Anyone who has ridden the bus around Ballard this week will likely have noticed a few missing stops.

Earlier in the week, Metro reduced the number of closely spaced bus stops on the Route 75 corridor, which includes Route 18 on 24th Avenue N.W., to help buses move faster, operate on a more reliable schedule, reduce energy consumption and emissions, and reduce Metro’s operating and maintenance costs.

The corridor had 168 bus stops between Pend Oreille Road and N.W. Market St. with an average stop spacing of about 980 feet. The plan was to remove 27 of these stops, increasing the average spacing between stops to about 1,170 feet.

Metro calculated that only 5 percent of Route 75 riders, who board along that corridor, will have to catch their bus at a different stop as a result of this change.

Last month, the Seattle Department of Transportation announced they’re planning on removing eight bus stops along Market St. as well to speed up Route 44.

These changes don’t come without opposition from the community, and complaints, most notably senior citizens.

The BNT recently received a letter from Ballard resident Anne Taylor speaking on behalf of many baby boomers such as herself, who depend on the bus for groceries, doctor trips and other trips.

“There are many of us [baby boomers] in Ballard now, and many more will reach the age of 65 in the next few years. Baby boomers need all current stops on Market Steet,” she said in a letter.

“...as one ages, health and strength make it more and more difficult to walk, especially with a heavy grocery bag in each hand.”

The following stops were closed earlier this week:

24th Ave NW at NW 59th St
24th Ave NW at NW 63rd St
24th Ave NW at NW 67th St
24th Ave NW at NW 73rd St
NE Northgate Way at 8th Ave NE
Lake City Way NE at NE 117th St
NE 125th St at 37th Ave NE