possible, ride transit to locations near Judkins Park and walk into the park. Judkins Park is about 1.3 miles east of the International District along South Jackson Street.
· Prepare for significant delays – as tens of thousands march through downtown, buses may be stopped up to an hour at some locations.
· Have your transit fare or an ORCA card ready
· Sign up for Transit Alerts on Metro’s website.

Metro spokesperson Scott Gutierrez adds these specifics for our area:

For West Seattle residents planning to take transit – depending where their trip starts — they can take the C Line, 21, 120 or 125 to Third Avenue and catch routes 4 or 14 SB on 3rd Avenue. Route 7 also is a possibility but it will get them a few blocks farther from the park.

7 Replies to "INAUGURATION WEEK: Metro plans extra buses for Womxn's March on Saturday"

  • sam-c January 18, 2017 (4:08 pm)

    shoot, was planning on taking water taxi back. Forgot about the winter stoppage.

    I guess the water taxi is only for commuters/ tourists?

    been foiled before, but totally forgot in my planning    

    • WSB January 18, 2017 (4:10 pm)

      This time of year, only for commuters, and only in fairly narrow windows on weekday mornings and afternoons/evenings. But that’s an improvement from a few years ago, when it just shut down completely in winter/early spring.

  • South Park Sassy January 18, 2017 (4:17 pm)

     Another option:  Uber Seattle is offering $5 off uberPOOL trips for anyone participating in the Women’s March on Seattle on Saturday, January 21.  uberPOOL enables people going to the same place at the same time to share the journey.

    Here’s how to access your discounted ride:

    1. Open the Uber app and tap ‘Payment’ then ‘Promotions’
    2. Enter the promo code WMWA2017
    3. Request an uberPOOL ride on Saturday, January 21* and the $5 discount will automatically apply

    *The WMWA2017 promotion is available for uberPOOL only and will be available for rides that start or end at Judkins Park or Seattle Center on January 21 between 8 am and 4 pm.
    This promotion is good for new and existing users. This code will NOT work before Thursday, January 19.

  • Jay Koster January 18, 2017 (4:39 pm)

    A trick I’ve used in the past is to actually bus south to the Light Rail and then ride that into downtown. It adds a bit more mileage to my route, but takes a LOT of the time delay out.    

    • Kathy January 18, 2017 (5:50 pm)

      50 Bus from Alki/Admiral/Alaska Junction runs every 30 minutes to the SODO Link Light Rail Station.

  • Devon January 19, 2017 (2:13 pm)

    Anyone know why Route 8 isn’t listed as a good option by Metro?

     

  • Valerie Norwood January 20, 2017 (12:30 pm)

    I have same question – Anyone know why Route 8 isn’t listed as a good option by Metro???

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