METRO CHANGES: What happens on routes in our area September 23rd

12:45 PM:Metro has sent a reminder about what’s in its September service change, which kicks in September 23rd, one week from Saturday. Here are the local highlights:

• Night Owl: From midnight to 5 a.m., riders will see additional trips on most of these night service routes in Seattle, White Center, Burien, Tukwila and direct service to SeaTac Airport.

The two local routes are 120 and RapidRide C Line.

Also, C Line will “see more trips to ease crowding.” Trips also will be added to 50, 60, and 131, described in today’s reminder as follows:

• Route 50: Serving riders between Othello Station and Alki, a dozen more evening trips, creating consistent 30-minute service until midnight seven days a week. This additional service is funded by the City of Seattle.

• Route 60: Serving riders in White Center, South Park, Georgetown, Beacon Hill, First Hill and Capitol Hill. By adding 24 trips, weekday buses will come every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead of every 30 minutes. This service is funded by the City of Seattle and Metro.

• Route 131: Serving riders in Burien, Highland Park, South Park, SODO and Downtown Seattle. Northbound trips come every 15 minutes weekdays from 6:30-9:30 a.m.

You can get specifics on those and other changes, route by route, including links to PDF versions of the new timetables, via this Metro webpage.

ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: BH reminds us in comments (and we have an e-mail reminder too) that the September 23rd service change also will bring relocation of a downtown bus stop many West Seattleites use – Columbia east of 2nd. Here’s the official alert doc.

PangolinPie September 13, 2017 (2:00 pm)

It’s nice that they’re adding to the 131, but why no love for the 125? It’s packed in the morning and it comes so infrequently in the afternoon.

Ws resident September 13, 2017 (11:45 pm)

I agree! The 125 and 128 need more routes circuiting frequently
Bus September 14, 2017 (8:21 am)

It would be nice to have extended hours on the 125 as well. Even if it just came every hour, I know I’m not the only one in the neighborhood who works after 6 on the weekends.

GC September 13, 2017 (4:09 pm)

FINALLY, justice for 131 riders. Having one packed-to-the-gills bus come every 30 minutes (if we’re lucky!) was enough to get me & my partner to break from public transit for a while & fork over the extra $$ to commute by car almost every day. That bus line had to be one of the worst when it came to reliability & timeliness, which is a shame because it’s only one of two lines in/even close to the HP area. I’m glad KC Metro is finally giving HP some love!

Now, I hope that we get some SB additions for the PM commute. The PM commute delays can get really terrible across the board. Delays for a bus that is supposed to come every 30 minutes? It’s enough to make you feel pretty sour… But I’ll take what I can get for the moment! :)

BH September 13, 2017 (4:49 pm)

Also, reminder the 2nd/Columbia stop for the C 55 56 57 21x ext is moving onto 3rd Ave between Marion and Columbia.

junctioneer September 13, 2017 (9:30 pm)

Is this true? link?
- WSB September 13, 2017 (9:49 pm)
  
  Yes, it’s true, and we mentioned it in traffic/transit coverage when Metro first started the early alert a few weeks ago. If you use that stop, it should be posted. It’s been in Metro alerts for a while – here’s the PDF doc the alerts page links to:
  
  http://metro.kingcounty.gov/alerts/pdf/482_SA_WB%20Columbia_NS%202%20Av__PermStopClosure_Sep23.pdf
  - CAM September 14, 2017 (1:42 am)
    
    There have been signs posted at the current stop and the new stop since the end of August-ish. The shelter, rapid ride card reader, and the large scrolling time table have all been moved. The new stop will be just north of the intersection at Columbia and 3rd. Hopefully it leads to improved loading and less backups getting on the viaduct (bus backups not cars which block the buses from merging).

Mark September 13, 2017 (8:39 pm)

Adding midday and evening 56, 57 service would be nice.

D J Brandt September 14, 2017 (5:35 am)

Added morning and midday service for 56,57 would be nice

rico September 14, 2017 (9:18 am)

I fondly remember when the 56/57 ran all day, not that long ago. Then came the express routes, which we mistakenly assume was simply adding routes, but in reality they reduced 56/57 service (I worked in Pioneer Square which has reduced service from W. Seattle because the express routes go too far north). Then came rapid ride. Ultimately service has been reduced for parts of west seattle, sold on the false premise of improved service.

Diane September 14, 2017 (11:11 am)

yep, we got totally screwed in Admiral with loss of 24/7 quick access to downtown via 56/57; and yet, we have to keep paying more more more in our car tabs, for less local service

MSW September 25, 2017 (7:59 pm)

The 56/57 currently is a route that regular bus driver don’t want because it’s doesn’t offer enough hours. The route generally gets part-time drivers or new drivers like today when the new guy didn’t know to use the West Seattle Bridge bus lane. Both 56/57 becomes very full when someone doesn’t show up to drive or a driver is taken off the route for another route. This reduction of service for the 56/57 started when the C-Line was introduced. Basically we were sold a big fat lie about better service. We in the Admiral and Alki area got shafted and it hasn’t gotten any better. Forget coming home on the 56/57 after about 7:00 pm.

JanS September 14, 2017 (11:31 am)

I’m in Admiral District near Safeway, and I don’t even consider taking Metro. I am senior, so luckily I can use a senior service called Hyde Shuttle (door to door pre-arranged), but I keep hearing that routes here were cut because no one was using? Now no one is using because routes have been cut, so they just assume that they’re no longer needed? This whole northend section is being basically ignored by Metro because well, you can just go to the junction and transfer? , and then maybe have to transfer again? and again? Many will drive to their destination before taking an hour and a half trip one way, and then an hour and a half back. There is no rapid anything for this area.

boredinws September 18, 2017 (9:58 am)

Huge props to the peak service expansion on the RapidRide. Us sardines have been choking in our tins since all those new apartment buildings in the Junction opened up and our new neighbors have been joining us on rides into/out of downtown.

It’s only 1-2 additional trips an hour, but hopefully it’s enough to relieve some pressure and stop drivers from blowing past stops beyond the Junction when they’re beyond capacity and running behind schedule.

Kathy September 25, 2017 (11:26 am)

Another decrease in service for end of line 128 with little notice! Signs went up at some of the affected stops 5 days ahead and description so convoluted that Metro supervisor was trying to figure it out to explain to the drivers!

Basically, the end of the line is now southbound Hill St instead of Atlantic so all riders north of Hill will need to walk up to Hill to go southbound. Sneakily accomplished what they tried to do in past.

Kathy (the other one) September 25, 2017 (12:31 pm)

There is no alert on the Metro website for the 128. If they are actually taking away stops there should be an alert. I would complain loudly if this is true.

Sorry, comment time is over.