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Metro teams up with the M's

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<<Sounds of baseball game>>

Narrator Says:

The boys of summer are back.

<<Sounds of baseball game>>

Narrator Says:

And this year Mariner fans will be out in force to root the 'Men of Maritime' on to what we all hope is a winning season. As it does every year, King County Metro is teaming up with the Mariners to provide bus service from several Park&Ride lots throughout the county, directly to the front gates of Safeco Field.

Metro Service Quality Chief Doug Bligh Says:

We serve the Northgate area, so the shuttle either going home or coming into the game will be servicing both the Northgate Park&Ride and the Northgate Transit Center. We serve the eastside at the South Kirkland Park&Ride and at the South Bellevue Park&Ride. In the south end we have a circuit that runs from Federal Way, to Kent-Des Moines to Star Lake Park&Ride, and we also have one that begins in Kent, and stops at the Renton, South Renton Park&Ride, and at Tukwila Park&Ride.

Narrator Says:

The cost of taking Metro to Mariner games is likely less than you’d pay to park your car near Safeco, at 3 dollars each way. And if you are planning to use the service, here’s how it works. For games on weeknights, fans can use regular Metro service to get to the game, and the special Mariner service to the Park&Rides is available for the ride home. On weekends, Metro provides premium Park&Ride service both to and from Mariner games. Also remember, if a weekday game starts before 5 p.m. Fans can rely on regular Metro service, but no special service to or from Safeco.

<<More sounds of baseball game>>

Narrator Says:

One new feature of the service that will benefit both fans attending the game, and other bus riders on First Avenue, is a shuttle that will make it a little easier to get to your desired route, amidst the congestion the games can sometimes cause.

Metro Service Quality Chief Doug Bligh Says:

So this year instead of doing what we’ve done in past years, we're going to be providing a 15-minute shuttle service on First Avenue, that will begin approximately 90 minutes after the start of each game, and so fans or regular riders who are on First Avenue, will get a direct ride to where their rerouted coach is, without having to go anywhere, they won't have to go to the rerouted location, they can just stay right on First Avenue, pick up a shuttle, and be take right back to where their bus is getting back onto regular route.

Narrator Says:

Mariner fans have shown they support the team in good times and bad. Since 1996, the team has beaten the American League attendance average every year, despite reaching the post season only 3 times in those 11 seasons. In 2006, more than 60,000 fans rode Metro buses to and from Mariner games, and it looks as if they’ll show strong ridership numbers this year as well.

Metro Rider Hugh Brody Says:

This is like our fourth time going down to opening day, four years in a row and we’ve found that parking’s about $35-40, so we figured we’d save some time, frustration and take the bus, and save some money.

We can sit and talk about the game, we don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot, how close to the stadium, when we get through we’ll walk across the street to the south end of the stadium, get right on a bus and come back here to the Park&Ride.

Metro Rider Franklin Van Sant Says:

I have gone down and parked before and it’s a hassle.  Well it’s a lot easier coming down here and having lunch, and then go on down to the ballgame, walk in, sit down, get back out, go across Occidental, and come back up here, get in my car and go home.

Metro Rider Ray Harding Says:

Well you know parking is about $20 if not more, and the harassment of finding a parking place, the traffic, and after the game is kind of an ultra nightmare, so it’s kind of nice to get out of the stadium, climb on a bus and come back here.

Metro Rider Reg Canipe Says:

Traffic, not having to deal with parking, it’s a lot easier to get there on a day like today.

Metro Rider Dennis Berg Says:

$20 to park down there? That’s a lot of bus rides. Save some money on parking, that’s the main thing, plus you know, let someone else drive, you have a couple too many beers you’ll be ok (laughter).

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Updated:  June 19, 2008

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