BUSES: See the West Seattle plans for Metro’s fall ‘service change,’ including return of Route 22

ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: Some of West Seattle’s closed bus stops will reopen starting October 2nd. That’s the date announced today for Metro‘s next twice-yearly “service change,” and as we first reported two months ago, it includes the return of Route 22 through Gatewood and Arbor Heights. (The other route with bagged bus-stop signs, Route 37, will remain “suspended.” The full service-change plan, route by route, is here. Changes on routes serving West Seattle include:

Routes 56 and 57: One Route 56 AM trip, and one Route 57 PM trip will be deleted due to decreased STBD funding. (timetable here)

Route 60 – Several trips will be added to Route 60 to meet increasing demand due to the ongoing closure of the West Seattle Bridge. (timetable here)

Route 120 – Several trips will be added to Route 120 to meet increasing demand due to the ongoing closure of the West Seattle Bridge. (timetable here)

Route 125 – Two AM trips will be deleted due to decreased STBD funding. (timetable here)

Route 131 – Routes 131 and 132 will no longer be connected to Route 26X, which will be deleted. The existing connections with Route 28X will be maintained. To provide continued service through downtown Seattle, trips that are not connected to Route 28X will proceed to and from a new terminal at 3rd Ave and Bell St. (timetable here)

RapidRide C Line – On weekdays, several trips will be added to RapidRide C Line to meet increasing demand due to the ongoing closure of the West Seattle Bridge. On Saturday and Sunday, several trips will be deleted due to decreased STBD funding. (timetable here)

(STBD is the Seattle Transportation Benefit District, voter-approved funding that the city pays Metro for extra service.) The Metro overview also mentions deleted trips on Route 21 but it’s not on the service-change page, so we’re following up on that, as well as asking if a Route 22 timetable is available.

ADDED FRIDAY: First, here are the Route 21 changes:

We are planning to operate 12 fewer Route 21 Saturday trips starting Oct. 2 as we adjust service levels for STBD. That means instead of 104 trips on Saturdays, we will operate 92.

Also from Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer, here’s the Route 22 timetable for its return – with weekday service – this fall. And note that as discussed in comments, Route 113 is returning too.

20 Replies to "BUSES: See the West Seattle plans for Metro's fall 'service change,' including return of Route 22"

  • sam-c September 1, 2021 (3:31 pm)

    What does it mean if a route is not even listed (even under ‘Deleted’), like Rt. 113?

    • WSB September 1, 2021 (3:53 pm)

      If not listed, it should mean no changes.

    • 113 dreaming September 1, 2021 (4:41 pm)

      I so wish they would bring back the 113.  Used to take 25 min to get down town to work and now takes over an hour and a transfer

      • Maggie September 1, 2021 (6:10 pm)

        I also miss the 113 though I wonder if it would be miserable now that everyone in West Seattle is going that direction with the bridge closed. 

    • Jeff Switzer, Metro September 3, 2021 (9:31 am)

      https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/schedules-maps/service-change.aspx
      We’ve made some updates to the webpages to make it clearer what suspended routes are returning, (including Route 113!) thanks for your patience as our staff finetuned the details. Route 113 will be restored and operating 4 morning and 4 afternoon trips, and the details are being added to our trip planner, and are in this zip file for the time being:Please consult a red timetable available in the PDF collection for complete information.

  • Jay September 1, 2021 (4:02 pm)

    Even before the pandemic the 56 and 57 weren’t dependable enough to rely on for a commute and they never issued cancellation notices. I’d often stand out there for a 30-45 minutes thinking the next bus might come. It’s one of the first routes to be dropped from the list if there are staffing or vehicle issues. The worst is when I’d get stuck downtown. Probably a dozen unplanned and unannounced cancellations a week. The schedules are more aspirational than something you can rely on to plan a commute.

  • Mj September 1, 2021 (5:36 pm)

    With schools opening and colleges, Metro service needs to be enhanced not diminished.  What is needed is more 56 57 service not less in particular midday and both ways in the AM and PM

  • CW September 1, 2021 (6:34 pm)

    Perhaps the deleted trips on the 21 will just be the random cancellations that have been happening lately! I counted 6 notifications today that certain runs of the the 21 or 21X weren’t running. I haven’t noticed this many at once before, but it definitely seems to be happening a lot lately. It’s definitely not making me feel confident about depending on the bus for commuting when I have to go into the office more often.I’m looking forward to having the 22 back.

    • 1994 September 1, 2021 (7:28 pm)

      Chief Sealth High School, and Denny MS, students living in Arbor Heights should be able to count on the 21 to help transport them to and from school timely.

  • Rebecca September 1, 2021 (6:45 pm)

    Sure wish Metro would bring back #113 bus that runs along 26th Ave SW.  Since this route has been canceled i drive. 

  • GT September 1, 2021 (9:50 pm)

    So, no bridge to drive on. And drastic bus route to use. Smart.

  • anonyme September 2, 2021 (8:27 am)

    Looking forward to the return of Route 22, except that I hear it won’t run on weekends any more.  That’s when I need it most, other riders I’ve spoken to say the same.  This is not a commuter route!  A disabled woman in AH says that Metro told her that return of the 22 would primarily be to serve Sealth students.  As usual, seniors and disabled folks don’t count as human, except when levies are falsely presented as being to their benefit.  Our votes are courted, but once the levy passes it’s a big middle finger.  This is not only ageist, but possibly a violation of the ADA.

  • Reality Chick September 2, 2021 (10:33 am)

    Let’s see if we northernmost residents of West Seattle have this right: Route 37 suspended until further notice. Routes 56/57  will have fewer runs (and agree with MJ that pre-pandemic the number of day-of-cancellations was at an all-time high). [Note: All-day 56 was long ago but was a great option all day to get downtown to connect to MANY routes.]The water taxi will be going to winter schedule not long after UW begins. The 50 is a circuitous and therefore incredibly slow route–it is primary connection to the C line, which is crowded/too full once it leaves the Junction. The 50 stop at Lander/SODO busway back to West Seattle is a…sidewalk with no shelter (running 2x an hour this does matter).  We are being asked repeatedly to “take alterative modes of transportation given the bridge closure” and “not drive through neighborhoods.” And, oh yeah, we are in yet another critical phase of the pandemic. Less transit all around and more riders needing it. Winning! 

  • Kathy September 2, 2021 (10:37 am)

    The most populous zipcode in West Seattle is Alki/Admiral (98116). It is the only West Seattle zipcode that grew more than 20% in the last decade. So what does Metro do? Continue to completely suspend Route 37 and decrease service on Route 56. Both of these routes (which were all day routes in the distant past) provide direct downtown service for this area instead of a slow detour south to the Alaska Junction and a transfer to get downtown by bus. Alki/Admiral are most impacted by the closure of the two northern bridges across the Duwamish. These service reductions represent a very bad decision if we want to alleviate traffic congestion.https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/5-census-takeaways-when-it-comes-to-race-ethnicity-in-seattle-2020-data-tells-us-whos-moving-in-whos-moving-out/

  • Wseattleite September 2, 2021 (3:14 pm)

    WSB, given the building zoning requirements/deviations that exist for areas close to Transit, and those that are not, are there changes of any kind when an area is suddenly NOT close to Transit?  If this is the basis for building infrastructure meant to last decades in the future, how can design be so linked to something that can apparently be taken away so quickly and without warning?

    • WSB September 2, 2021 (3:44 pm)

      Short answer, no. Over the years, the transit requirements have loosened, as well.

  • WSB September 3, 2021 (11:50 am)

    Jeff also sent the Route 22 timetable and the summary of Route 21 changes (dropping some Saturday trips) – those are added above.

  • anonyme September 3, 2021 (1:17 pm)

    Route 22 is not a commuter bus and doesn’t need to run from 6 am until 10 pm.  If they shaved a few runs off the beginning and end of the day, they would be able to provide some weekend service.   Even with this route partially restored, there’s still zero bus service to Arbor Heights on weekends.  I’m very suspicious that these extended times exist only to “prove” low ridership in order to further cut service.  As for schedules, the C Line is not an extension of Route 22, any more than any other bus with a stop in the Junction.  This only serves to make the schedule cluttered and nonsensical, much like the 21 schedules with their convoluted explanations for finding express run times.  Just include an express addendum, for Chrissake.  Metro seems to have a real commitment toward making riding the bus as complicated and inefficient as possible.  Maybe they’re Windows designers…

  • DK_WS September 3, 2021 (11:14 pm)

    One route, #50 seems to be left out on several lists.  Yet it has the most adds of any routes in WS.  Here’s the comments on SoundTransit.org News Release on Sept 1st.  Link to the release is below the copy ‘n paste.[Note: after these comments, the #50 is not mentioned again in any of their summary groupings of routes].

    “Seattle adjusting service, supporting mobility for riders Since 2015, the City of Seattle has purchased transit service through the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD). This partnership funding thanks to voters will deliver service on these key Seattle routes, as well as trips on many other routes.”

    • Route 50: 52 additional weekday trips on the direct connection between Alki and SODO stations, and helps more people choose transit to and from West Seattle.
    • Route 60: 19 additional weekday trips; eight restored Sunday trips.
    • Route 120: 19 additional weekday trips.
    • RapidRide C Line: eight additional weekday trips.
    • STBD will continue to fund trips on these North Link area routes: 20 (new route), 40, 44, 48, 70, 49, 65, and 67.
    • Trips will be deleted on 20 routes to adjust service levels to revised STBD funding. “

    https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/new-connections-more-service-king-county-metro-improving?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

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