Thanks to CHS reader Matthew for the picture
The neighborhood around Summit Ave is celebrating. New signs have gone up announcing the September start of service in the area on Route 3, one of several bus lines King County Metro is adjusting — and deleting — with the launch of the RapidRide G line on Madison.
The first #3 bus will mark the return of Metro service on the street since Route 47 was stalled in a pandemic-era suspension.
The gains of I-5 Shores are the losses of Queen Anne. Like so many routes being adjusted, the #3 change comes with some bad news for somebody. In this case, the route’s old path to Queen Anne is being sliced away.
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But Summit area residents are likely to be happy with the change. CHS reported here on Metro’s outreach process to sort out a future for the area’s bus service amid plans for adjusting service on its other routes near the coming soon RapidRide G line. The balancing act has been part service optimization to improve connections around the bus rapid transit route and part resource allocation as Metro must muscle up to achieve the promised 6-minute peak service on the RapidRide route.
Metro is bringing back the bus serving my street after a four-year suspension.
I shared the news with my neighbor, an LGBTQ senior who is adjusting to living with a disability after a fall.
He’s excited, so am I. transit matters so much! Thx @KingCountyMetro pic.twitter.com/QLwmuBXYEm
— Tucker Cholvin (@tuckerhimself) August 27, 2024
That has meant planned reductions and changes to other nearby lines — and lines far from Madison. Any rebalances to this round will need to be addressed in future service changes or with new money from the city or county.
There will be other significant changes and deletions starting September 14th as the adjustments go into effect and RapidRide G makes its grand opening.
Route 10 will no longer travel on E Olive Way and E John. Instead, the #10 will travel along 15th Ave E and E Pine on its way to and fro between the Hill and downtown. “Trip times will be adjusted to better match rider demand,” Metro notes.
Another example is Route 12 which has trundled between 19th Ave E and downtown via Madison for years despite Metro’s occasional approaches on shutting down the more lightly used line. The #12 will be moved off Madison, instead traveling on Pine, Bellevue, and Pike. Like the 10, its weekday service level will be reduced but the line is an example where City of Seattle funding will boost some service levels. Weekend service will see extra trips to achieve a bus available every 20 minutes thanks to Seattle Transit Measure funding.
Nearly 20 routes in all will see their service levels “adjusted” as RapidRide G comes online.
Eleven including Route 64 will be cut completely.
Three new lines are being added though they are part of Metro’s greater service around Seattle and not adjacent to RapidRide G including Route 61, a new east-to-west route that replaces part of the deleted Route 20.
There are also smaller adjustments to more routes in the system, Metro says.
Metro has posted a full roster of planned service changes coinciding with the start of RapidRide G service.
In addition to the transition to the many changed routes, Metro is also trying to help people through the transition in its bus stops and facilities near Madison, reminding riders that the new bus stops are not yet operational and hoping to clear up confusion as the old lines make way for new routes.
The $139 million, 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.
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.
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.
Is this another bus running on Pine or same one? Last time I was on a bus on Pine since the one way configs west of Bellevue the area is a mess for traffic including buses at times.
As a resident near Thomas, I’m excited about the reroute of the 11, as there will now be two routes (8 and 11) connecting our hood to Capitol Hill Station. Actually three if you count the 43, but it barely exists.
10 bus back where it belongs!
Yay! I was thinking this too!
Didn’t it change back when the light rail first went in to U District? I’m so glad it’s back.
Saw a training bus turning on Summit route the other day and was wondering what was going on. Glad to hear about the 3. It should be noted while the 10 is no longer going up E Olive and E John, the 11 bus is being rerouted to go up that route to 15th.
Service to Queen Anne isn’t being cut — lots of trips that were previously numbered #3 will now be #4 trips. There’s still service from QA to 21st & James every 15 minutes during weekdays. The only one-seat ride that’s no longer available would be the from outer part of the #3 (Cherry past 23rd to Madrona) to Queen Anne.