King County Metro announced on Feb. 6 that “in response to rider requests, Metro is testing a new style RapidRide timetable for the C (West Seattle to downtown) and D (Ballard to downtown) Lines that shows departure times along their routes to make it easier to plan travel and make connections to other bus routes.”
The timetables will be posted at RapidRide stops starting Feb. 16.
A common complaint with RapidRide travelers is the uncertainty of stops. When Metro launched the C Line last year, the promise was that a bus would arrive at least every 15 minutes. Several riders reported waiting much longer for a bus, disrupting their transit schedules along the way. Metro has added additional buses in an attempt to better match the 15 minute time frame since the C Line’s introduction.
“The printed C and D Line schedules will show specific times to help riders better plan their daily routines,” Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond said in a statement. “While we’re making this change, we need customers to understand that service will often operate a few minutes before or after posted times as we work to keep buses spaced as evenly as possible.”
Metro said actual arrival times may “vary considerably” from the printed schedule during afternoon traffic congestion. The recommend continuing to pay attention to real-time arrival signs at stops and downloading transit applications to one’s phone, like One Bus Away.
Additional Feb. 16 changes in West Seattle and White Center include the following (per King County Metro):
Route 21 – On all afternoon and evening southbound trips to Westwood Village, Route 21 will continue from the terminal at Southwest Barton Street and 29th Avenue Southwest via 26th Avenue Southwest, Southwest Roxbury Street, 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Barton Street before returning to Westwood Village.
Route 50 – Buses will travel on the original planned route to serve the Delridge neighborhood in both directions now that construction is complete at two intersections.
Route 55 – On weekdays, two morning peak period trips to downtown Seattle were added last fall leaving California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Atlantic Street at 6:34 a.m. and 8:17 a.m. Also, two afternoon peak period trips to the Admiral District were added last fall leaving Sixth Avenue and Blanchard Street at 4:54 p.m. and 5:11 p.m. Some existing trips will also be revised to improve service frequency including a new partial northbound trip to the Admiral District leaving 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Oregon Street at 7:22 a.m.
Route 131 – Trips that are currently scheduled to begin or end in Highland Park at Eighth Avenue Southwest and Southwest Roxbury Street will be revised to begin or end instead at Eighth Avenue Southwest and Southwest 102nd Street.
