UPDATE: A commuter takes the plunge on the new transportation system
Area civic leaders are unveiling a set of alternatives Thursday to help commuters get around the city should the Metro service-saving Prop 1 not gather enough King County votes before next Tuesday’s Election Day. While it’s not the warmest day for it, the new First Hill infrastructure will certainly be wet enough for a fast ride. Stop by. The new system utilizes ORCA cards and accepts transfers.
County leaders to announce “New Commuter Toolkit” featuring Slip ‘N Slides and zip line
Seattle – Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci, and Redmond Mayor John Marchione will announce a “New Commuter Toolkit” on Thursday. They will unveil plans for a zip line from Seattle to Redmond and have a prototype Slip ‘N Slide on hand for commuters from Capitol Hill to downtown. This will ensure commuters are prepared in case King County voters don’t approve Proposition 1 to prevent devastating cuts to bus service.These new options are environmentally sustainable and promote an active, healthy lifestyle for commuters. Experts think King County’s 150 days of annual rainfall make our region a perfect place to test commuting by Slip ‘N Slide. Students and commuters will be on hand to demonstrate how to travel via Slip ‘N Slide, which will be set up alongside Seneca in Freeway Park. All are welcome to participate.
Eastside leaders will be on hand to unveil the preliminary design and route for a zip line to Bellevue and Redmond. This exciting new transportation option is also environmentally sustainable and will provide commuters unparalleled views of Mt. Rainier.
While buses currently serve thousands of commuters well every day, regional leaders stressed the need to prepare commuters for what life will be like if we don’t approve Proposition 1. Metro bus rides are facing the elimination of 72 bus routes and cuts to another 84 routes. These cuts will make it difficult or impossible for many students to get to school, seniors to get to medical appointments, and people with disabilities to get to work. That’s why an unprecedented coalition of businesses, labor unions, elected officials, and advocacy organizations have endorsed a Yes vote on Proposition 1.
UPDATE by Sebastian Garrett-Singh: “It will be more and more difficult for people to get around,” said Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen, stating the sopping wet obvious Thursday afternoon. The Council Member who chairs Seattle’s transportation committee told the crowd that if Proposition 1 does not pass it will negatively impact not only bus riders commutes but drivers through increased traffic congestion overall. One purposefully absurd solution: a zipline.
“You can get on the zipline and fly right over Lake Washington,” said Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci. “This is plan D at this point,” said Marchione, to a chorus of chuckles.
A handful of attendees at the unveiling of the Seneca Slip ‘N Slide tried the new downtown express. James Sido of the Downtown Seattle Association said, despite the fun times, the Prop 1 vote is serious business. “We’re very much in favor of Prop 1,” said Sido. “This is a matter of equity. The demand is higher than it’s ever been. Now is certainly not the time to take that away from people.”
The 47 was packed this morning with many people standing in the aisle due to a lack of seats. This route will be eliminated entirely should the measure fail as it’s “one of the lowest performing routes” in the system. Can’t wait to have to walk 8-10 blocks in a downpour like this morning just to catch a ride to work.
There is no fucking way it’s going to fail. I am putting my world-renowned reputation behind that statement.
I think the issue is more that the route is kinda covered by nearby routes (43, 49) and that routes a ghost down outside of the commute.
Re the #47, there are a lot of people who are not so able bodied who ride the #47 to/from work-elderly, mobility issues (e.g., one woman who walks with 2 canes), blind but otherwise young and fit. A long way to walk, up to the 49 or out to the 43 or other buses running along Pine.
Other folks don’t work a standard 9 to 5 job. Again, a long way to walk late at night, although that is somewhat moot since they already cut the hours of the 47 to end around 10pm. However, lots of new or recent construction along Bellevue and Summit…
I don’t disagree with you, but I think you could bring up the able-bodies point with any route. Cutting the route doesn’t really have any downstream effects and the 43 and 49 service the same general areas, which is more than some other areas with localized routes can say.
I’m not for any of these cuts by a long shot but I can certainly see why this is one of the cuts that will be made if the proposition doesn’t pass.
I predict it won’t pass. I’ve heard too many people complain about the car tab fee. I was told the only reason I voted for it was because I don’t drive.
seattle and metro are so pathetic when it comes to transporation… gonna vote yes, but they will always find a way to screw things up in this city when it comes to public transit
Instead of more buses, why doesn’t the city trade up to double-decker buses?