When will RapidRide C/D split? And other Metro-funding followups

Questions followed our short Tuesday update on how the new Seattle-voter-approved funding for Metro will be spread out – and thanks to Anthony Auriemma from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office, we have some answers.

(WSB photo: RapidRide C Line bus photographed today on California SW)
WHEN WILL RAPIDRIDE LINES C AND D SPLIT? That’s scheduled for next year, with 20,000-40,000 more service hours to be funded to cover what it’ll take to “extend and split the 2 lines,” Auriemma says, adding, “Councilmember Rasmussen is interested in finding ways to speed up the implementation of the planned split.”

WHAT ABOUT THE 21? Along with the 100 hours to improve Saturday reliability, the 21EX “will also see another 250 hours of service to improve weekday reliability (essentially, to ensure that the 21EX will arrive when it is actually scheduled to arrive, instead of being chronically late),” according to Auriemma. And that’ll be it for the 21 this year.

GENERAL QUESTIONS/INFO: The website for the Seattle Transportation Benefit District has been updated with more information on the upcoming service changes, including an FAQ – go here. Granular details such as schedule specifics aren’t available yet, but “will be rolled out as we move closer to the June service changes.” As noted in our Tuesday update, June is when the new car-tab fees will be added, while the tenth-of-a-percent sales-tax increase starts in April.

shawnnah February 19, 2015 (6:07 am)

what does it mean c/d line split I take both

Sue February 19, 2015 (7:15 am)

Shawnnah, there was talk of making the C go from (if I recall correctly) West Seattle to South Lake Union or around that area, and the D would instead go from wherever it goes up north to Pioneer Square area. Part of the issue with the delays is just how long that route is from end to end.

Mickymse February 19, 2015 (5:14 pm)

That is correct. The two routes would no longer be “inter-lined.” Someone wishing to go from West Seattle to Ballard will now need to transfer Downtown.
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While the split will result in extended coverage for both routes, the intention for the split is to increase schedule reliability for both routes.

Kara February 19, 2015 (5:25 pm)

Very thankful I don’t have a West Seattle to Ballard commute anymore, transferring downtown is the worst :/

Beto February 19, 2015 (5:43 pm)

I keep insisting that Metro would do a great service to Arbor Heights if, on the way from the Alaska Junction, they could stop at 35th Ave SW and SW Roxbury St. before heading to the Westwood Village. Just the way they do on the way to the Junction from the Westwood Village.

AH Resident February 19, 2015 (6:38 pm)

So the 21X gets only “reliability improvements” and no additional runs? A later run in the evening and an earlier one in the afternoon would be more useful. No later runs for the 22, either. Sounds like Arbor Heights voters are not getting their tax money’s worth. Again.

Chris February 19, 2015 (6:52 pm)

SLU service on the Rapid Ride from West Seattle would be a total game changer.

Mikal February 19, 2015 (8:26 pm)

As someone who lives in West Seattle and works in SLU (and spends 20 minutes a day walking to and from a bus stop in Belltown before and after work) this C/D split cannot come soon enough.

cj February 20, 2015 (10:11 am)

I really don’t understand why they are not adding more letter lines and reducing more number lines as I thought that was the plan. I could see 2 new letter lines in WS right off the bat that would benefit rider to destination efficiency.

WSB February 20, 2015 (10:20 am)

Only the RapidRide lines are lettered.

Mickymse February 20, 2015 (1:34 pm)

The RapidRide “letter” lines are paid for mostly with federal dollars, and require capital expenditures on items such as the newer buses and special shelters. I expect it will be later in the year before the split can be managed.

Sorry, comment time is over.