West Seattle RapidRide: The first shelters are up

Another milestone in the work to convert certain stops along the path of Metro Route 54 to stops/stations for the coming-this-fall RapidRide C Line: The first shelters are going up today. As of a few minutes ago, they are complete at Fauntleroy/Rose (shown in our photos), across from the central parking lot at Lincoln Park, and Fauntleroy/Webster, by Solstice Park. These have more features than the bare-bones bench-and-sign stop we photographed last Sunday by Fauntleroy Church – they have an outside bench and one under-the-shelter seat:

The “stations” nearest to this stop will be at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal and at California/Fauntleroy – those will have electronic displays showing when the next bus is due to arrive. Here’s a C Line route map – the dark dots are stations, while light dots are “stops.” RapidRide service is scheduled to start in West Seattle in September.

38 Replies to "West Seattle RapidRide: The first shelters are up"

  • margaritaville March 15, 2012 (2:31 pm)

    Sure glad this ‘station’ isn’t in front of my home!

  • Ajax March 15, 2012 (2:37 pm)

    No kidding, that thing is an eyesore. Surely they could have come up with a better design for the same cost.

  • Aman March 15, 2012 (2:39 pm)

    Can’t say I like the design. Seems as if it could have been created to “fit-in” more naturally. A very ‘Far Cry’ from the lovely Pergola in Pioneer Square.

  • LAintheJunction March 15, 2012 (2:55 pm)

    I’m not trying to be a negative nellie, but how exactly is that a “shelter”? With no appreciable sides and a limited overhang, I fail to see how it will provide any protection from the elements – even on a usual dizzly Seattle day, let alone a day like today with massive deluges. It looks like something that could work in California but was designed by someone with no knowledge of Seattle weather whatsoever.

  • Thistle March 15, 2012 (3:10 pm)

    I use a portion of the Eastside Rapid Ride to get to my Bellevue office job and sadly, no, the new shelters are not the greatest at keeping out the weather. Certainly better then nothing but your right, if there is any wind at all, you are soaked.

  • chas redmond March 15, 2012 (3:17 pm)

    One of the concepts being supported by this design (which, granted, is not much of a “shelter”) is uniqueness and easy and obvious detectability. These stops and stations are supposed to stand out so you can spot them from close or at mid-range (afar, if you will). This is because these are the only places where the new route service will stop. If they looked more like regular bus stops this element of unique identification would be less easily achieved. Aesthetics and utility aside, these new stops do stand out and will be easy to spot in the distance (1/4 mile spacing roughly).

  • dbsea March 15, 2012 (3:17 pm)

    How is the Rapid Ride different from a 54 Express?

    And the only good shelter I know of is, or was, at 35th and Avalon. It’s been gone for weeks for some stupid reason.

  • chas redmond March 15, 2012 (3:20 pm)

    And, at least in front of this white picket fence with a white trelis behind, this design doesn’t offend at all and is, in fact, fitting in with the local architecture. Architecture – like art – is one of those human endeavors where “everyone has a valid opinion.”

  • Diane March 15, 2012 (3:26 pm)

    Chas, does this mean they’ll be taking out all the real 54 shelters in the months prior to RR?
    ~
    I too am very disappointed with lack of shelter in this design
    ~
    yes, it will be visible; but looks like a gas station sign
    ~
    was there ever any opportunity for public input on the design of these shelters? If so, I sure missed it
    ~
    how would you like to be waiting for a RR in the weather we’re having at this moment? drenched

  • JEM March 15, 2012 (3:36 pm)

    dbsea – I beleive the rapid ride C line will be REPLACING the 54 (both local and Express)

  • DF March 15, 2012 (3:36 pm)

    Let me share with you all an observation I have made over time to do with bus stops and the upkeep of them. As you have all probably noticed as well bus stops are a magnet for trash and debris some have trash cans others have small debris bins that those who have signed up to receive free bus passes with metro are to take responsibility of routinely and keep the bus stop clean. I tried to get signed up to receive them as was going to monthly go buy and sweep the California and Alaska bus stop of debris and cigarette butts. Unfortunately metro no longer provides that program of keeping stops clean and giving out free passes. I have and will continue to report to metro when I see stops which with or without a trash bin is unsightly and needs to be cleaned. Please I am asking you to take time and do the same. Be proactive especially if you use the stop frequently or it’s in your neighborhood. The employees who clean these stops generally are there in e late night early morning hours with a blower basically moving the debris out of metros bus stop. This is unacceptable and we need to keep on top of them. Take care.

  • Paula T March 15, 2012 (4:16 pm)

    I agree with margaritaville, they do look like a gas station out of the 1950’s. More eye pollution.

  • KatherineL March 15, 2012 (4:41 pm)

    Is it just the angle of the photograph, or are these shelters really shorter than the usual ones? How many people will be able to crowd under them to keep out of the rain? And what good is a seat without a roof over it in rainy Seattle?

    It may stand out clearly. It would be nice if it were also useful.

  • miws March 15, 2012 (4:45 pm)

    I’m with LA on this one.

    .

    Although I don’t like the appearance of the shelter, I’m more disturbed by the function (or lack of) of the design in wind protection.

    .

    I’d rather have it be the same style, only with more side protection, rather than a better looking design, with the same lack of side protection.

    .

    DF, shortly after I moved into Nickelsville last year, I suggested to Camp Leadership that NV “adopt” the inbound and outbound bus shelters at Highland Park Way, and W Marginal Way. I was saddened to find out as you did, that the program was “temporarily” suspended.

    .

    FWIW, though, one of the NV residents picks up trash at the shelters at least once a week, and both would also be on the “route” of the regular NV neighborhood clean-ups.

    .

    Mike

  • cj March 15, 2012 (5:11 pm)

    Not much of a shelter. I will say this those Rabid Rides best be showing up often as they promise if they are gonna leave people out in the weather like that.

  • Mel March 15, 2012 (5:23 pm)

    Looking forward to someone timing the difference between the “Rapid” ride and a normal 54 bus, Junction to downtown. I’m betting there’s no more than 5 minutes difference.
    .
    As for the stops, I’m surprised no one has mentioned that they’re probably built to NOT offer much shelter. Most “bus shelters” end up with one or two people camping out in them and everyone else out in the weather anyway – why build a fancier shelter that won’t protect most of the riders anyway?

  • nadj March 15, 2012 (5:41 pm)

    i love the way this shelter looks. thank god its white and not some dark depressing color like the standard metro shelters are. what i don’t understand is why shelters in damp seattle are so often nothing more than sun shades. we don’t get enough sun to merit that. there needs to be more protection from wind driven drizzle. and perhaps more seating; is there really that big of a homeless population in WS that we can’t have decent seating in these things?!??!

  • likes54 March 15, 2012 (5:52 pm)

    Rapid Ride replaces the #54. The 54 express goes away but riders can take the 116 express that starts at the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock. The 54 now makes 28 stops between the ferry dock and Spokane St. and even more to White Center. Rapid Ride will only pick up riders at 10 stops between the ferry dock and downtown. That is why it is rapid. It doesn’t have to stop to pick up so many riders.
    Ref: METRO Line C map.

  • Someone who cares March 15, 2012 (5:59 pm)

    Are they going to put “Rapid Ride” at the Ferry Landing Bus stop?

  • Nick March 15, 2012 (7:20 pm)

    Yeah, I actually like the design except for the lack of shelter. I can’t wait for the stations with the electronic signs, they should look pretty cool.

  • Buck March 15, 2012 (9:15 pm)

    I like it! Progress. You negative Nelly’s should have a nice cup of green tea and go to bed.

  • A J R March 15, 2012 (9:58 pm)

    They won’t be too “rapid” when all the buses bottleneck in the junction. This is no improvement.

    As to the new shelters-why spend the money on these brand new shelters when we are so short of funds? Why not re-use the old ones?

  • Tuesday March 15, 2012 (11:26 pm)

    Negative Nellys? They took down a decent shelter with walls to replace it with a fancy roof! It’s a legitimate criticism. As for why they don’t reuse perfectly good old stuff? It’s easy to waste money when it’s not your own. Also, being “green” is usually for show anyway.

  • Skeptical March 15, 2012 (11:33 pm)

    So they spent a bunch of money building shelters that perform worse than the shelters that were already there, with the added bonus of an expensive version of a free smart phone app?

    They might as well replace the viaduct with a tunnel that has no downtown exits, oh wait…

  • Kayleigh March 16, 2012 (6:17 am)

    Leave it to West Seattle to complain about nice, clean, technologically advanced new bus shelters and faster bus service. I’m miffed they didn’t consult me to make sure the new shelter colors matched my spring jacket and that the lighting was flattering to my skin tone. *facepalm*

  • GW March 16, 2012 (7:03 am)

    C’mon, let’s be honest. This is pretend rapid ride, some cheap knockoff of high capacity transit/streetcar that does neither functions. The kiddies at play bureaucrat mentality cooking up their version of what your life should be like. And make no mistake, this is going into hire gear for rollout and hype because more chaos and disruption due to the tunnel is on its way. Better to have the public trapped in busses to destinations late, and poorly performing transit systems in place b/c you can keep claiming that it’s the public’s failure to use public transportation, not the poor conceptions of it.

  • JW March 16, 2012 (7:27 am)

    Well, I’ll make another negative comment, I guess.

    I wait at the (granted, un-beautiful) bus stop on the east side of California at Juneau, where I’ve always been grateful that someone with a thinking cap realized that all the rain and wind comes from the southwest, and thus, the shelter opens to the east instead of toward the street. It may not *look* especially “welcoming” from the street, but it has the apparently increasingly rare effect of *being* welcoming on a rainy day.

  • John March 16, 2012 (7:47 am)

    Does anyone understand how Rapidride C is any different from a Metro route 54 express, apart from slightly greater bus frequency and slightly fewer stops?

    I expect better governance from Metro in terms of these concepts and the amount of resulting improvements realized. The creation of these “stations”, in my mind is just fluff. It would have been money better spent if Metro came up with a way to make trip times more consistent, especially during rush hour. As a transit user who relies on good connections between buses and trains, this would provide the greatest benefit.

    Metro, by the way, has never answered the question of what RapidRide really provides, other than the slightly greater frequency of service. It would have been far cheaper to update the service timetable for the Route 54 express and advertise the greater service frequency.

  • Rick March 16, 2012 (8:03 am)

    Apparently, Metro had a boatload of money they needed to sink.

  • Patrick March 16, 2012 (8:04 am)

    Metro has completely neutered the “Rapid Ride Bus” concept. Rapid Ride bus systems that work (in many other countries) have completely enclosed stations (usually long continuous glass tubes). There is a pay station as you enter the station so you don’t have to pay when you get on the bus – adding to the speed of the bus. The stations are raised and have ramps so that there is no need for the bus to lower the entry steps for people in wheel chairs, thus also improving speed. As usual Metro and Sound Transit continue to underwhelm.

  • Aman March 16, 2012 (8:17 am)

    LOT’S of functional/creative design alternatives available. Here are but a few…..

    http://www.designbuzz.com/entry/10-most-interesting-bus-shelter-designs/

  • likes54 March 16, 2012 (8:19 am)

    John, the 54 express, which is being eliminated, goes all the way on Fauntleroy towards the high bridge. Rapid Ride follows the regular 54 route through the Alaska junction. Check out the METRO site and map with the WSB links above.

  • VBD March 16, 2012 (8:51 am)

    This shelter is not far from my house, but is far enough away that I’m not bothered by it. However, if you look closely, you can tell that the new vertical sign is RIGHT in front of the middle of the house’s deck, and in the middle of the view of the park across the street. When I drove by, I couldn’t believe they’d put the sign so close to the house and corrupt it’s only open view. It really is an obnoxious thing to do.

  • Lisa March 16, 2012 (9:33 am)

    All right, I’ll bite. Did anyone notice the metal bar across the back of the shelter? Mine was cold and wet this morning and I believe that it is meant for resting your backside upon, which is only possible if you are 5’7″ or taller…which I am not. So instead it just pushes you out even farther into the elements. I don’t mind the overall appearance of the shelter, but they are over designed and underwhelming.

  • Jim P. March 16, 2012 (10:11 am)

    I see it was designed and approved by someone who does not use buses and probably does not live in Seattle. Bus bench 10′ from shelter and only one seat *inside* the shelter and the shelter is very minimal.

    Very poorly thought out for the local climate. Some of us are getting old but are not in wheelchairs and would like to both sit down while waiting for a bus (since “rapid* is more a theory than a fact usually and does not always mean “frequent”) *and* be somewhat out of the rain.

  • Jim P. March 16, 2012 (10:13 am)

    “The stations are raised and have ramps”

    Some Metro buses are curb level and some are not, plus the sort of bus shelter you describe is horribly expensive and high maintenance.

    I just want a place to sit while waiting that is out of the weather.

  • resident3 March 17, 2012 (3:11 pm)

    When will route 21 get some love too? I can count 2-3 54s to 1 21 while commuting from downtown back to WS. Hopefully this is the beginning of better commuting!

  • RedHeadsRule March 22, 2012 (9:33 am)

    Apparently, the 21 will only be serving Arbor Hights and only during peak hours last I heard. I want to verify that because I’m furious! All the residents at my apartment depend on the 21 – from workers at the big corporate offices and studios to folks heading to the doctor to parents getting kids to and from school. We’re p.o.’d!

Sorry, comment time is over.