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Capitol Hill Community Post | Ride Sound Transit and Metro to the Seattle Women’s March 2.0; expect crowds

From Sound Transit

The Women’s March is expected to start at 10 a.m. with a rally at Cal Anderson Park. The march is expected to begin at 11 a.m. and proceed through downtown to Seattle Center. Transit riders should prepare for significant delays before, during and after the march.

Sound Transit plans to operate extra Link light rail trains to help serve expected crowds using the Capitol Hill Station adjacent to Cal Anderson Park. Those planning to take Link to the march can ride light rail from 15 other stations between the University of Washington and Angle Lake. Customers also can ride Metro and Sound Transit to downtown and join the march from there.

Metro will operate on a normal Saturday schedule and will have additional buses as needed on routes 8, 41, 44, 101, 150, 255, RapidRide C, D, and E Lines. ST Express Routes 512, 550 and 554 will also operate extra service, and additional buses for Pierce County riders will be available as needed.

Extra Metro buses do not have schedules, will not appear in the Metro’s online Trip Planner or One Bus Away, and will be dispatched based on demand. Riders should prepare for overcrowding and for some buses that are too full to accommodate more passengers.

In addition, beginning at noon, Fourth Avenue will close north of Pike Street to all traffic for the duration of the march. ST Express and Metro buses will be rerouted, and ST Express Route 512 will truncate at Westlake Station.

Detailed information on bus service during the march is available at Sound Transit’s rider alerts page and Metro’s Service Advisories page.

Transit riders should use regularly published timetables, plan ahead, allow plenty of time and prepare for traffic delays. Metro will have extra supervisors to monitor crowds in downtown, the International District, and Pioneer Square, and will adjust to accommodate transit needs when possible.

After the event, Metro will provide shuttles from the west side of Seattle Center, northbound on First Avenue North at Harrison Street, for people wishing to return to the central downtown area.

Use online timetables or Metro’s online Trip Planner to find bus service to Capitol Hill or University of Washington Link stations. Bus service that travels to or near these areas includes Metro routes 8, 10, 11, 12, 31, 32, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 60, 65, 67, 71, 73, 75, 271 and 372. Sound Transit Route 545 serves both Montlake Freeway Station and downtown Seattle for connections with other service.

More than 330,000 rides were logged on Metro and Sound Transit during the 2017 Womxn’s March, which contributed to a record Saturday ridership on Link light rail of 80,000 boardings.

Transit users can also follow these tips:

  • Plan to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion and full buses.
  • Prepare for overcrowding on buses.
  • If possible, ride light rail to Capitol Hill station and walk into the park.
  • Prepare for significant delays – as thousands march through downtown, buses may be stopped up to an hour at some locations.
  • Have your transit fare or an ORCA card ready, or download a ticket to your phone through the Transit Go mobile ticketing app.
  • Sign up for Transit Alerts on Metro’s website.

RELEVANT LINKS

Sound Transit Trip Planner

King County Metro Trip Planner

Metro’s Service Advisories page

Transit Go mobile

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