Buses would travel on California Avenue SW rather than 41st Avenue SW and SW Ida Street

King County Metro Transit is considering a revision of Route 22 in West Seattle, and wants to know what you think.

Metro is proposing that Route 22 buses would no longer travel on SW Ida Street and 41st Avenue SW, and would instead operate on California Avenue SW between Ida and SW Thistle streets. Several new bus stops would be added along California Avenue between Ida and Thistle streets.

Riders who now get on and off Route 22 buses at stops along Ida Street and 41st Avenue could instead catch the bus at new stops on California Avenue or at stops on Thistle Street.

The map shows the proposed new routing. Metro has not yet determined where bus stops would be added on California Avenue.

Metro is considering this new routing because it is more direct, keeps buses on arterial streets, has fewer turns, and eliminates several difficult street crossings along 41st Avenue where drivers’ visibility is limited. Transit travel time and safety would be improved as a result.

Metro is coordinating with the City of Seattle Department of Transportation, which has reviewed the change Metro is considering.

If Metro makes this change to Route 22, the new routing would begin October 2, 2010, along with other Metro service and schedule changes.