Reminder: Metro ‘service change’ tomorrow; here’s how Route 50 will work

| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you ride Metro Transit, remember that tomorrow is the next “service change” – with the biggest change in this area being Route 50 switching to its originally intended route. Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer has just sent some information on how that’ll work – read on:

There will be stops available when Route 50 begins running its regular routing, some of which will be marked as temporary stops until stops are permanently posted.

Stops are planned at:

• southbound Delridge Way Southwest nearside of Southwest Genesee Street
• westbound Southwest Genesee Street nearside of 30th Avenue Southwest, and
• eastbound Southwest Genesee Street, farside of 30th Avenue Southwest.

Here’s the Transit Alert Metro sent:

Metro Service Alert – Route 50 will assume original intended West Seattle routing on 2/16

Effective with the start of its Spring service revisions, and in conjunction with the completed installation and activation of the traffic signal at SW Avalon Way and SW Genesee St, as well as other improvements, Metro’s Route 50 will assume its original intended routing in both the Delridge and Admiral areas at the start of service on Saturday, February 16.

Route 50 heading toward West Seattle and Alki will no longer serve stops along SW Spokane St and SW Avalon Way north of SW Genesee St. Instead it will travel south on Delridge and west on Genesee to Avalon, serving stops on Delridge at SW Andover St and SW Genesee St, and westbound on Genesee just east of 30th Av SW. After that its next stop is southbound on 35th Av SW just south of SW Avalon Way.

In the Admiral District, when heading toward SODO, Columbia City and Othello Link Station, Route 50 will continue on SW Admiral Way and turn south directly onto California Av SW, and will no longer circle the block to – or stop at – SW College St.

Thanks for your patience regarding this reroute while Metro waited for the necessary traffic management improvements.

BWD February 15, 2013 (4:30 pm)

Now they just have to solve the problem of the bus being unable to make the right hand turn from Delridge onto Genesee Street. Can’t do it if there are any cars in the opposite lane (which there always are).

Pete R February 15, 2013 (6:23 pm)

Pretty sure they’re expecting the turn problem to be solved by the use of shorter buses. It’s an even harder turn at Admiral and California. I saw one of the new buses in training; they’re like large delivery vans, but with more windows. Don’t expect a seat to yourself always.

JanS February 15, 2013 (7:06 pm)

interesting…I’m trying to picture a bus going up that hill on Genesee to Avalon when there’s black ice.

Pete R…are they like the buses used for Access vans? Or bigger?

miws February 15, 2013 (10:26 pm)

Jan, I’m not certain, but guess they might be running these:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/King_County_Metro_Workhorse_van_1913.jpg/800px-King_County_Metro_Workhorse_van_1913.jpg

Mike

anonyme February 16, 2013 (7:46 am)

NO improvements to Arbor Heights service whatsoever. What a surprise. Mark my words, Metro will cut AH service even further now that they’ve forced most residents back into their cars. This will either be done in the usual sneaky fashion, or will be touted as an “enhancement” to service.

buddsmom February 16, 2013 (10:00 am)

I agree 100% Anonyme! No improvements on the 21 or earlier hours of service on the weekend 22. Since the change in October I’ve seen a huge surge in the number of cabs coming in and out of AH. For those of us who don’t own a car we’re up the proverbial creek.

Mike February 16, 2013 (10:09 am)

Jan, Keep in mind that nearly all Metro bus routes have what are called “Snow Routes” and if conditions dictate, #50 will not be trying to go up, or down Genesee, but instead it will be put on its on “Snow Route” which is along Spokane Street and up and down Avalon. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/cftemplates/show_map.cfm?BUS_ROUTE=050&DAY_NAV=WSU
–
Genesee and most other steep streets in Seattle are pre-staged with easel style/barricade “Do Not Enter” signs that are put into action during all icy or snowy conditions to try and prevent all motorized vehicles from entering. However, we have all kinds of idiots in this city when it comes to driving behavior so of course there will be passenger vehicles that go around these “Do Not Enter” signs and slide into someone’s house, apartment, yard, tree or parked car. Metro bus drivers know better than to risk life, tax payer property and their job by trying to go down a barricaded street.
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It is mentioned often that Genesee is steep, which it is, yet keep in mind that Queen Anne Avenue, James Street, Madison St, Spring St, and a host of other equally steep city streets are successfully navigated thousands of times a day by Metro busses, trucks, garbage trucks and passenger cars so it ought to be recognized as no big deal that Metro service has finally been restored along Genesee. When I say, restored, it is because Genesee used to have service about 20 years ago that went to-and-from Pigeon Point and I think to the WS Junction. Sorry, but I can’t recall the bus route number or its specific routing:)

patt February 16, 2013 (10:17 am)

The #50, in case of ice or snow goes the old reroute. There is now a stop light at Genesee and Avalon which helps with the turn. The stops for Genesee are at the top and bottom of the hill. The connection is a little tight for (i think) the #125.
FYI, If you live here and take the bus you know in ice and snow no one makes it up any of the hills in WS
:-]

dwar February 16, 2013 (12:27 pm)

Mike and Patti, — That’s why Metro has busses stuck all over West Seattle and all over town when we get a little snow!!

excommuter February 16, 2013 (9:37 pm)

Yep, the cuts in service in Arbor Heights is what is making me buy a car again and stop taking the bus. Obviously there is a demand, but either no funding/no incentive to serve the area. Oh well, back to my car I will go…

anonyme February 17, 2013 (11:35 am)

To make matters worse for Arbor Heights, the extremely limited hourly shuttle service (route #22) runs extremely erratically. If your connection is five minutes late from downtown, you’re SOL for another hour. The #22 consistently leaves Westwood 10-15 minutes ahead of schedule.

And I’m sick and tired of obese bus drivers who sit on their butts all day telling me it’s good for me to walk anyway. I’m 62 and do very physical work despite my bad knees. These drivers should be taking their own advice – or keeping their mouths shut. Do you provide a service, or not? I’d have to say NOT.

JN February 17, 2013 (11:39 am)

To those w/service cuts, have you considered using a bicycle to get to the new, farther away bus stops? And please, I’m just trying to make a suggestion. I obviously don’t know everyone’s situation.

Drm February 18, 2013 (10:26 am)

As I predicted, they switched to the shorter diesel one door buses for the 50 route, the ones that seat about 40 that used to do the 51 route. These buses have no air conditioner, and give a pretty rough ride, so I view it as a downgrade in service rather than an upgrade. I guess Metro may be happy to use these old buses in some fashion.

BWD February 19, 2013 (9:24 am)

Holy Cow!!!
I have the misfortune of living at the top of that Genesee Hill and the diesel buses are horrically loud as they labor up that hill and idle! It is bad enough in the daytime but the running of those buses before 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. is totally unacceptable. This is now my new mission in life.

Sorry, comment time is over.