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News from King County Department of Transportation
Metro and partners increase bus service Bus riders traveling to and from Seattle’s South Lake Union area will soon have more weekday afternoon and evening bus service as part of a two-year pilot project to address increasing demand for transit service in the growing business and residential district. Service on King County Metro Transit routes 8 and 70 is being beefed up for the afternoon and evening commute in the South Lake Union area. Beginning Monday, Feb. 11, buses will arrive every 15 minutes for passengers using Route 8 and every 10 minutes for those riding Route 70 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. “This means bus passengers can just ‘step out and ride’ in the afternoon – no schedule needed,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “Thanks to federal funding and a new collaboration between public and private partners, Metro is providing new service where demand is high. These expanded transportation choices will help decrease congestion inside the city, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions.” Sims said this new partnership teams up King County, City of Seattle, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Group Health Cooperative, REI, and Vulcan, Inc. to make bus service more frequent and reliable at a time and place where it is much needed. “This unique partnership shows how the business community can help provide the operating resources that will increase transit ridership and reduce drive-alone commuting,” said Sims. According to city statistics, over the past seven years about 6,900 jobs have been added to the South Lake Union neighborhood. Since 2004, approximately 4.4 million square feet of home, office and retail space has been built, or is under construction. The routes 8 and 70 were chosen for extra service because they connect South Lake Union to Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Eastlake, the University District, and downtown Seattle. Both also provide links to the new South Lake Union Streetcar line. The new bus service will run until February 2010, and may be extended depending on funding. “Providing more frequent and convenient bus service for those who live and work in South Lake Union will give our employees increased incentive to leave their cars at home and embrace more environment-friendly commute options,” said Dr. Lee Hartwell, president and director of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, who regularly commutes by bike and bus. Those involved in the partnership believe that increasing the transit choices will also encourage people working and living in the area to walk more and drive less. "Group Health is pleased to join in this effort to enhance convenience of the bus system for employees at our new headquarters in South Lake Union,” said Bill Biggs, executive director for administrative services for Group Health Cooperative. “We are hopeful that our collective efforts will encourage increased use of public transportation and contribute in some small way to creating a healthier environment for all of us." Several changes are underway as the South Lake Union district morphs into an urban center. Recognizing the link between compact development and climate impact, the city of Seattle is transforming the way neighborhood parking is managed, working to increase transit service, and improving or adding bicycle routes and sidewalks. These types of projects all contribute to the goal of meeting the Kyoto Protocol by 2012 and reducing the number of people driving alone in Center City Seattle by six percent by 2015. “Cars, SUVs, and heavy trucks are the cause of more than 40 percent of climate pollution in Seattle,” said Mayor Greg Nickels. “We are giving people alternatives to driving alone and making it easier for them to get around while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” The city’s financial contribution to the partnership came from the Bridging the Gap transportation levy. The changes in for the routes 8 and 70 coincide with Metro’s February service change. The changes begin on Saturday, Feb. 9 and include revisions to more than 30 bus routes in Metro’s system. For more details about all changes, pick up a Rider Alert or visit Metro Online. New blue timetables are also available on buses and in Metro information racks.
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