Sound Transit drops proposal to cancel West Seattle 560 service

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Last night at the Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, board members expressed concern about the possibility Sound Transit might be dropping the West Seattle leg of its Route 560 bus service (as discussed in a recent WS open house). Even before we could write our wrapup of last night’s meeting, we got word from FCA president Bruce Butterfield of a new development – and Bruce Gray from Sound Transit just confirmed it to WSB:

The idea of removing all West Seattle service from the 560 route is off the table.

During the course of our usual public outreach process that’s been going on since early January we’ve heard loud and clear that there are many in the area who value this route and its service to/from West Seattle.

Right now we’re taking a close look at which times this route has the highest use. Eliminating some of the runs with very low ridership could be an option we would recommend to our Board. None of these would be during rush-hour trips.

We encourage riders to contact us at fastride@soundtransit.org or 866-940-4387 to let us know their thoughts about proposed changes to the 560. We will also host a public hearing in the Sound Transit Board room on Thursday, April 2, at noon to hear feedback on proposed service changes. The full Board is expected to take up the matter at their April 23 meeting.

Gray encourages everyone interested in Sound Transit to take an online survey about the 560 and other proposed service changes ST has been considering – find that survey here.

Manuel W. March 11, 2009 (7:13 pm)

My family and I use that bus all the time for airport trips! I will write them — thanks for the notice!

sa March 11, 2009 (10:10 pm)

That’s funny. Given that WS and Burien likely voted FOR Sound Transit light rail expansion last fall, even though we won’t benefit much at all, you would think they would be looking for ways to make West Seattle and Burien really well connected.

transplantella March 11, 2009 (10:54 pm)

“That’s funny. Given that WS and Burien likely voted FOR Sound Transit light rail expansion last fall, even though we won’t benefit much at all, you would think they would be looking for ways to make West Seattle and Burien really well connected.”
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After he was hit by a car, I spent a lot of time taking my cat to the hospital in Burien from west Seattle.

Three buses are required and minimum of an hour and fifteen minutes of travel time. According to Google maps, from my house to this vet is a distance of about FIVE MILES.
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Great work Metro Transit. Two and a half hours to get ten miles on the bus.

Eilis Flynn March 12, 2009 (8:08 am)

I’ve taken the 560 from West Seattle all the way to Bellevue, and I would do it again. A useful route, and the next time I fly, I’ll even take it to the airport.

And transplantella, if it were up to Metro, we’d be driving or taking a cab, since Metro ends in White Center. Thank goodness for Sound Transit!

E March 12, 2009 (8:57 am)

I use the 560 every time I fly. That can be any time of day not just rush hour. I really hope they don’t cut back this route. It is a very useful one.

J Smith March 12, 2009 (9:22 am)

I use the 560 for airport trips often. So do many people who come from Vashon daily. Perhaps service at 1am not needed? But commute hours needed.

lina March 12, 2009 (12:02 pm)

i love the 560 for airport runs. funny that the airport be one of the easiest places to get to from my home. if i were to commute by bus to work at magnuson park-it would take almost 2 hours to go less than 20 miles. i work 9-10 hour days so unfortunately-spending an additional 4 hours in transit is not an option for me. i wish that there were more buses out of west seattle that didi not all route through downtown.

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