(Editor’s Note: This letter was sent to Kevin Desmond, King County metro transit director, with a copy to the Times/News.)
I have been a rider, along with many others, of the King County Metro bus system for almost 35 years because I am not able to drive a car. I take bus number 139 from my home to my place of work.
The changes you are planning to provide a much smaller Dart bus with smaller seats and sporadic service, are unacceptable on this route.
The proposed small Dart bus can hold only a wheelchair passenger and two additional passengers. This means that hundreds of bus drivers will be adversely affected by this change.
I know this change is not due to lack of funds. Metro is NOT hurting in the money department. In fact, there was a $20 car tab tax that was passed for each vehicle in order to prevent King County Metro transit from cutting service.
Further, we, the bus riders, are paying your salaries. You management people have no idea (nor, I fear, do you actually care) how much the current bus service of the number 139 bus is needed in its current state.
Please keep it as it is.