On Oct. 2, a new generation of Metro Transit bus service debuts in South King County. For local bus riders, the launch of the RapidRide "A Line" on Pacific Highway South/International Boulevard will mean more frequent and convenient bus service.

For King County as a whole, the arrival of the A Line will mark the completion of a successful partnership that will serve as a model for future RapidRide lines all across the county.

Bus riders in Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila have a lot to look forward to. The A Line will be easy to use and offer 10 to 15-minute service much of the day. That amounts to twice as much service as the current Route 174 and more than 34,000 hours of new service each year.

And the A Line will provide faster trips. Travel times, especially during morning and afternoon commutes, will be shorter than current conventional bus trips. By consolidating stops, expediting fare collection, improving roads, and giving buses priority at intersections, RapidRide travel times are expected to be as much as 30 percent faster than current trips.

Another hallmark of the A Line will be convenient connections to Link light rail. With more people riding the bus and taking the train, we will be able to keep traffic congestion in check along some of our busiest corridors in South King County.

As our region struggles to balance the need for more transit with economic reality, RapidRide will also make good business sense. The program has already received $61.6 million in federal and state grants.

President Obama's 2010 budget includes an additional $20 million for RapidRide. That's nearly 40 percent of the capital cost of putting RapidRide on the road.

This service investment is expected to account for more than 2.5 million riders annually over the next few years - a 50 percent increase over current ridership. Metro expects similar ridership gains as new lines are added in future years.

The A Line will also have a different look. Riders will see sleek new 60-foot red, black and yellow hybrid-electric coaches equipped with three doors for easy boarding. Old bus shelters have been replaced by more than 50 new transit stops and stations.

Many stops will have improved features such as bike racks and benches. Waiting areas will be well-lit and come equipped with stop-request signals so riders can alert bus drivers when they are waiting for a bus at night. And each stop will display the new Metro RapidRide brand.

Of course, coordinating the many features and amenities that will define RapidRide was no small task. It has taken a great deal of forward thinking on the part numerous government agencies to help Metro lay the groundwork for the A Line.

The cities of Federal Way, Des Moines, Kent and SeaTac constructed HOV lanes, which would later become instrumental in designing the bus rapid transit line. These agencies, along with the Washington State Department of Transportation, also participated in the design of an 11-mile fiber optic communication network linking Metro's control center and 24 real-time bus information signs that will soon be up and running at RapidRide stations.

This fiber optic line will also provide the technology necessary for buses to get more green lights at selected intersections, which will help reduce travel times.

Add it all up and RapidRide signifies a smart investment for Metro and the many partners in the region that stepped up from the start in locating and designing necessary improvements and facilities. With their input - plus federal and state grant funding - Metro is now poised to deliver an improved service that can serve as a model for future RapidRide lines.

That means more efficient, cost-effective and frequent bus service to as many as 15 million Metro riders all across the county each year.

South King County residents can all look forward to this new generation of Metro Transit service.