RapidRide H Line service launched on March 18! King County Metro has been working in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the City of Burien to upgrade Metro Bus Route 120 — one of our 10 busiest routes — to the RapidRide H Line. We’re excited to bring more reliable and more frequent service, along with new stations and amenities to the Seattle, White Center, and Burien communities! Public customer appreciation events are planned along the corridor on March 18 and March 20. Keep an eye out as the H Line team will be onsite at various locations throughout the RapidRide H line providing fun, free swag, answering questions and providing more information about the benefits of the RapidRide.
Join us for our virtual construction office hours
March 23, 2023, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Zoom
Join us online (meeting ID: 228 271 1759) or by phone (1-253-215-8782)
To request interpretation services for these virtual events, please contact us before the meeting via phone at 206-257-3079, or email us at rapidride@kingcounty.gov
While RapidRide H Line service will begin this month, we do anticipate needing to complete some paving and punch list work throughout the spring. Specifically, there is outstanding paving work that requires warmer temperatures. This work will not impact bus service.
We will continue sending email updates monthly to keep you informed on what to expect near you. We’ll also be reaching out to route neighbors, businesses, and local community organizations throughout construction to notify them when and where work will happen, as well as what impacts to expect.
Please feel free to share this information with your neighbors and encourage them to sign up for project email updates.
What to expect during construction
Construction on the RapidRide H Line project began in June 2021 and is expected to last through Spring 2023. Typical work hours for the RapidRide H Line project are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some nighttime and weekend work. Majority of construction is expected to last through March 2023 with some construction to wrap up this spring.
During construction, you can expect:
- Noise, vibrations, and dust in the project area
- Temporary parking restrictions
- Periodic lane and driveway closures
- Large machinery and truck activity
- Construction staging and parking impacts near the construction site
- Some sidewalk, intersection, and lane closures
- Detours for people walking, biking, and rolling
- Temporary bus detours and bus stop relocations for Route 120 and other area transit and bus routes
- Flaggers to direct traffic around work areas
Seattle
Crews installing tech pylon at the future RapidRide H Line station on Delridge Way SW and SW Hudson St
26th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street
- Installing pedestrian push button and signal foundation
- Forming and pouring sidewalk
20th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street
- Demolishing, grading, forming and pouring sidewalk, curb, ADA-compliant ramps, and roadway panels
- Electrical and utility work
- Grading, forming, and pouring bust station foundation
- Forming and pouring tech pylon foundation
15th Avenue SW and SW Roxbury Street
- Overhead electrical work
White Center
Newly installed shelters, benches, and tech pylon at 15th Ave SW and SW 102nd St
SW 102nd Street and 15th Avenue SW
- Installing fence posts
- Installing chain link fencing
SW 107th Street and 15th Avenue SW
- Installing chain link fencing
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 112th Street
- Installing cable fencing
- Installing handrail
Burien
16th Avenue SW and SW 114th Street
- Electric work
- Landscaping work
- Installing fencing
16th Avenue SW and SW 116th Street
- Installing handrails
- Installing safety bollards
Ambaum Boulevard SW from SW 116th Street to SW 122nd Street
- Forming and pouring sidewalks, curbs, and gutters
- Forming and pouring pedestrian island
- Forming and pouring driveways
Ambaum Boulevard SW and SW 122nd Street
- Installing handrails
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 128th Street
- Grading, forming, and pouring curbs and gutters
- Forming and pouring sidewalks and driveways
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 132nd Street
- Overhead electrical work
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 136th Street
- Landscaping work
- Installing handrails
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 142nd Street
- Landscaping work
- Installing handrails
- Electrical work
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 148th Street
- Pouring driveways
- Underground utility work
- Demolishing, forming, and pouring sidewalks
- Installing signal cabinets
- Installing handrails
Ambaum Boulevard and SW 150th Street*
- Installing signal cabinets
6th Avenue SW and SW 150th Street
- Landscaping
- Grading, forming, and pouring sidewalks
- Forming and pouring curbs and gutters
- Electrical work
SW 150th Street between 5th Avenue SW and Burien Transit Center
- Grading, forming, and pouring sidewalks, curbs, and gutters
- Landscaping work
*Please note that we have temporarily closed the left turn pocket on northbound Ambaum Boulevard at SW 150th Street until additional signage has been installed. We are also working with the project team to study the traffic patterns and lane widths to ensure conditions are safe during construction and once construction is complete.
Community Happenings
Answers to your commonly asked questions
What is RapidRide H Line?
RapidRide H Line, previously known as Route 120, is one of our 10 busiest routes. It will provide connections from neighborhoods in Burien, White Center, and West Seattle to downtown Seattle along Third Avenue. RapidRide H Line will also provide needed connections to other bus routes and Link light rail. The RapidRide H Line project is funded by the City of Burien, City of Seattle, and King County.
How is RapidRide H Line different from Route 120?
RapidRide H Line buses will operate more reliably, and riders will have access to more peak commute trips operating in the reverse direction and more trips operating at night on weekends. Bus stops will be upgraded with new shelters, lighting, and real-time arrival information to improve your experience. Sidewalks, street crossings, and signals will be improved around stations for pedestrians, bikes, and those with limited mobility. Additionally, new business access and transit (BAT) lanes will be added to improve travel times for transit and provide better access to businesses for drivers.
What are the construction hours and how long will construction last?
Typical work hours for the RapidRide H Line project are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with some nighttime and weekend work. Majority of construction is expected to last through March 2023 with some construction to last beyond 2023.
Will access to businesses be maintained throughout construction?
Access to businesses will be maintained throughout construction. We are reaching out to neighbors, businesses, and local community organizations in advance of construction near them to share when and where work will happen, as well as what impacts to expect.
Why was construction delayed previously?
Construction on RapidRide H Line was previously delayed due to a region-wide concrete driver worker strike.
Why does construction start at new locations without others being completed?
The limited and unpredictable availability of concrete resulted in crews balancing the work they can do with what materials are available to continue that work. In order to maintain the overall project schedule, we have begun several new locations where crews have the resources and materials to complete the work, while also pausing some work at other locations, as necessary. Crews are continuing to make swift progress on work throughout the project area and we look forward to being able to wrap up work at some sites throughout the project area later this summer.
Where is construction happening now?
Where crews are doing construction varies week by week. For more details about the locations where work is ongoing, see the “What’s Happening Now” section on our project website or visit our blog for more information. You can also sign up for project updates here.
What work will be done over the winter months?
Crews will focus on shelter installations, excavation, concrete pours, and landscaping over the winter months. See the construction map for more details. Low temperatures and consistent rain will require that paving work will shift into early this year when warmer temperatures return. In locations where work is paused, we will be securing equipment, consolidating traffic control, and covering open holes to ensure safe traveling conditions.
What does the red striping along Ambaum Boulevard indicate?
The red striping on Ambaum Boulevard denotes Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes which allow buses to travel more efficiently through the corridor. This minimizes delays and increases transit speed and reliability while maintaining access to local businesses and residents. For transit riders, a designated bus lane, or BAT lane, allows buses to move more freely, leading to greater opportunity for on-time arrivals. Similarly, for drivers, BAT lanes enhance the capacity of general-purpose lanes by removing buses from general traffic. Finally, access to driveways is improved through added visibility and opportunities to turn into driveways.
When can vehicle drivers use the BAT lanes?
Posted signs and pavement markings indicate where Bus Only or BAT lanes begin. Drivers should merge into general purpose lanes or make a right turn at the next intersection. Drivers may use Bus Only or BAT lanes to enter and exit driveways and alleys throughout the corridor
While BAT lanes are for transit only, other drivers may use them long enough to turn right at the next intersection. Signage is posted where right turns are allowed.
How do I access my property where the new centerline curb installed?
Northbound drivers are permitted to make a U-turn at the intersection of Ambaum Boulevard SW and SW 128th Street to access properties and southbound side of the Ambaum Boulevard SW. Southbound drivers are permitted to make a U-turn at SW 136th Street to access properties on the northbound side of Ambaum Boulevard SW. Signage is posted where U-turns are allowed.
How do pedestrians use the new HAWK signals?
HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) signals – also referred to as Rapid Flashing Beacons – are pedestrian-activated traffic signals designed to increase safety at mid-block crosswalks.
To improve pedestrian safety, the project team installed Rapid Flashing Beacons at several pedestrian crossings along the future RapidRide H Line route. Rapid Flashing Beacons increase pedestrian safety by raising awareness for motorists.
These signals improve safety by providing a clear indication to drivers that they must stop when a pedestrian is crossing the street. This reduces the likelihood of pedestrian-vehicle collisions, particularly at mid-block crosswalks where pedestrians may not have the protection of traffic signals at intersections. Rapid Flashing Beacons also improve safety by reducing the likelihood of pedestrian dart-outs, which occur when pedestrians attempt to cross the street without using a crosswalk or crossing at an intersection. By providing a dedicated signal for pedestrians, these signals make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street safely and with confidence.
Questions about construction? Contact us!
Thank you for your patience as we improve transit in your area. Keeping you informed and minimizing impacts are our top priorities. Throughout construction we will:
- Be available for questions
- Provide advance notice about construction through email updates, flyers, and other promotions
- Maintain access to businesses and residences
RapidRide H Line Outreach Team
- Construction hotline: 206-257-3079
- Email: rapidride@kingcounty.gov
- Webpage: RapidRide H Line
Sign up for RapidRide H Line email to stay up to date on construction schedule and impacts.