West Seattle passengers among the first to ride new Metro buses

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Metro sent word on Monday that brand-new hybrid buses had just hit the street, and when the official announcement just mentioned “South King County,” we asked if perhaps that included West Seattle and/or White Center. Turns out – it did! If you rode Route 128 somewhere between Admiral and Southcenter on Monday, you were among the first to ride Metro’s new Orion 40-foot hybrid-electric buses, each costing about half a million dollars but partially paid for by federal “stimulus” funds. Read all about ’em here.

newnative May 24, 2011 (9:40 am)

I saw it! I tried to peek in as I was on foot. It wasl during the after school run and was full by Stevens. It talks.

Admiral935 May 24, 2011 (1:58 pm)

the 128. Waited for it for 15 minutes past its scheduled stop. Waived my arms Obviously at it as IT BLEW PAST MY STOP. So I ran after it to the next stop where it luckily stopped for someone getting off. I asked the driver – why did you blow past the last stop with me obviously waiving at you? She said “bus too full”. Hey Metro PUT THAT IN YOUR SURVEY. The next stop two people got off and 8 boarded. Yeah the bus talks, now the driver can do even less. p.s it’s a Hybrid Electric

LyndaB May 24, 2011 (2:24 pm)

I saw that yesterday and just about twisted my neck trying to get another look. I saw it three times. So nice and shiny!! Oh, does it have stop announcements?

Junctionite May 24, 2011 (3:19 pm)

Does it have nicer seats (like the Sound Transit buses) or is it just green?

B May 24, 2011 (5:23 pm)

Is this metro bus going to be able to do what other buses can’t do…stop at red lights.

JulieS May 25, 2011 (6:00 am)

Most important question ever: Does this “new” 128 have air conditioning? Read the article but it doesn’t say. I was one of the unlucky individuals taking this bus home from Southcenter last summer when it was 90+ degrees out and it was HORRIBLE! I likened it to hell on wheels. Never will I subject myself to that little adventure again.

LB May 25, 2011 (7:29 am)

Here’s some pictures (including the interior) of the new bus:

http://www.cptdb.ca/index.php?showtopic=8826&view=findpost&p=491847

(they aren’t mine)

The seats are different. I haven’t had a chance to ride these new buses yet, so I don’t know if they are any better.

As for air conditioning, I think it does but I’m not 100% certain.

Jayson May 25, 2011 (9:47 am)

I was on one of these buses yesterday. Yes, it has AC, and it does have the stop announcements. And the reason it was so full was that there are fewer seats on this bus than the bus it’s replacing due to the low-floor set up. And the seats are different, which gives it a much roomier feel.

Sorry, comment time is over.