It won’t open until September 14th but they are cutting the ribbon on the RapidRide G line today.
The city announced the Thursday ceremony Wednesday.
The rushed ceremony after three years of construction on the $139 million Seattle transit project comes as federal officials are also in the area for another celebration of Washington D.C.-boosted transportation spending — Friday’s opening of Sound Transit’s $3.1 billion light rail extension to Lynnwood.
The sped-up approach to celebrating RapidRide G won’t make for a community affair. The photo opp scheduled for the First African Methodist Episcopal Church’s one-acre surface parking lot along E Madison is scheduled to include Federal Transit Administration Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison, SDOT Director Greg Spotts, Sound Transit CEO Goran Sparrman, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
“The completion of construction for the RapidRide G Line marks the end of extensive work to transform Madison into a safer and more accessible street,” the announcement of the ribbon cutting ceremony reads. “This project modernized roads, utilities, sidewalks, and bus lanes, ensuring that Madison is welcoming and comfortable for all.”
CHS reported here in September of 2021 as officials including then-Mayor Jenny Durkan celebrated the groundbreaking on the project. “The RapidRide G line will open up access to a world of opportunities for thousands, without having to set foot in a car,” Durkan said at the time.
Three years later, the project is set to begin service on September 14th.
In addition to transforming the corridor’s transit, biking, walking, and driving safety elements — and lots and lots of paint — RapidRide G work included millions of dollars of attached utility and infrastructure work by the city that has created years of major challenges for businesses and residents living along Madison.
The 2.50-mile, 10-station RapidRide G line will operate 23 hours a day, from 5:00 AM to 4:00 AM between 1st Ave downtown and MLK Jr Way in Madison Valley with stops across First Hill and Capitol Hill along the way, with a bus every six minutes between 6 AM and 7 PM Monday through Saturday.
Changes, cuts, and a few boosts in service to dozens of existing Metro bus lines are being made as RapidRide G comes online.
RapidRide G’s service levels were established as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s $59.9 million that formed the core of the funding for the project.
Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 2 PM in the FAME parking lot.
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While they celebrated today, people were waiting for the 2 at the westbound stop on Madison between 13th and 12th, which appears open now and has appeared to be open for more than a month with a sign that indicates that the stop will no longer be served after September 14. Earlier summer route alerts noted that it was to be open for use by the 2 in July or August. Then when the time came it could be seen if one explored the website that the 2 would continue to be rerouted, but visible infrastructure indicates otherwise. Also why not use it? The bus lane turn onto Union from Madison appears perfectly usable, so why not use it? Inquiries about when this issue will be resolved and the electric trolley restored have resulted in very general hopes for sometime in 2024, 2025 or 2026. There is more to say, but I will stop here for now.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0f9hjDDKBYYqOfdsQoI74t-vg
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e5aIXt37GqNTUS8J4Rq8C6xw
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0b8lkY-EIVIOZLaTnAIANMLnw
https://share.icloud.com/photos/002zvPBnqThYyWmkDa45ZbO9w
https://share.icloud.com/photos/00cOLrqhQzTdT_9Ft6RmEMh0Q
By the way, the person waiting was waiting for the 2 that was never to arrive and might have been observed crossing Madison on 13th going north for the awkward and unnecessary reroute. I did let her know that the stop on Union and Broadway was open.
Good idea to keep the ceremony clear of residents and business owners. Only those making money on the RR-G deal are celebrating. Vote NO on the next transportation package, unless you want another 9 years of these cynical boondoggles.
This line will be successful from day 1 and I believe will foster a rapid expansion of bus only lanes. The levy will pass.
It would be preferable if it just took over the number 11 route and did exactly what 11 does except runs more often.. it doesn’t make any sense that it stops one block short of the Arboretum.