Fauntleroy Community Association: RapidRide remains top topic

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

The RapidRide bus-stop plans for the Fauntleroy ferry terminal remained the top topic for the Fauntleroy Community Association as its board met Tuesday night. While board members continue to meet with Metro rep Paul Roybal – who also is scheduled to attend the next meeting (Sept. 14) – they don’t believe their concerns about a potential traffic bottleneck are being addressed. As reiterated at last month’s meeting, they’re worried that will be a result of the current design, which brings traffic past the terminal down to one lane each way. And they’re concerned that many people don’t realize that – nor the potential for more traffic to divert onto 45th SW to avoid it – so time was spent Tuesday night discussing how to raise awareness – possibly via a mailing or door-to-door campaign. FCA also believes Metro is working with inaccurate traffic-flow numbers; while they say the county numbers show 400 cars an hour in the area during peak ferry-traffic hours, FCA’s Susan Lantz-Dey did a car count the past two days, and said she counted at least twice that – even without school in session (there’s dock traffic from West Seattle parents picking up Vashon-school-attending kids). She and FCA president Bruce Butterfield plan to push for a new traffic study. Also discussed: The ongoing discussions about how the county will control Combined Sewer Overflows from the basins that feed Barton (Fauntleroy) and Murray (Lowman Beach) pump stations, with the Barton “green stormwater” meeting last week and ongoing Murray citizens advisory group meetings (FCA board member Vlad Oustimovitch is a Murray group member).

The Fauntleroy Community Association board meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (old schoolhouse).

Michael August 11, 2010 (1:49 am)

All this for a bus that will probably get riders from Fauntleroy to downtown what, 5-10 minutes faster? And still get stuck in traffic?
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When all is said and done, it’s a bus. It’s not a train, it’s not an express lane from here to downtown. Just run a couple of extra normal buses and put the cash towards an actual train that bypasses traffic.

west by southwest August 11, 2010 (7:59 am)

Michael: Actually, RapidRide is slower than the existing 54 Express. That is why it is called RapidRide… welcome to the Brave New World.

elevated concern August 11, 2010 (9:27 am)

It’s a Rapid Ride to the Junction, that’s it. The RR bus will load up at the Junction, follow Alaska, then 35th and eventually make it’s way down Avalon, behind every car and bus ahead of it to downtown. Where’s the route to return to West Seattle? The 54 and 55 take the high bridge back from downtown, so with RR. Why not keep it consistant and avoid Avalon to down town which might make it a little faster at least!

livingundertheWSbridge August 11, 2010 (11:12 am)

I can’t wait for more congestion and gridlock. Oooowiieeeee…

Sue August 11, 2010 (12:42 pm)

I keep hearing that the Rapid Ride is going to replace the 54, but has anyone said if they will be eliminating the 54 Express bus as well? I can’t find anything about it on the Metro site. I’m hoping it doesn’t, as one of the draws to where I live is that it’s right at one of the 54X bus stops and I don’t have to walk up to Alaska for the bus except during non-rush hour when the 54X doesn’t run.

aquatic August 11, 2010 (1:19 pm)

Combine the narrowing of Fauntleroy with the reconstruction of the Barton Pump station, and its required construction vehicles. Road Rage will run rampant!

austin August 11, 2010 (2:37 pm)

Road rage doesn’t come from construction slowdowns, it comes from entitled and impatient drivers. If getting to your destination on time is important, leave sooner.