BUSES: Third round of Metro cuts will start Saturday

A third round of bus cuts has just been announced by Metro. Here’s the full news release, including non-West Seattle routes, in case it’s helpful:

As the region continues to respond to COVID-19, King County Metro will reduce weekend bus service beginning Saturday April 18, and further reduce weekday bus service starting Monday, April 20. Water Taxi and First Hill Streetcar will continue to operate on previously reduced schedules.

This revised Reduced Schedule provides a core network of public transportation services to maintain access to critical supplies, services, and worksites across the region. Details about weekend changes will be posted online Thursday; canceled trip details weekday service will be revised and updated online Saturday.

Overall, Metro will operate with approximately 42% fewer buses, 36% fewer transit operators, and 27% fewer service trips than typical weekday service. Weekend trips will be reduced by 15% on Saturdays and 4% on Sundays.

“To reserve transit for those who need it most, we’re calling on riders to travel only if absolutely necessary and to wear a face covering to help limit the spread of COVID-19,” said King County Metro General Manager Rob Gannon. “Adjusting our weekend and weekday service allows us to continue to operate a reliable network of service for essential travel needs – for food, medicine, and work – while responding to decreased ridership demands and to the overall availability of Metro’s workforce. Our goal is to continue to serve the community, and we’re grateful for and commend our frontline staff.”

The upcoming April 18 Reduced Schedule is among the latest steps in Metro’s response to COVID-19. Previous reductions in service took place March 23 and April 6. Those reductions helped maintain a sustainable transit agency amid ridership that has now dropped by about 70% compared to a year ago.

Supporting our community and workforce

Metro’s service adjustments are designed to provide a viable transit network and service level in the face of lower ridership, and to prepare Metro for continued workforce availability challenges.

An estimated 66% of Metro’s transit and rail operators are available to report to work in support of service, which represents a slight decrease compared to before COVID-19’s emergence. Some drivers, mechanics, and front-line staff are temporarily not available to work either due to personal or family health reasons. King County has several paid leave resources in place to support employees who are not available to work at this time.

In response to COVID-19, Metro:

Disinfects buses and other transit vehicles/vessels daily;
Supports social distancing by implementing rear-door boarding, suspending fare collection, installing “safety straps” to reserve the front of the bus for passengers requiring priority seating, and encouraging passengers to stay apart from others while using transit;
Reminds passengers of public health guidance—such as staying home except for essential travel, not using transit when sick, frequently washing hands, avoiding touching the face, covering coughs and sneezes, and wearing a face covering.

UPDATED REDUCED WEEKEND SCHEDULES
(Transit service is provided in partnership with the City of Seattle.)

SATURDAY

Routes with most or all trips operating on Saturday

RapidRide A Line, D line, E Line, and F Line
Routes 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 24, 27, 28, 31, 33, 45, 49, 60, 62, 71, 73, 101, 105, 107, 120, 124, 148, 156, 164, 168, 180, 182, 183, 187, 225, 230, 231, 240, 245, 271, ST 522, ST 545, ST 554, 635 (Des Moines Community Shuttle), 901, 903, 906, 908, 914, 915, 916, 917

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation on Saturday

RapidRide B Line and C Line
Routes 1, 2, 5, 12, 13, 14, 21, 26, 32, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 48, 50, 65, 67, 70, 75, 106, 128, 131, 132, 150, 166, 169, 181, 239, 250, 255, 269, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 372, ST 542, ST 550,
First Hill Streetcar
Sound Transit Link light rail

Routes, services, and programs fully cut or not operating on Saturday

Routes 22, 47, 118, 125, 208, 221, 226, 241, 249, 910
South Lake Union Streetcar
Water Taxi West Seattle and Vashon routes
Via to Transit
Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Community Ride, Normandy Park Community Ride, Sammamish Community Ride, Bothell/Woodinville Community Ride

SUNDAY

Routes with most or all Sunday trips operating

RapidRide A Line, B Line, C Line, D Line, E Line, and F Line
Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 60, 62, 65, 67, 70, 73, 75, 101, 105, 106, 107, 120, 124, 128, 131, 132, 148, 150, 156, 166, 168, 169, 180, 181, 182, 187, 225, 230, 231, 239, 240, 245, 250, 255, 271, 331, 346, 347, 348, 372, ST 522, ST 542, ST 545, ST 550, ST 554, 901, 903

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation on Sunday

First Hill Streetcar
Sound Transit Link Light Rail

Routes, services, and programs fully cut or not operating on Sunday

Routes 22, 47, 118, 125, 221, 226, 241, 249
South Lake Union Streetcar
Water Taxi West Seattle and Vashon routes
Via to Transit
Shoreline/Lake Forest Community Ride, Bothell/Woodinville Community Ride

UPDATED REDUCED WEEKDAY SCHEDULE

Routes with most or all trips operating (22 routes with 2 or fewer trips cut)

A Line, 60, 71, 73, 105, 106, 131, 164, 166, 193, 269, 303, 309, ST 554, 628 (Snoqualmie Community Shuttle), 631 (Burien Community Shuttle), 901, 903, 906, 908, 914, 916

Routes with fewer trips and/or reduced hours of operation (86 routes and services)

RapidRide B, C, D, E and F lines
Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Local, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21 Local, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 70, 75, 101, 107, 120, 124, 128, 132, 148, 150, 153, 156, 168, 169, 180, 181, 182, 183, 187, 204, 225, 230, 231, 239, 240, 245, 250, 255, 271, 331, 345, 346, 347, 348, 372, 373, ST 522, ST 542, ST 545, ST 550, 635 (Des Moines Community Shuttle), 915, 917,
Water Taxi West Seattle and Vashon routes
First Hill Streetcar
Sound Transit Link light rail

Routes, services, and programs fully cut (111 routes and services)

5 Express, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21 Express, 22, 29, 37, 47, 55, 56, 57, 74, 76, 77, 78, 102, 111, 113, 114, 116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 143, 154, 157, 158, 159, 167, 177, 178, 179, 186, 190, 192, 197, 200, 208, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, 221, 224, 226, 232, 237, 241, 246, 249, 252, 257, 268, 301, 304, 308, 311, 312, 316, 330, 342, 355, ST 541, ST 555, ST 556, 630 (Mercer Island Community Shuttle), 773, 775, 823, 824, 886, 887, 888, 889, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 907, 910, 913, 930, 931, 952, 980, 981, 982, 984, 986, 987, 988, 989, 994, 995

South Lake Union Streetcar
Via to Transit
Black Diamond/Enumclaw Community Ride, Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Community Ride, Normandy Park Community Ride, Sammamish Community Ride, Juanita Area Community Ride, Bothell/Woodinville Community Ride

12 Replies to "BUSES: Third round of Metro cuts will start Saturday"

  • Mark Schletty April 16, 2020 (6:12 pm)

    Completely eliminate the 22 bus!? That is the only bus that services a whole large part of West Seattle, and it only runs once an hour anyway. How are people living here and needing or wanting to use buses supposed to get to other buses to get downtown? Hey, Jort, got any good ideas on how to bus when there is no bus. And don’t tell me to ride a bike. I live at the top of a big hill on the 22 route and I watch even experienced riders pushing their bikes by the time they get up here.

    • Bill April 16, 2020 (7:09 pm)

      It is bad enough that the 22 doesn’t stop at 26th and Roxbury! — only 20 min walk to Safeway now – and the back up the hill! looks like I will have to make several trips to the store – one yet tonight and 4-5 tomorrow — after that will have to mooch rides from the neighbors —

    • Go gull April 16, 2020 (8:59 pm)

      I agree it’s concerning that transit is being reduced here, given both the pandemic and bridge closure…

      Hopefully the reductions will just be during this stay-at-home order period, and they plan to ramp back up once they expect more will be commuting…?  Would be good to hear more about their plans to manage the upcoming needs.

      Ps. I can guess what Jort will say… E-bike!

    • 22 Rider April 17, 2020 (12:36 pm)

      No car…22 best connection with Thriftway for older, non bicycle-abled rider.  Route C only?..6 blocks uphill walk means today last trip to T’way until….  

    • Bumble bee April 18, 2020 (10:04 pm)

      The 22, be glad they didn’t cut that bus years ago to begin with 

  • Joe G April 16, 2020 (6:27 pm)

    Wait am I missing something?  First they restrict vehicle traffic into and out of WestSea not they are cutting more buses?  Time to succeed. Wish Charlie Chung was still around. 

  • flynlo April 16, 2020 (7:07 pm)

    I assume that Metro will reimburse Seattle and Seattle will reimburse car owners for the decrease in service that our $80. car tabs were paying for?

    • AMD April 16, 2020 (8:16 pm)

      Weird that everyone wants reimbursement and tax cuts for car owners who are getting less than they feel they deserve for their money, but no park users, library patrons, or school attendees are begging for refunds of taxes for services they can’t access during the pandemic.  I just don’t understand why the entitlement is so thick.  Not to mention the complete logical face plant of car owners getting reimbursed for reduced bus service…  (On a side note, that’s a huge bummer about the 22.  There was SUPER low ridership forever and always, but it is the only route that services a number of not-super-walkable areas)

  • AlexC April 16, 2020 (7:41 pm)

    Well there goes my main way to and from work. Cannot say I am surprised. Most days it’s just me or one or two other people on my ride to work. Still frustrating.

  • Jim P. April 16, 2020 (8:46 pm)

    A couple more rounds of cuts and we’ll be down to a Mumbai Jitney, two pedicabs and a rental scooter with a discharged battery.

    • Calires April 17, 2020 (12:28 am)

      I’ve got a very high energy dog and a little red wagon I’d be willing to throw into the mix…

  • anonyme April 17, 2020 (9:07 am)

    I understand that many service cuts are reasonable right now, but what is not reasonable is to completely eliminate ALL service to a large and densely populated neighborhood – Arbor Heights.  AH has always gotten the crappy end of the stick when it comes to transportation (and amenities) but cutting first the #21 and now the #22 is extreme. BTW, as of last night the #22 driver had heard nothing about this.

Sorry, comment time is over.