FOLLOWUP: County Council OKs free Metro rides for snow days

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo from February snow, courtesy Jeff B)

Back in April – when we were only two months removed from this year’s February snowpocalypse – we reported on the King County Council considering waiving Metro fares during that kind of weather. Today, on an extra-warm late-summer day, councilmembers finalized the plan. Here’s the announcement:

Today the Council approved legislation sponsored by Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles that would waive enforcement of Metro transit fares when Metro activates its Emergency Snow Network to encourage people to use transit and avoid driving during severe snowstorms.

The legislation was approved 7-2 with Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Kathy Lambert voting in opposition.

Metro customers will be able to ride without paying the transit fare while the Emergency Snow Network is in effect. The legislation increases accessibility of Metro transit service for those experiencing homelessness in need of shelter and encourages all residents to avoid driving during severe snowstorms.

“Like our policy of free fares on New Year’s Eve, this legislation is about promoting safety,” said Kohl-Welles. “It will encourage people to stay off the roads and get to where they need using a safer mode of transportation – regardless if they have an Orca Card or enough money to pay the fare.”

The measure was proposed earlier this year by Kohl-Welles in response to a massive storm that devastated roads and highways across the region in February and became known as “Snowmageddon.” This resulted in Metro activating the Emergency Snow Network for the first time.

A memo accompanying the legislation projects this could “potentially cost Metro approximately $64,750 per day during a snow event warranting enactment of the Emergency Snow Network.”

ktrapp August 28, 2019 (3:36 pm)

It’s too bad the bus system couldn’t handle the snow itself. Even when we were on the backside of the storms, I was waiting a good 45 minutes for any bus to show up in the mornings. I finally ended up driving in to work a few days, since service was so unreliable, yet the roads were plowed enough to not be a hazard.

Graciano August 28, 2019 (5:44 pm)

Free rides, to where? they all seen to get suck in the snow. You’re better off walking.Keep the snow in the mountains, not in the low lands.

WSobserver August 28, 2019 (6:01 pm)

Hilarious. Because good luck actually *finding* your bus at all on a snow day reroute.

WSHighpoint August 28, 2019 (6:57 pm)

No kidding! And let’s not forget that while you are looking for your bus stop, you are slipping and sliding on unshoveled and icy sidewalks.

Patrick August 28, 2019 (6:20 pm)

Unfortunately, Metro buses are far less reliable than most peoples personal cars under this type of condition.

Olafur August 28, 2019 (7:19 pm)

Not to mention that any bus that does run during a snow event is typically already full unless you’re boarding at one of its first couple of stops.

flimflam August 28, 2019 (7:18 pm)

“free” doesn’t really mean “free” – the money is lost/made up somewhere…

WSB August 28, 2019 (7:35 pm)

Yes, obviously. It is a clearer and simpler word to use, conveying “fares won’t be collected.”
KBear August 29, 2019 (10:12 am)

It’s as “free” as the government-subsidized roads you drive on, Flimflam.

DB Coop August 28, 2019 (7:23 pm)

Lets not forget that it’s the buses that cause most of the snow back ups when they get stuck and block all lanes of traffic not just one.

The King August 28, 2019 (9:40 pm)

Maybe, but cars have the market cornered for flipping on their lid in West Seattle. It doesn’t even matter what kind of weather. Beacon hill I bet is a close second if we’re keeping score. It’s just odd to see a mini van dirty side up in a residential on the way to Lowe’s.

Quora August 28, 2019 (7:30 pm)

Is this real? I know it’s real, but it’s hilarious. A snow event like the one in February brings total chaos to this area on the transportation front. The single thing you can count on is the bus schedules being a complete mess; it’s not really their fault, it’s just the way it is. I don’t really see how this legislation is furthering anything for the people, but oh well, more of the same I guess.

AMD August 28, 2019 (7:48 pm)

I feel like I’m riding a different bus than everyone else is when it snows. First, my driving is terrible in good weather. I promise you want Metro and any other agency possible to give me reasons NOT to drive when it snows. Second, I’ve bussed through every snow storm for the last 15 years and only had a bus get stuck in the snow once (and then it was less than a block from the end of the route). Yes, the wait times get longer as the day goes on. The chains are not amazing and damage the buses. But if you’re like me and have a job that doesn’t let you stay home when it snows having that option to get in to work is an absolute godsend. I hope this move motivates more people to use the buses instead of driving like the roads are clear and spinning all over the road (what I usually see). It’s a great resource if you’re open to it.

DH August 28, 2019 (8:48 pm)

Wow, so many negative comments. I’ll offer up the Thank you this warrants.

momosmom August 29, 2019 (7:00 am)

DH you must be new to the area… negative is a lot of commenters middle name around here!
newnative August 29, 2019 (8:54 am)

Are you actually reading the “many negative comments”? The reality of the last snow storm was that many people were left stranded not because they couldn’t afford the bus but because the buses never came. We have apps and alerts that should work but this year people kept offering different apps to download. It didn’t matter, the buses weren’t really running enough. I had to stay and work at home as did most of my coworkers. But there are many people who can’t work from home. I walked from Admiral District to the Alaska Junction and never saw a bus go up or down California. One commenter stated he walked from Morgan Junction to Admiral Junction because the bus never came. For $67k, I’d rather they ensure the buses actually ran.

Kathy August 28, 2019 (11:48 pm)

https://seattletransitblog.com/2019/08/28/transit-tracker-updates-now-called-pantograph-debuting-the-ios-app-new-features/https://pantographapp.com/This app might come in handy during a snow event. So you can start walking when you see that no bus is on its way.

WS Resident August 29, 2019 (8:06 am)

What problem is metro trying to address with free rides during snow days? Do they seriously think people aren’t taking the bus when it snows because of cost? Just another solution without a problem.

Jamie August 29, 2019 (8:23 am)

This is pretty absurd! A free bus ride makes no difference if a bus never comes by that has room for you to get on. I waited over an hour with 3 full #120 buses passing me by on the last round of snow. i walked back home a half hour and worked from home instead. My husband got on 120 going other way to go way back, then cross st and wait for downtown 120 to have room to actually get on. This is absurd. Free doesn’t matter, it would be faster to walk from WS to downtown (and trust me I’ve done that trek in the snow before).

WSJoy August 29, 2019 (9:44 am)

Did the two councilmembers who voted no give reasons? I’m curious what they were.

Mj August 29, 2019 (12:18 pm)

Further the City of Seattle needs to enforce the existing City SMC that requires property owners to keep the abutting sidewalk clear of snow and ice so people can safely walk to a bus stop or other destination.

candrewb August 29, 2019 (1:08 pm)

The absolute last thing I want to do is be on a bus during a snow storm.

SS August 29, 2019 (3:26 pm)

This is a good start but public mass transit should be “free” (fares waved and subsidized by congestion tolling private motor vehicle users in traffic) all the time.

Sorry, comment time is over.