- Provide a new frequent service connection between downtown Seattle, Queen Anne business district, and Seattle Pacific University.
- Improve bus connections at Nickerson Street, allowing riders from Queen Anne to more easily travel to Fremont and the University District via routes 31 and 32.
- Provide access to a restroom for transit operators 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In June, Metro heard from more than sixty people who expressed their opinion on the proposed change. These comments have shaped Metro’s work in the community.
We heard that it is important to schedule routes 3, 4, and 13 together so that buses come at even intervals between the Queen Anne business district and Seattle Pacific. Metro will schedule these buses to alternate to the extent possible. In particular, routes 3 and 4 will be scheduled together so that they come every 15 minutes for most of the day. Due to connections with other services route 13 may not be as evenly spaced.
We heard from some people that the new connection will benefit people who live along route 3 or 4 and go to school or work at Seattle Pacific University. We also heard that the change will help people who travel to the University District.
We heard concerns that routes 3 and 4 were being eliminated completely. This change will remove service from the current turnaround loops on Queen Anne, but will not change how often the routes operate or the pathway of the routes through downtown and into Madrona and Judkins Park respectively. In addition, Metro will keep both route numbers so that riders who take the 3 and 4 today will continue to be able to take the same route number in the future.
We heard from some riders on both the 3 and 4 that we should consider only changing one of the routes and not both. However, extending only one route would not meet the goal of this change, because the benefits of the new frequent service connections depend on both routes being scheduled and routed together.
We heard concerns about a new bus shelter that was installed at Rodgers Park that would no longer be served. We heard that it is important to provide bus shelters where many people will be waiting for service, and that some of the other bus stops in the area don’t have shelters. In response, Metro is working to install a bus shelter at the eastbound bus stop on West McGraw Street at 2nd Avenue West to ensure that riders who currently board route 3 north of West McGraw street have a sheltered waiting place at a nearby stop that will be served by routes 3, 4 and 13.
We heard that the additional walk distance would be a hardship for some people, and could make riding the bus difficult. We understand the changes we plan to make will make riding transit difficult for some. For these few riders, there are other options to consider:
- The Hyde Shuttle provides door-to-door, shared ride trips within the neighborhood. It is free and available for seniors and people with disabilities.
- Ridesharing such as a carpool with neighbors or forming a vanpool for your commute is also a possibility.
- Access Transportation may be an option for riders who have a disability that would prevent them from riding bus service some or all of the time.
Stay tuned for more information about this change, including schedule information and maps, in March 2017. If you have further questions about this change or service planning, please email Katie Chalmers, Service Planning Supervisor, or call her at 206-477-5869.