‘Restructuring’ Metro: Finally time to talk about better routes

Now that transit is REALLY top-of-mind, at least for a week and a half … Have an idea about a better way for Metro to serve West Seattle? Maybe the long-desired east-west improvements? Metro has long been promising that this fall would bring official public discussions about how to “restructure” its route system once RapidRide starts next year … and the dates for those discussions are finally set, as first announced at this week’s Morgan Community Association meeting. If you have something to say about improving Metro’s routes in West Seattle, plan to be at Chief Sealth International High School on Wednesday, November 9th and/or Madison Middle School on Thursday, November 17th, both 6:30-8:30 pm meetings. You will be able to comment online too – keep an eye on the Metro “Have a Say” site.

Nobody October 21, 2011 (9:35 am)

Metro needs to serve ALL of Seattle better – not JUST West Seattle! All they’ve done the past several years in a row is raise rates and CUT service!
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I have FAR fewer bus options to get around now than I did just 2 years ago. Metro is horrible!

raincity October 21, 2011 (9:48 am)

If you feel Metro could be improved – join in the process and have our voice heard.
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/have-a-say/be-an-advisor.html

Jeff October 21, 2011 (10:19 am)

It’s not JUST West Seattle OR Seattle in general that needs route improvement; it’s the areas in South King County and North King County that needs improvement. There are plenty of routes once you get to a Park and Ride, but in between the Park and Rides routes are either non-existent or they’re habitually late.

Jiggers October 21, 2011 (12:22 pm)

No Rapid Ride. Use that money on the current system by building new efficient busses, hire and train more drivers, implement new routes and add more times. Don’t let some billionaire tell you what should be done. They don’t ride busses.

bus man October 21, 2011 (1:13 pm)

Metro should pass out personalized jet packs for all.

A route from WS to Beacon Hill directly/ the VA Hospital/ Columbia City/ etc that bypasses downtown would be great.

Horatio October 23, 2011 (4:40 pm)

The only saving grace for Seattle Metro is being in a climate which makes spending long periods outside and waiting for the bus mostly hospitable.

Over the long haul, Seattle & San Diego have had the best bus systems on or near the west coast, and their appeal has been a factor of the reasonable weather almost all year long.

Recent times filled with budget cuts and high gas prices have wreaked havoc on Seattle Metro.

Bus fares are skyrocketing to the point where they are out of sync with fuel costs, and Seattle Metro has long been demanding that 25% of costs come from ridership. Elsewhere the norm is 10% of costs coming from ridership.

Maybe it is finally time to do away with the downtown “Free Ride” zone, and make tourists and everyday bums foot a share of the monsterous overhead.

How is is that the airport and, for example, the car rental businesses nearby rig things so that tourists get shafted to the core by taxes and daily surcharges which don’t exist off-airport, but that Seattle Metro can’t see fit to exact any toll at all on the tourists (who don’t vote for local politicians)?

The “Magic Carpet (Free Ride)” zone might have been great back in the 1970’s, for a while, but now all it does is bring crime and criminals onto busses unchecked while also making the local citizenry pay the freight for the downtown tourism trade. Downtown businesses and the tourists they wish to attract are getting a “free ride” while the rest of us, the local citizenry, pay EXTRA to support this.

Something has to change in order to prevent or delay as long as possible the continued unfair bus fare increases.

Imagine having to pay $2.25 minimum for a 10-block ride home from the grocery store. (and yes, I walk TO the store {with empty arms} )