Where is Metro Transit going? Help shape its new long-range plan

What will regional transit be like in 25 years? That’s the question the county says is at the heart of the long-awaited long-range-planning process for Metro Transit, just announced: “We’ll Get You There: Our Vision for the Future of Public Transportation.”

(WSB photo: Route 21 northbound on 35th at Morgan)
According to the official announcement, this will all unfold over the next year and a half. Metro promises multiple ways for you to get directly involved, starting with:

First: Take this online survey.

Second: Apply by February 18th to join the community-advisory group “that will collaborate regularly with Metro to ensure that the final plan represents a diversity of needs and perspectives.” The first of its every-two-months meetings is set for March 12th.

Ultimately, this will result in a draft long-range plan for public review early next year, and a final version for the County Council to consider in fall 2016.

WSobserver February 4, 2015 (5:19 pm)

Although I’ll be dead in 25 years, maybe my great grandchildren will be able to use a functional transit system here.

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Completed the survey. I’m sure all the transit ‘experts’ who drive their cars around will continue their same crappy *planning*.

Paul February 4, 2015 (6:26 pm)

Ws observer – enough with the car vs bike vs bus crap. We all have different need. Let’s build a system that serves all of us!

heather February 4, 2015 (6:31 pm)

Ooohhhhh! A community advisory group. Hmmmm.

Rick February 4, 2015 (6:49 pm)

Best if it’s a “blue ribbon” group.

West Seattle Hipster February 4, 2015 (7:21 pm)

Let Sound Transit take over Metro, their buses are more comfortable and drivers are much better mannered.

They also seem to spend our money more efficiently.

Heather February 4, 2015 (7:22 pm)

I would just like to add that my comment was NOT sarcasm – I think I’m going to participate in the committee… ahem, and I take public transit, bike, drive, snowshoe, dive, ski, walk, kayak but avoid running if possible. ;)

WSobserver February 4, 2015 (7:51 pm)

@Paul- thanks for the insult but I believe you took my post the wrong way. I wasn’t suggesting there should not be cars, but that people who are car-centric truly have no clue how bad bus service really is and why it is that bad. Because they don’t ride the bus~ they look at computer models and spread sheets, then drive their warm comfy cars back home again.

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And I do believe the article is specifically directed at public transit planning and development eh?

dsa February 4, 2015 (8:16 pm)

It is so discouraging to me because the more they think they are improving the system, it just gets worse from the core of the trunk lines.

tim February 4, 2015 (8:59 pm)

The years I’ve taken METRO down town 2 bus’s have broke down. Waaaaa insert binkie here. I walk 9 minutes get to my bus and get downtown real quick and in a hurry. What’s not to like. Sometimes I stand, waaaaaaa. I don’t have to drive. In the three years I’ve worked downtown I’ve never had to drive. I love the bus.

Gene February 4, 2015 (9:42 pm)

tim – agree getting downtown by bus is – most times- pretty easy- elsewhere not always the case- love the snide waaas though. Paul- I think more folks than you might imagine drive just because they do know how bad bus service is- their input would be useful.

Brian February 5, 2015 (5:49 am)

@Tim: What about people who work somewhere else? Here’s a real world example for you:
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I live in Morgan Junction and work in Georgetown. If I took the bus, it would take me a transfer and 90 minutes to get there. When I drive, it takes me 15 minutes.
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If it took 30 or 40 minutes, I might consider using public transit to get to work but when it takes 5x-6x longer to get to where I need to be in order to continue paying property taxes, then I’m going to choose the more convenient method.

dlw February 5, 2015 (7:42 am)

@Brian – Spot on. And biking into Georgetown is scary too — it is fine until you get to the east terminus of the Spokane St. Bridge – then it gets dicey, esp. with the large truck traffic.

trickycoolj February 5, 2015 (10:33 am)

Same here High Point to Georgetown, 5 miles by car up to 2 hours by bus with a trip downtown at the time I need to leave some days. By bike includes a 300-500ft hill climb which is only do-able by the most athletic cyclists. I may have ridden my bike to Portland twice but wouldn’t dare ride HP Way and East Marginal daily!

I made it clear in the survey WSea to downtown is fine, but all other points suck. Not everyone works downtown. There are major employment centers outside of downtown Seattle why not make useful transit to employment centers like Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Everett, etc?

hannah February 5, 2015 (12:31 pm)

and not everyone even if it is a straight shot can ride a bike…we are not all physically in a postion to do so even if we so desired…

miws February 5, 2015 (1:39 pm)

tricky, have you looked at the option of 128 to White Center, then 60 to Georgetown?

I know it’s still a transfer, and as seems typical, the first bus may be scheduled to arrive five minutes after the second bus is scheduled to leave the transfer point.

Mike

Paula February 5, 2015 (1:53 pm)

I’m 65, retired and so far in good health. I live in Pigeon Point neighborhood at the top of a steep hill. As much as possible I avoid crossing the WS bridge, so most of my car trips are to grocery, etc. shop, pick up mail and make shipments for our business from the West Seattle post-office and enjoy dining out in WS. I want to age in place, but worry about how I can remain independent as my mobility declines. The bus service from the top of Pigeon Point (21st Ave SW & Genesee) to West Seattle Junction does not exist and unless I turn into a goat the Delridge Way buses will be of no use to me.

G February 5, 2015 (2:53 pm)

With the price of gas much lower and the crowded standing-room only from 6-9am, I’ll drive. Bus service is a shadow of what it used to be, and we’re paying more.

Liver February 6, 2015 (7:32 am)

Let me guess…
They will ask for more tax and licensing fees from car owners who don’t ride the bus, wreck existing bus stops and replace them with super expensive ones that block the flow of cars and whine about how much money thy dont have….
Keep the mechanics and drivers,pay them more, automate their administration and get rid of as many admin positions as they can so they can hire more drivers and mechanics.

Sorry, comment time is over.