RapidRide is an express bus network with some bus rapid transit features in King County, Washington. The planned network consists of six corridors totaling 64 miles,[2] four of which are in operation as of October 2012. The system is operated by King County Metro Transit and funded by Transit Now.
The first line began service in October 2010.[3] Buses on this line travel in the HOV lanes of Pacific Highway South and use Transit Signal Priority to preempt traffic lights.[4] RapidRide runs no less than every 10 minutes during peak commuting hours.[5]
Lines
A Line - Pacific Highway South
RapidRide A Line
Legend
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Link Light Rail to Seattle |
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Rapid Ride F Line to Burien |
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Tukwila-International Boulevard Station |
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RapidRide F Line to Renton |
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Interstate 5 |
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S 160th St |
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S 170th St |
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S 176th StSeattle–Tacoma International Airport |
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S 180th St |
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S 182nd St |
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S 188th St |
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S 195th St |
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S 200th St |
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S 208th St |
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S 216th St |
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S 224th St |
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Kent-Des Moines Rd |
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S 240th StHighline Community College |
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S 246th St |
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S 252nd St |
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S 260th St |
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S 268th StWoodmont Library |
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S 272nd St |
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S 276th St |
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S 283rd St |
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S 288th St |
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S Dash Point Rd |
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S 308th StFederal Way High School |
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S 312th St |
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S 316th St |
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Federal Way Transit Center |
RapidRide "A" began service on October 2, 2010,[3] and connects with Sound Transit's Central Link light rail beginning at SeaTac and travels along Pacific Highway South to Federal Way. Its southern terminus is Federal Way Transit Center[4] and connects riders to buses serving Tacoma, Pierce County, and Auburn. Its northern terminus is Tukwila/International Boulevard Station. From there, riders can transfer to Link light rail or to buses that serve Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Duwamish, and downtown Seattle. Between the termini there are a total of 13 stations[4] plus 13 intermediate stops.[6]
This line used to be served by Metro's Route 174.[7] Metro discontinued Route 174 upon the opening of the "A" Line.[8] The A line carries an average of 8,700 riders daily.[9]
Headways
The "A" Line 24 hours a day on the following schedule:[10]
| Time | Monday-Friday | Weekend/Holidays |
| 4:15 am – 4:45 am | 15 | 30 |
| 4:45 am – 7:00 am | 15 | 15 |
| 7:00 am – 9:00 am | 10 | 15 |
| 9:00 am – 2:00 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm | 10 | 15 |
| 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 10:00 pm – 4:15 am | 30-70 | 30-70 |
Between 10:00 pm and 4:15 am, service operates on a schedule; all other times are estimated headways.
B Line - Bellevue - Redmond
RapidRide B Line
Legend
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Bellevue Transit Center |
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Interstate 405 |
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116th Ave NE |
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124th Ave NE |
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134th Ave NE |
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140th Ave NE |
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143rd Ave NE |
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148th Ave NE |
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NE 10th St |
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NE 15th St |
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NE 24th St |
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Bel-Red Rd |
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Overlake Park & Ride |
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NE 31st St |
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Overlake Transit Center |
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Washington State Route 520 |
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152nd Ave NE |
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NE 40th St |
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NE 46th St |
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NE 51st St |
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NE Old Redmond Rd |
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NE Redmond Wy |
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NE 87th St |
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154th Ave NE |
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160th Ave NE & NE 90th St |
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NE 85th St |
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Redmond Transit Center |
Opened October 1, 2011,[11] this line serves downtown Bellevue, Crossroads Mall area, Overlake and downtown Redmond. The "B" Line operates on NE 8th Street, 156th Avenue NE, NE 40th Street, and 148th Avenue NE.[11] This line replaced routes 230 and 253, which used to operate on these streets.[11] Daily ridership is 6,100.[9]
Headways
| Time | Monday-Friday | Weekend/Holidays |
| 4:21 am – 6:00 am | 15-30 | No Service |
| 6:00 am – 9:00 am | 10 | 15 |
| 9:00 am – 3:00 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm | 10 | 15 |
| 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 10:00 pm – 12:25 am | 30 | 30 |
C Line - West Seattle
RapidRide C Line
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Continues as Rapid Ride D Line |
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RapidRide E Line to Aurora Village TC |
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Virginia St |
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Pike St |
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Seneca St |
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Columbia St |
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RapidRide E Line to Pioneer Square |
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Link Light Rail to Sea-Tac |
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Duwamish River |
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SW Bradford St |
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SW Yancy St |
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SW Avalon WyWest Seattle Recreation Center |
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Fauntleroy SW |
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California Ave SWAlaska Junction |
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SW Findlay St |
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Fauntleroy Wy SWMorgan Junction |
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SW Myrtle St |
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SW Webster St |
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SW Rose StLincoln Park |
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SW Barton StWashington State Ferries |
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45th St SW |
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California Ave SW |
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36th Ave SW |
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28th Ave SW |
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Westwood Village |
Opened on September 29, 2012,[5] this line serves the West Seattle neighborhood and the downtown Seattle Stadium Area. The "C" Line runs from Westwood Village in West Seattle to downtown Seattle via Fauntleroy Ave, California Ave, and the West Seattle Bridge.[12] The line replaced Metro Route 54 and 54 Express.[13] In downtown, buses continue north as the "D" Line.[12] Weekday ridership is 7,000.[9]
Headways
| Time | Monday-Friday | Weekend/Holidays |
| 4:15 am – 5:30 am | 15 | 30 |
| 5:30 am – 9:00 am | 10 | 15 |
| 9:00 am – 3:00 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm | 10 | 15 |
| 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 10:30 pm – 4:15 am | 30-70 | 30-70 |
D Line - Ballard - Uptown
RapidRide D Line
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7th Ave NW |
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Mary Ave NW |
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NW 85th St |
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NW 80th St |
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NW 75th St |
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NW 70th St |
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NW 65th StBallard High School |
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NW 60th St |
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NW Market St |
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NW Leary Wy |
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Lake Washington Ship Canal |
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W Emerson St |
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W Dravus St |
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W Armour St |
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W Wheeler St |
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W Newton St |
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W Armory St |
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W Galer St |
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W Prospect St |
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3rd Ave W |
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Queen Anne Ave N |
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Republican StSeattle Center |
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W John St |
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Denny Wy |
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Vine St |
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RapidRide E Line to Aurora Village TC |
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Bell St |
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Virginia St |
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Pike St |
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Seneca St |
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Columbia St |
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RapidRide E Line to Pioneer Square |
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Link Light Rail to Sea-Tac |
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Continues as Rapid Ride C Line |
Opened on September 29, 2012,[5] this line runs between Crown Hill and downtown Seattle and serves the Ballard and Uptown neighborhoods. The "D" Line operates on Holman Road NW, 15th Ave NW, 15th Ave W, Elliott Ave W, W Mercer Pl, 1st Ave N and 3rd Ave.[14] This line replaced Metro Routes 15 and 18.[15] In downtown, buses continue south as the "C" Line.[14] The route carries 8,800 passengers every day.[9]
Headways
| Time | Monday-Friday | Weekend/Holidays |
| 4:15 am – 5:30 am | 15 | 30 |
| 5:30 am – 9:00 am | 10 | 15 |
| 9:00 am – 3:00 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm | 10 | 15 |
| 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm | 15 | 15 |
| 10:30 pm – 4:15 am | 30-70 | 30-70 |
E Line - Aurora
RapidRide E Line
Legend
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Aurora Village Transit Center |
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N 192nd StShoreline P&R |
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N 185th St |
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N 180th St |
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N 175th St |
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N 170th St |
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N 165th St |
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N 160th St |
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N 155th St |
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N 152nd St |
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N 145th St |
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N 135th St |
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N 130th St |
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N 125th St |
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N 115th St |
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N 105th St |
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N 100th St |
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N 95th St |
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N 90th St |
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N 85th St |
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N 80th St |
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N 75th St |
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N 72nd St |
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N 65th St |
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N 45th St |
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Lake Washington Ship Canal |
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Boston St |
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Galer St |
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Mercer StSeattle Center |
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Denny Wy |
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RapidRide D Line to Ballard |
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Bell St |
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Virginia St |
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Pike St |
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Seneca St |
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Cherry St |
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Yesler Wy |
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RapidRide C Line to West Seattle |
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Link Light Rail to Sea-Tac |
Opening on February 15, 2014, this line will run from Pioneer Square, Seattle in downtown Seattle to the Aurora Village Transit Center (connecting to existing Swift BRT) in Shoreline via Aurora Avenue North. The "E" Line will replace Metro route 358. Route 358 currently carries an average of 12,000 riders, making it Metro's second busiest route after Route 7 [9]
Ridership is expected to grow with the implementation of RapidRide service
F Line - Burien - Renton
Opening in June 2014, this line will run from Burien Transit Center to the Renton Transit Center. It will serve the Tukwila International Boulevard Link Station, Southcenter Mall, Tukwila Sounder Station, South Renton Park and Ride in between.[16] The "F" Line will replace Metro route 140. Route 140 currently carries 3,500 riders daily and ridership is expected to grow as RapidRide enters service in the corridor.[9]
Stations and stops
Stops are farther apart than typical Metro service to increase speed and reliability[5] and create "stations",[5] more akin to what is found on light rail lines. The stations look different from normal bus stops and have real time information signs[5][17] to communicate estimated arrival times of RapidRide buses. To increase security, stations are lit[17] and patrolled by transit police. Because of the frequent headways, riders do not have to wait as long at stations as they do at normal bus stops.
Equipment
RapidRide uses new, low-floor,[4] articulated buses that feature an identifiable look (different color scheme) distinct from other Metro coaches.[5]
A new fare collection system allows riders with passes to pay as they enter any of the 3 doors on the bus.[4] ORCA Card holders can pay their fare prior to boarding.[18] Fares are enforced by stop checks by Metro's transit police.[1] Coaches feature bike racks, WiFi,[17] and security cameras.[1]
The RapidRide A Line was also introduced real-time bus arrival information signs. The 24 stations include signs that display the time until the next arrival.
Coaches also feature on-board automated announcements and signage that inform riders of the next available stop as the vehicle approaches. Metro plans to deploy the same technology to all 1400 vehicles in its fleet within about 18 months of the A Line's opening.[17]
In 2010, New Flyer discontinued the Advanced BRT styling (DE60LFA) that was purchased for the coaches running the A Line, replacing it with the Xcelsior (XDE60). Coaches delivered for the B Line were ordered with New Flyer's "Restyled" package (DE60LFR). The coaches for the B Line are similar to those in service on the A Line but have the addition of one passive restraint for wheelchair users.[19]
Fleet Roster
| Builder |
Model |
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Engine/Transmission |
Propulsion |
Year |
Fleet Series/(Qty.) |
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| New Flyer |
DE60LFA |
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Hybrid |
2009 |
6000-6019
(20) |
| New Flyer |
DE60LFR |
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Hybrid |
2011 |
6020-6035
(16) |
| New Flyer |
DE60LFR |
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Hybrid |
2012 |
6040-6073
(34) |
| New Flyer |
DE60LFR |
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Hybrid |
2013 |
6074-6112
(39) |
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References
External links
See also
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| | Local and Express bus | |
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| | Light rail | |
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| | Streetcar | |
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| | Commuter rail | |
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| | Bus rapid transit | |
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| | Ferry | |
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| | Monorail | |
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| | Other | |
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Italics denote lines or services which are planned, under construction, or otherwise not operating at the present time. |
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