Better community connections and service made the RapidRide H Line a winner with riders when it launched in 2023.
And the winning continues. Today, King County Metro and the community received the Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, which recognizes the project’s comprehensive equity and sustainability improvements.
“Our community loves having the H Line right around the corner from the new food bank! It makes it really easy for them to get to the food bank as well as take their groceries home without having to walk too far or uphill to get to the bus,” said Carmen Smith, White Center Food Bank Executive Director. Having the H Line nearby takes helps food bank volunteers and staff rely less on their cars and parking, and makes for a smooth commute, Smith said.
“This award demonstrates Metro’s strong commitment to equity and sustainability,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We’ll continue collaborating with local communities to deliver safe, frequent, reliable transit service.”
“Metro worked closely with community to design and build the RapidRide H Line,” Metro General Manager Michelle Allison said. “Together, we created the best way to travel between Burien, White Center, West Seattle and downtown Seattle. Transit has always been the greenest way to travel—but winning this award takes our shared sustainability commitment to a new, higher level. We’re grateful to all of the jurisdictions and partners who made this recognition possible.”
“ISI is proud to announce the Envision Platinum Award for the new RapidRide H Line,” said Kristi Wamstad, Verification Director at ISI. “This project absolutely demonstrates how the Envision framework can be used to align multiple stakeholder priorities and ultimately strengthen economic, social, and environmental results.”
“The RapidRide H Line provides vital connections for riders in Burien, White Center and Delridge, which I am proud to represent as part of District 8,” said King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. “I am thrilled that this critical service is being recognized for its ability to not just move people from point A to point B, but to protect both the environment and the health of the people who live and work in the communities the H Line serves. Having a high-quality service like RapidRide in the community means people are more able to not need to leave their cars at home, helping improve the climate for all. On top of all this, the construction and operation of the RapidRide H Line helps support living wage union jobs that are so important to the prosperity of our working families.”
“We are pleased to see the recognition and celebration of this project, which contains the fingerprints of our Burien community members,” said Adolfo Bailon, Burien City Manager. “The development of RapidRide H Line has contributed to a more equitable and connected Burien.”
Highlighted achievements
Demonstrating Community Leadership – Thorough engagement with the community informed routing, stop locations, station amenities and safety and access improvements.
Improving Community Mobility – The RapidRide H Line provides fast, frequent and reliable service to improve opportunities for priority populations including people with lower incomes, limited English proficiency and higher transit dependency.
Preserving Water Resources – Bus station shelters were designed to minimize maintenance and water usage by using smooth glass roofs and drought tolerant plants. Designs also improved stormwater quality by minimizing the amount of impervious surface used in the project.
Stimulating Economic Prosperity – The RapidRide H Line directly benefits neighborhoods in its service area by providing faster, more reliable and connected public transit. The project also supported living wage jobs and developed skills and capabilities throughout the construction and operation of the line.
Designing Resilient Infrastructure – Riders are better protected from heat, wind, rain and other extreme weather conditions attributed to climate change thanks to better bus station designs and frequent service that keeps riders moving.
Platinum status was previously awarded to King County’s Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station and to Seattle and King County’s joint Ship Canal Water Quality Project, and each project demonstrates and fulfills the county’s commitment to sustainability as required by the Green Building and Sustainable Development Ordinance.