RapidRide update: Two questions answered

With thousands of new West Seattleites on the way, the forthcoming Metro RapidRide line (dubbed the “C” Line as of June) to West Seattle gets mentioned a lot in development and transportation meetings. Between those meetings, though, a few questions keep surfacing. For one, in a few of those meetings, we’ve heard the year 2010 mentioned for RR’s start, rather than 2011. For two, some have wondered if the plan was still on to have the RR line end at Westwood Village, rather than Fauntleroy or even Morgan Junction, the other two options. We took those questions to Metro’s Jack Lattemann, and here are his answers:

1. The implementation year for West Seattle RapidRide has not changed – it is still 2011. However, as part of discussions with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) about potential mitigation actions during various stages of the upcoming first phase of Alaskan Way Viaduct construction, a number of transit routes have been identified for potential service enhancements. One of the potential mitigation actions could be upgrading Route 54 to 15-minute service when major construction activities begin in 2010, ahead of the implementation of full West Seattle RapidRide service in 2011.

2. The recommendation of both the project staff and the community-based West Seattle RapidRide Advisory Panel is for the southern terminus of the West Seattle RapidRide to be Westwood Village. Community input received during last winter’s public outreach favored a terminus at Westwood Village. Staff anticipates that the King County Council will take action on the West Seattle RapidRide routing in the first half of 2009 to allow the planning for RapidRide station and bus stop facilities
to continue to move forward.

HighlandParkster September 29, 2008 (2:50 pm)

1. ok.
2. Hooray!

mickeymouse September 29, 2008 (4:29 pm)

I am very frustrated with this rapid ride layout. Tell me why it can serve the ferry dock but not come farther north than alaska street. What about all of us who would love to have this option and live north of the junction. Does the rest of west seattle not count for anything???? Is vashon more important than admiral?

sandra September 29, 2008 (4:32 pm)

Thank you WSB. I was wondering which location had been recommended as the southern terminus. The Westwood Village terminus would be much better than the ferry terminal location, from my perspective!

Kevin September 29, 2008 (10:52 pm)

mickeymouse,
The layout of the current RR proposal does concentrate on the south end of West Seattle, but one thing that seems to get lost in all of the talk is that this past year’s efforts were the first stage of planning.
During my time on the citizen advisory panel, we were told that late 2009/early 2010 would start a new round of planning that focused on addressing and reorganizing bus service to all of West Seattle with the incorporation of the new line.
Be sure that a number of us on the panel, and many many people who came to the open houses, made it abundantly clear that Metro could not implement this plan and then ignore the rest of the West Seattle.
Given the response and attention Mr. Latteman and his staff paid to the concerns of the community in the first round, I have confidence that Metro will address concerns about the north side in due time.
Rapid Ride is still a couple years away. Government agencies have never been known for their quick action, so a little patience is expected to be needed. If you have concerns, the Metro staff has been very open to questions and ha listened to all comments. Write them, call them, reiterate your concerns. But know that they are considering many options for all of West Seattle. Rapid Ride is not planned to be a single route in isolation, what we were told is that it is being planned as a cornerstone of a whole new system.

WSB September 29, 2008 (11:06 pm)

That reminds me, it’s worth noting again that some of the Viaduct scenario/options have alluded to a potential Delridge RapidRide route. Its future may be a little murkier now because of funding issues, but as the previous poster mentions, the “C Line” is supposed to be just the start – TR

Map Geek September 30, 2008 (9:50 am)

mickeymouse, To add to what Kevin said, I had asked a similar question at one of the open houses. One route they are looking at reworking is the 128…possibly expanding the time that it operates and increasing the frequency.

ward September 30, 2008 (1:51 pm)

Big deal!! Rapid ride will not serve the north and west sections of West Seattle. The rest of the routes that will be reworked will result in a reduction of service for West Seattle as they will be rerouted to force a transfer to the Rapid Ride route!! You heard it here first — A net loss in service for us. Get real Map Geek, WSB, Kevin, HighlandParkster.

doglover October 1, 2008 (8:55 pm)

I grew up in Portland riding the Max, then lived in Mexico City, which has an amazing metro. Now I’ve put down roots in West Seattle, which I love. But can someone tell me why we don’t have light rail out here? Seems like the perfect place for it – especially if they’re going to work on or tear down the Viaduct.

Grant October 2, 2008 (7:03 pm)

I really, really wish that Metro would do a better job of communicating with the public. Sadly, rather than having a consistently updated website, Metro touches bases with the public once every sixth months with ‘outreach’ and then the project basically disappears for an indeterminate period. Folks with questions have to rely on old info on the site or take it upon themselves to contact Metro instead.

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