BUSES: Metro’s spring service change will cut, add/restore some West Seattle trips

| Coronavirus | Transportation | West Seattle news

Metro has announced the plan for its March “service change,” which takes effect March 20th. Changes include:

*Adding/restoring some trips “to address travel demand that at times exceeds COVID-19 passenger limits,” including, in West Seattle, Routes 50, 60, and 128.

*Suspension of some trips on certain routes, described as “peak commuter routes where ridership has not yet returned,” including, in West Seattle. Routes 21X, 55, 56, 57,.

See the full announcement here. You can get the route-by-route details here.

NH March 3, 2021 (1:47 pm)

I get it, but boy, what a terrible time to break my foot. I can take 3 buses and spend twice as much time commuting, or join the throngs on the 1st Avenue Bridge. Ugh.

anonyme March 3, 2021 (1:58 pm)

So, Arbor Heights is going to have service reduced even more. That’s barely possible. We currently have no midday or weekend service at all, now even the peak service is being cut. Also, please explain to me how Metro knows that a route (22 in this case) has “lower ridership demand” when the route was canceled almost a year ago? It would be nice if Arbor Heights had an advocate, oh I don’t know, maybe like a council member, who gave a flying rat’s aperture about the citizens of this neighborhood. We have always had very poor transportation options, and it just gets worse and worse.

Mj March 3, 2021 (4:31 pm)

I’m concerned about the pending traffic nightmare that is likely to occur this Fall as things open back up. SDoT needs to be working 24 7 to repair the bridge, literally no one is on the high level bridge doing anything. Yes I get they are doing design, but there are items that they can be working on now. The goal needs to be to get some traffic on it by this Fall.

Regarding Metro, if SDoT fails to get the bridge open by this Fall, they better blanket WS with better bus service. The Admiral and Arbor Heights areas need to be provided midday service in addition to peak period service that only works one way that needs to be expanded to both directions

NH March 3, 2021 (6:22 pm)

Admiral doesn’t even have peak time service now with this change. I just used their trip planner to calculate out how I can get to my next spine conference (an early morning, once a month thing). It gave me one itinerary only, that would take an hour and ten minutes, and involve more than half a mile of walking. I have a broken foot. Not going to work.

AMD March 3, 2021 (5:43 pm)

Most of these changes make sense, but I do wish they would bring back the 22, even if overall ridership is low, because it’s the only bus that drops you off at the SW Athletic Complex vaccination site. There’s this great announcement on the home page about an influx of vaccines headed there, but scroll a little further and you read “…but you’ll have to find some other way to get there.”

WSB March 3, 2021 (6:41 pm)

Please note, they have expanded paratransit access for folks who need it to get there. Follow the link to the full announcement, which in turn links to news about that, sepcifically for getting to vaccination appointments.

Lies March 3, 2021 (7:35 pm)

Metro also says some suspended routes will continue that way at least until the fall service change “due to lower ridership demand and available financial resources,” including, in West Seattle, Routes 22, 37, 113, and 116. That means they’ve been planning to eliminate them for years and finally have an excuse to do so. Previously they’ve incrementally cut service to reduce ridership to justify incrementally cut service to reduce ridership etc. Metro plays the long game. COVID has given them cover expeditiously delete routes they were eating away at with the intention of ending anyway.

anonyme March 4, 2021 (6:25 am)

Lies, I’ve been saying this for years and it’s a relief to read that someone else is on the same page. Metro often justifies cuts due to “low ridership” that is not the fault of riders, but of their poor scheduling and routing (which again, is likely deliberate as a way to drive numbers down even further). Metro is a public service, not a private business. Completely cutting off service to some neighborhoods while isolating certain demographics is not only unethical, but it also defeats the purpose of “public” transportation. Route 22 serves several areas with NO other bus access (Arbor Heights, Gatewood) without walking long distances. Seniors are probably the most impacted by this particular cut and are also the least likely to be able to fight back or demand consideration.

Jeff Switzer, Metro March 4, 2021 (11:39 am)

Thanks to each of you for sharing your concerns and feedback about upcoming bus service changes. We are working to identify the priorities for restoring service in September and beyond. There is a Metro survey open through March 8 and would love if you would include your specific concerns about Route 22 or other routes or access: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2021/02/08/have-a-say-king-county-metro-seeks-community-input-through-route-to-recovery-survey/Folks who need help reaching vaccination sites can learn about options we offer: https://kingcountymetro.blog/2021/02/23/take-transit-to-take-your-shot-here-are-ways-to-get-to-your-vaccination-appointment/

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