Is this your downtown bus stop? Metro seeking opinions

Metro is thinking about closing the bus stop on Columbia downtown just east of Second Avenue (map), which serves several routes headed this way. So, in case that’s where you catch the bus – or if you have an opinion as a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian – we’re publishing their call for comments – read on:

Potential bus stop closure on Columbia Street near Second Avenue
People asked to comment on idea by Aug. 12

King County Metro Transit and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are evaluating options to improve traffic flow and transit operations on Columbia Street near the Alaskan Viaduct on-ramp.

One suggestion is to close the bus stop located on Columbia just east of Second Avenue. It currently serves as the last stop for passengers leaving downtown on Metro routes 21 Express, 54, 55, 56 Express, 113, 120, 121, 122, and 125. If this bus stop closes, riders will need to walk four blocks to Third Avenue just south of Seneca Street to board or exit.

This closure is one of several concepts being considered, and Metro and SDOT are seeking initial feedback on the potential impacts to riders and the general public. They are asking people to provide comments about the possible closure of this stop by Friday, Aug. 12. Send email to: customer.comments@kingcounty.gov with Columbia/2nd Ave in the subject line, or call 206-553-3000.

Even if this bus stop remains open, it may be necessary to temporarily close it without prior notice due to traffic conditions. If that happens, Metro staff and signage will direct bus riders to board buses at the stop on Third Avenue south of Seneca Street.

55 Replies to "Is this your downtown bus stop? Metro seeking opinions"

  • Jamie July 22, 2011 (2:20 pm)

    I think it makes sense to go ahead and close the bus stop at 2nd and columbia, it backs the streets up in all directions at the entry to the viaduct, causing extreme gridlock on many days. I would rather see the bus stop permanantly closed than the option that it may be closed on a temp basis due to traffic conditions, this way bus riders can plan ahead if they have to walk a few blocks away to catch the bus vs. missing it.

  • Sue July 22, 2011 (2:37 pm)

    Do you know how many people get on at that stop? I understand the congestion issues, but that’s crazy. And as someone who gets on at the stop right before it (that they’d be directing everyone to), that stop is busy as well. And most of the people I know who get on at 2nd/Columbia are already walking several blocks to that stop, and from the opposite direction of 3rd/Seneca.

  • Josh W July 22, 2011 (2:44 pm)

    oh man… this is gonna suck

  • One More Opinion July 22, 2011 (2:51 pm)

    Closing that stop makes sense for traffic BUT they are going to have to come up with some other solution than 4 blocks back up 3rd. Isn’t that ramp onto the viaduct closing in October or something? If that’s the case, the buses will end up re-routed anyway, correct? Has that been figured out? I’d be interested in the new configuration plans…

  • Norah July 22, 2011 (2:52 pm)

    Thanks for the heads-up. I just sent Metro an email. If they close this stop they at least need to add a stop on Third Ave. before the bus turns onto Columbia. This is a very busy stop.

  • JanS July 22, 2011 (2:56 pm)

    Sue…I guess Metro ASSUMES that we are all able-bodied, and have no problem going a few more blocks. I don’t bus often, but when I do, 2nd and Columbia is always my connecting point to West SEattle.

  • jns July 22, 2011 (2:59 pm)

    You know what? Why don’t we just shut down Metro and all the freeways? Because y’know, traffic. We can all walk or ride bicycles from here on out.

    This may be a very busy bus stop, but it’s a busy intersection at the evening rush hour whether there are busses or not. Traffic turning from 2nd onto Columbia often plugs up traffic as well.

    I’m growing weary of hearing about Metro and the city’s woes.

  • John July 22, 2011 (3:04 pm)

    Close this stop, period. I have written to Mayor fruitcake about this. Huge bottleneck.

  • Diane July 22, 2011 (3:07 pm)

    I use this bus stop often and would hate to see it closed; even late at night there are always lots of folks waiting for multiple buses at this stop; please do not close
    ~
    I have never seen major congestion at this stop; on the other hand, when the same bus heading downtown comes off the viaduct to 1st/Seneca; that’s a nightmare; sometimes takes 2-3 light changes for bus to get through to first downtown stop at 2nd/Seneca

  • Jim P July 22, 2011 (3:11 pm)

    A lot of people use it but a lot of traffic gets tied up there and the buses sometimes make it worse.

    A stop could be done at Third and Columbia just before the turn for many of the buses and i think that’d work. It’s a hefty walk back to the next stop on 3rd for the 120 at least.

  • Amanda July 22, 2011 (3:21 pm)

    Thanks for posting this Tracy! Just sent them an email ;)

  • Lisa July 22, 2011 (3:24 pm)

    Closing this stop will not help the fact that a large part of the problem is the bus having difficulties turning onto Columbia from 3rd due to the traffic, which it will still have to do, and the traffic turning from 2nd onto Columbia one block west of the stop. I take the bus to try and do my part to help traffic congestion and because it is convenient (definitely not a deal at $5 a day.) Why do the bus riders get penalized instead of all of the solo drivers!

  • Jen July 22, 2011 (3:38 pm)

    Completely counterintuitive to trying to get more people to ride the bus vs. use single-occupancy-vehicles. Closing that bus stop because of congestion encourages the exact opposite behavior. “Hey, I know, let’s make it more convenient for cars and less convenient for buses and bus riders. That’ll work!”

  • k2 July 22, 2011 (3:46 pm)

    congestion has nothing to do with the buses…it has to do with the civil engineering.
    You have a 3 lane road that bottlenecks into a 1 lane on ramp to 99.

    that stop is crucial for many people who work south of columbia and need to catch the 120 back to W.Seattle.

    WTF is up with this city?

  • RJB July 22, 2011 (3:52 pm)

    I agree w/ Lisa and I am writing Metro! It is a major bus stop and buses have to turn there anyway…you try and do the right thing by riding the bus and keep your single driver car off the road and they just seem to shut you down at every turn.

  • 56bricks July 22, 2011 (3:55 pm)

    Soon as the tunnel’s done you won’t have to worry about congestion from 99 into downtown.

  • Sue July 22, 2011 (3:57 pm)

    Honestly, the biggest issue with that stop is that they decided to put a bus stop on a street that has a garage driveway (or two). The buses are not allowed to block the driveways (understandably), so they cannot line up the way they line up at the 3rd/Seneca stop for instance, where there are no driveways and 4 buses can be at that stop at once. So a bus will start turning from Third onto Columbia and get stopped in mid-turn because they cannot move up until the previous bus is out of the way.
    And yes, Jan, they assume everybody is able-bodied and it’s no big deal to just walk to another stop. That’s a pretty steep hill there, on top of the several blocks to the next stop. I agree that if they close this stop, another has to be available between Seneca and Columbia.

  • Busser July 22, 2011 (4:02 pm)

    The middle finger that the city is giving West Seattle just keeps getting longer. I already wrote to comment. Not only is this stop convenient, but if I have to catch a late bus I feel safer here – I can stand on the corner in the line of sight or within earshot of the Metropolitan Grill valet staff & customers. If I had to scream or run to people, I know where I can go, and quick. Sorry but with the unpredictable Metro schedule, I don’t want to wait solo for 25 minutes.
    If they have to, they should make Columbia bus-only. Yes, I would hate that too on days I drive but this stop is necessary.
    I hear Greenlake area is nice ;)

  • nmb July 22, 2011 (4:08 pm)

    @John: I’m sure the Mayor will give ample consideration of your well thought out and researched ideas (i.e. “close this stop, period” and “huge bottleneck”) when he receives a letter addressed to “Mayor Fruitcake” (nevermind that Metro’s announcement instructs you to contact Metro and not the Mayor directly). Your mother must be proud of the reasoning skills, politeness and attention to detail that she instilled in you.

  • co July 22, 2011 (4:09 pm)

    This stop serves everyone in West Seattle and Burien that works South of Columbia. Thats a lot of people. If anything is going to change, limit the car traffic before it crosses 3rd and Columbia so the single occupant vehicles don’t get in the way of the hundreds of people getting home on the bus.

  • Cascadianone July 22, 2011 (4:14 pm)

    I am shocked nobody has asked for a road diet in this area yet! LOL.

  • dbsea July 22, 2011 (4:28 pm)

    If this stop is closed then open one on 3rd at the corner of 3rd and Columbia. The existing stop on Columbia DOES suck. Narrow sidewalk, on a hill, buses and cars tie each other up and in the winter it’s a ridiculous wind tunnel.

    I’d love to get on the bus just around the corner on 3rd. If only to get out of the wind.

  • Jake July 22, 2011 (4:30 pm)

    It seems to me that a better solution would be to have only one through lane on Columbia which crosses 1st onto the viaduct ramp. The other two lanes could be a left-turn only, and a “right turn only/buses OK” lane. Because the viaduct ramp merges to a single lane, this will not significantly affect auto mobility. And there’s still room for a bus-only merge lane on the ramp west of Columbia. Cars turning right from 1st could be a problem though…

  • KK July 22, 2011 (4:37 pm)

    I imagine that if you drive your own vehicle to and from downtown, you’d think closing that bus stop would be a great idea. Well, I’m a bus commuter and can’t imagine a worse idea for solving the admittedly bad traffic at Columbia. Commuters of all methods from West Seattle have been totally screwed by all the various construction projects going on between us and downtown. The stop at 2nd and Columbia is the last stop to catch any express bus (of value) to W.Seattle – and for those of us that work south of Columbia, a hike four or more blocks to the north is a huge impact to transit options for getting between full time work and child care. Thanks for the heads up – I’m sending comments in to Metro immediately! I’ve got lots of ideas for options…

  • jedifarfy July 22, 2011 (4:38 pm)

    I’ve been temping a lot this summer and when I’m in Pioneer Square, this is the easier stop to get to. It’s convenient and doesn’t require hiking to 3rd and booking it three more blocks. It’s not the best designed stops, but I’ve seen worse. I’m off to send an email!

  • bmvaughn July 22, 2011 (4:43 pm)

    The problem in that area is the lane shifts. Easy solution… Make that lane bus only (recently happened) and have it end right there. Then put in a bus-lane specific green light and trigger it before the rest of the lanes can cross 2nd. And stop the lane shifting.

    Fixed.

  • Kathleen July 22, 2011 (4:47 pm)

    It should be busses only. It’s amazing how many people don’t follow the rules of the road. It’s cars that muck it up, not the busses. And to the person who said after the tunnel there won’t be congestion….how do you think people from W Seattle will get home? yep, right down 1st. It will be more congested than ever.

  • redfoxx July 22, 2011 (4:51 pm)

    I don’t think there is a problem having the bus stop there. If you ignore the fact that the viaduct is now 2 lanes and causes backups through the merge zone, the real problem is the jerks who turn from 2nd onto Columbia when they shouldn’t be. There is only one designated turn lane, yet people turn from the two righthand lanes. And they do it as yellow lights are turning red. So while these guys have made it onto Columbia with their asses hanging out in the intersection, everyone else who’s already on Columbia have to wait until it clears out, which usually only happens just as the light is turning red.
    .
    I see buses enter that intersection everyday and block the rest of traffic on both 2nd and Columbia, but what choice do they have really? If they don’t go when they get the bus light, the rest of the cars on Columbia will block them as soon as they get the green. And this in turn will stack the buses up even further.
    .
    When the new lane lines were painted on Columbia for the bus stop, I remember there was a police officer who was directing traffic for a few days at the intersection and preventing those said jerks from turning from the second lane and running red lights. Traffic flowed so much smoother through there. Maybe they need to find someone to do that job full time during rush hour. Just hire those same eagle scouts that people wanted to direct traffic at the Fauntleroy ferry :)

  • Amanda July 22, 2011 (5:37 pm)

    I really hope you all took these comments and sent it into Metro!

    @bmvaughn – there is a green light for the bus lane, just added in the past month
    @redfoxx – agree 100%! I have called the police, while on the bus to let them know they have to control that intersection when the games are happening, or traffic is bad.

    Metro needs a new leader. Is that a public office type position, or is Metro a private company?

    • WSB July 22, 2011 (5:44 pm)

      Metro is part of King County government. It has a general manager, but they ultimately are under the jurisdiction of county elected officials – King County Executive Dow Constantine, who is a West Seattleite, as is King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who represents our area, and is on the council’s transportation committee – TR

  • Sue July 22, 2011 (5:51 pm)

    This afternoon I got on the 54X at 3rd & Seneca (my regular stop) and instead of putting my nose in a book, I really took a look at what was happening at 2nd/Columbia.
    .
    As I mentioned above, only one bus at a time can be at the bus stop loading/unloading passengers because they can’t block the garage entrance/exit. So only one bus gets to that stop per light. But the main problem wasn’t that stop itself. It was the line of cars up the ramp to the viaduct a block away that were totally not moving. They couldn’t get on the viaduct, so it just backed up. So even when the bus and the cars got a green light, they couldn’t go anywhere. So the problem is really (IMHO) the cars at the viaduct entrance and the turners that redfoxx mentions, both mucking everything up, not the buses.
    .
    I agree with Amanda – please make sure these comments get to Metro, not just here!

  • newnative July 22, 2011 (6:32 pm)

    I emailed Metro. I think keeping the stop is important.

  • metrognome July 22, 2011 (6:51 pm)

    a little history on this stop … the 54/55 used to run on First and turn right onto the Viaduct at Columbia. During Mariners games, that was nearly impossible because of the traffic volumes at the chokepoint where First bends south at Cherry and the parking that was allowed at 6 pm at 1/Col backed traffic up to Pike Market and beyond. When the tunnel reopened, the 54/55 were moved to Third to cluster with other routes using the Viaduct and to take advantage of the ‘Transit Only’ status during peak hours. The only possible location for a new stop was 2/Columbia (would you be surprised that many property don’t want bus stops in front of their pretty buildings and have the clout and lawyers to fight it). The Bus-Only lane and signal have been there a lot longer than a month (notice that the driver pulls ahead and stops a second time when the psgrs have loaded — that’s to trip the bus-only signal.) This allows the bus to pull ahead of traffic into the middle lane (assuming that lane has room …)
    Its the best solution available in the existing environment.
    TR — technically it is Metro AND SDOT that are ‘considering’ the closure and I am guessing SDOT proposed it based on complaints from drivers; maybe SDOT should be added to the lead sentence …

  • sna July 22, 2011 (7:51 pm)

    The issue is how the viaduct lanes are painted. The southbound viaduct should be reduced to two lanes prior to the Columbia onramp. The left 3rd lane should begin at Columbia and be a collector/distributor lane until it exits at the stadiums.
    .
    This would eliminate the need to immediately merge with traffic as vehicles enter the viaduct and reduce the backups on Columbia and city streets.

  • Robert July 22, 2011 (8:09 pm)

    Seems like the simplest solution would be to move the stop up to 3rd Avenue right before Columbia. I realize this adds another stop along 3rd, but I think that block between Columbia and Marion would be OK with a bus stop. I think 3rd Avenue should go bus only from 6 AM to 7 PM anyway.

  • Dunno July 22, 2011 (9:19 pm)

    Today, traffic south bound 99 backed up to Green Lake at 4:30pm, used again at 6:30, back up started at Battery Tunnel, no games, no wreck. Wait til Sept! SNA, your idea would have had traffic backed up to Everett.

  • Jill July 22, 2011 (9:47 pm)

    Another frequent user of that stop here… I like the suggestions to reroute the traffic, making a bus-only lane, etc. At 2nd & Columbia, the one-way goes to the left, so not a lot of cars want to be in that lane anyway. But if they do need to move it, for god’s sake, take dbsea’s excellent comment about the wind into account.

    Congestion is all relative. Moving the stop won’t eliminate congestion, and there is no congestion-free place for a bus stop. Remember when the buses went down 1st Ave instead? Not that long ago, and it was a nightmare. The only time 2nd & Columbia has come close to being as bad as 1st Ave. was on a regular basis has been when there has been a major accident, or there’s been an exhibition soccer game, a marathon, a Mariners game, and a major rock concert going on in the stadium area all at once. :-p (Speaking of which, removing that stop will make it that much harder to bus home from those events.)

  • wondering July 22, 2011 (9:52 pm)

    Among others, busses serve people not fortunate enough to have a car or unable to walk several blocks. Please, drivers, before you start prioritizing your own comfort…think of the needs of people less fortunate. I wrote to Metro to not close that stop thanks for the heads up WSB

  • sna July 22, 2011 (9:55 pm)

    Dunno, its two lanes through the battery tunnel already. Im saying dont go from 2 lanes, then out to 3, then back to 2 in the span of 1 mile.

  • water taxi July 22, 2011 (11:51 pm)

    I’d care less about closing this stop if the 128 or some other/new WS-only route connected with the water taxi. Service on the boat has become frequent enough to handle commuting needs except for the pathetic shuttle service on the Seacrest end of the boat.

    How about some intermodal transfer action? Make the water taxi work better and the viaduct problem is significantly reduced.

  • jw July 23, 2011 (12:25 am)

    No, let’s not close the bus stop. BUT, let’s close the mid-right lane to SOV traffic and install an extended sidewalk bulb into mid street so the bus traffic carrying many, many more people can cruise through without being held up by all those mostly empty cars. The bus signal and extended no-walk sign have helped, but you have got to be kidding me if the solution to the 99 gridlock is to make bus riders hike 4 blocks to their stop. The gridlock problem is caused by cars, not busses.

  • Jasperblu July 23, 2011 (7:59 am)

    Working in Pioneer Sq (Jackson & Occidental), there would be NO benefit to me whatsoever to have to hoof it an additional 4 blocks than Columbia & 2nd. And waiting for one of the “local” West Seattle/White Center busses on 3rd & Main is not a viable option after dark in winter alone as a female… Those busses are always running 30+ minutes late, and Pioneer Sq is a ghost town after 6pm, well except for all the meth heads and homeless milling about at the #515 station. I rarely like catching the bus there in summer daylight!
    .
    For THIS West Seattle-ite, who lives at the Fauntleroy ferry end of WS, my only two viable options home are taking the water taxi (then scrambling to figure out transit at the Seacrest side – also a nightmare) or walking a good 6 blocks already from my job to the 2nd and Columbia stop because at least I feel “safe” at these two transit stops.
    .
    I don’t think solo car drivers should get to have an opinion on the Metro issue whatsoever. If you’re sitting solo in your car and are “lucky” enough to be able to afford $185-$300 a month for downtown parking, or lucky enough to have someone back in West Seattle that can get your child to/from school, or lucky enough to have a flexible schedule… etc. etc. Good for you! But don’t expect the thousands of people who rely on Metro to get to their jobs each day to accommodate you when *you’re* the actual problem.
    .
    Coming here from Los Angeles/Orange County, I didn’t believe my Seattle friends who said traffic here is worse. They weren’t kidding. It absolutely is! It shouldn’t take more than an hour to go the 7.2 miles from my front door to my job downtown. But holy hell, it does! The fact that the city wants to make it even harder on people already spending hours sitting in commuter gridlock astounds me. That’s some seriously messed up priorities. And frankly, it’s starting to piss me off. But the city has also already made it very clear that WE don’t matter…
    .
    I can’t wait until I have no way to get to/from work from my house in West Seattle. Either we’ll all have to work from home, look for jobs south of WS, or we can start praying that a bunch of big companies open up for business on our side of the Bay. Good luck working for a living otherwise. Yes, I’ll send my comments in, but I’m not sure they’re going to listen.

  • JLS July 23, 2011 (8:48 am)

    I, too, dropped Metro an email asking them not to close this bus stop. No need to repeat my sentiments as they have been well expressed here by others.

    One thought, though. No one has mentioned that many of the cars getting on 99 at Columbia likely used to skip 99 altogether and get on the bridge at 1st Ave. Once that (finally) reopens, won’t most people working in Pioneer Sq and south return to that route?

  • old timer July 23, 2011 (9:13 am)

    Cutting that stop means basically, only two stops downtown to service the outbound 54 or the 21EX. Pretty crappy IMO.
    It’s probably the same for the other routes.
    .
    Maybe there should be a nice toll for autos using that
    Columbia St. on-ramp.
    A $5.00 fee? $7.50?
    That might thin the crowd enough to keep or even enhance the stop on Columbia.
    .
    Or, maybe they could try the road diet thing on Columbia. Starting about 5th, single-lane with left turn only lane all the way to 1st with enough room gained to have a bus only lane from 3rd to the on-ramp.
    Add in no right turn to Columbia from 3rd except transit.

    No one thought road diet would work on Madison but it does.
    Also, better control of flow on 99 itself would help.

  • WSTroll July 23, 2011 (11:31 am)

    How dare those evil automobiles cause such problems in that intersection. They should make all of downtown BUS and BIKE ONLY! This would solve all of our issues. We can charge a few dollars more for automobile registration, it would totally be worth it.

  • PK July 23, 2011 (12:44 pm)

    I take this bus nearly every day; the comments above summarize the situation neatly, and underscore how closing the stop will hardly fix the problems. This is one of the key bus stops downtown for West Seattle-bound passengers, and the buses are nearly always packed.

  • Dick July 23, 2011 (4:07 pm)

    Making the bus less convienent for West Seattle bus riders doesn’t make much sense. This is a busy stop and it would mean 2 stops downtown for Westbound West Seattle busses.

  • JoAnne July 23, 2011 (4:27 pm)

    When Metro says they need to cut service, we assume the services cut will be those used least, i.e., those least important to area commuters and taxpayers. Apparently that is a faulty assumption.

    I just got a large envelope in the mail containing a tri-color map showing Metro bus routes and local bike trails, and encouraging me to “explore” the neighborhood (where I’ve lived in for 50 years).

    There is also a 2-color postage-paid return card asking for a “pledge” to walk or ride my bike and then tell Metro all about where I go and how I get there.

    Either it has not occurred to Metro leadership that heavily used bus stops should take priority over expensive social engineering programs,

    OR

    the plan to cut this service was announced in underhanded, manipulative attempt to change public opinion, which presently does not support Metro’s proposed $20 car tab fee.

  • JoAnne July 23, 2011 (4:30 pm)

    Also, at the risk of stating the obvious, they will exploit any comments received from unhappy bus riders to support the car tab fee!

  • YinWestWood July 23, 2011 (9:43 pm)

    I think we should set up something like what London has – a Congestion Charge for cars entering 3rd having when it is bus-only. And make Columbia from 3rd to the Viaduct on-ramp bus-only during afternoon peak hours.

    How Congestion Charge works: “Cameras at entrances, exits and around the zone read your number plate. They check it against a database to work out whether you’ve paid already, are exempt, or have a 100 per cent discount. We keep checking the database until midnight the following charging day.”

    I believe the city and metro can use the money. Right?

  • Jo P July 24, 2011 (9:19 am)

    I support closing this bus stop, but we need another one to West Seattle that is closer than 3 blocks away. Is there another place the bus can stop before turning on Columbia?

  • shawn July 24, 2011 (9:23 am)

    Keep the stop. Agree with you, YinWestWood. People drive in air-conditioned cars. Bus riders inhale exhaust as they wait for the bus, and why is the talk about inconveniencing bus riders? We WANT people to ride the bus.

  • Moose2 July 24, 2011 (11:13 am)

    Email sent. I am appalled that they would consider closing this stop. The traffic congestion is not caused by the stop, it is the sheer volume of cars and buses merging into a single lane on the SR99 on-ramp.
    .
    The solution is to extend the bus lane through to the on-ramp. This would enable buses to leave the bus stop (currently the are often prevented by cars turning from 2nd blocking the road).
    .

    This would make the bus passage through the stop more efficient, so buses would block Columbia at 3rd less often, so it is a benefit to both bus riders and car drivers.

  • Ben July 25, 2011 (11:17 am)

    I’ve sent an email opposing the closure.

  • JM July 29, 2011 (12:49 pm)

    I work near 3rd & Columbia. When the Water Taxi to Seacrest runs, I almost always take that home from work. The 2nd & Columbia stop is the most convenient to my office for the 54 & 55, the routes of both are closest to my home. The problem is not the mere existence of the 2nd & Columbia stop, rather, it’s the residual effects of the construction project around the Viaduct. This is compounded when combined with sporting events at Safeco &/or Qwest (Clink, whatever it’s going to be called). I keep printouts of sporting events at my desk so I know to avoid taking the bus when a game lets out around rush hour. :)

    In addition to the lane closures on the Viaduct, the buses which used to stop on 1st & Columbia now stop here, & the block is way too short to serve so many lines, especially with an alley & parking garage entrance which Metro drivers are instructed not to block. I don’t think Metro should close this stop, but I do think it should reduce the number of routes which use this stop. The 54 & 55 already stop at 3rd & Seneca in the morning, so I have no issue walking there, but I understand the imposition this places on those who may not be/feel as able-bodied.

Sorry, comment time is over.