Help pick the Ballard RapidRide route

Posted by Geeky Swedes on January 21st, 2009

Metro Transit has just released new details about RapidRide’s D Line, a new streamlined bus service coming in 2012 that will connect Ballard and Crown Hill with Lower Queen Anne and Downtown. RapidRide buses will arrive every 10 minutes, stop less frequently and feature a speedy way to pay fares and board. “Everything about RapidRide—the buses, the stops, the way it operates—is being designed to keep people moving quickly and comfortably throughout the day in this heavily used transit corridor,” explains Metro.

The big question for Ballard residents is the route it will take. Should it go up 15th Ave? Or 24th? (See the map). Metro breaks down the positives and negatives for each of the two proposed routes, and you’re invited to offer your feedback at an open house Tuesday, Feb 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Whittier Elementary School cafeteria. Or you can email your comments to barbara.demichele@kingcounty.gov. (Thanks Brian for the link!)

Tags: Ballard Facebook

matt

Any news to report after your community meeting on monday?

angrignon

Elevated train doesn't always equal monorail.

Do we really need a monorail when just elevated tracks would do the trick?

Standard 4 foot 8 1/2 inches track with an energized third rail elevated would be able to compliment rolling stock from other transit agencies that could be acquired. Lets not get hooked on a brand-new monorail which includes buying brand-new cars...

Craig

Leah (and everyone else) - apologies for any confusion. Metro will come to discuss the D Line at the next Sustainable Ballard Monthly Gathering on Monday, January 26th, at 6:30PM (not Thursday the 29th) at the Sunset Hill Community Association Clubhouse on the corner of 66th and 30th NW. Hope to see many of you there,
Craig

Leah

Craig at comment 7: is the meeting Monday January 26th or Thursday January 29th?

Joey

Maria, there is no rail service.

The 44 serves downtown Ballard along Market.

And aside from 3 months a year, ridership to the beach would be zilch.

Maria

I seems sensible that the rail would service downtown Ballard, along Market. I'd like to see it go to the beach.

gnossos

Effective, efficient transit needs grade separation.

We can't easily or inexpensively dig here in Seattle. That leaves elevated.

Monorail was/is clearly the best solution.

I'd like someone (the PI? ha! ha!) to dig into Nickel's rope-a-dope about the Monorail funding.

mickey

This plan looks like typical Metro policy -- cut lines and force riders to transfer.

More punishment instead of encouragement/incentives to ride transit.

m

Where's my monorail?

BallardBear

I do not see how either route will be more "rapid". Looking at the map I see more stops south of the Ballard Bridge. It seems to me the overall trip to downtown will be longer but more frequent. I prefer a shorter bus ride since metro loves to pack the buses right to the brim. I believe that overcrowded buses are dangerous for those riders who have to stand.

hopefulpoet

One way to shorten the process would be to get rid of the public meetings and comment periods.
Joey - there have already been a number of changes, small ones here and there - so don't forget about those.
One of my favorite change, don't know if it was due to Transit Now or not, is the modified Holiday schedule for Monday holidays like MLK when most people still have to work--- I would have really hated to go to work on that lovely day if I had to transfer for the shuttle.

Joey

Don't forget we voted for Transit NOW in 2006, so it actually is going to take 6 years.

Only in Seattle....

angrignon

4 years for a bus? Wow, probably would take 20 for a rail solution.

thalia

It takes 4 years to implement something like this? Seriously?

Craig

Similar to the comment above -- If you're interested in learning more about RapidRide and speaking with the Metro Folks, we've also invited them to our next Sustainable Ballard Monthly Gathering on Monday, January 29th, at 6:30. Again, just like the previous post, everyone is welcome to attend. We'll meet at the Sunset Hill Community Association Clubhouseon the corner of 30th and 66th NW. Please consider attending at least one of the public events that Metro plans to hold (they are meeting with numerous community groups and have scheduled a number of other public meetings) to learn about and make your voice heard about this new service to our neighborhood.

Dawn

If you're interested in finding out more about Rapid Ride and talk to folks at Metro, we've invited them to talk with the East Ballard Community Association on Feb 17th at 6:30pm. Everyone interested is welcome to attend. We'll be meeting in the St. Alphonsus School Cafeteria (NW 58th between 14th and 15th Ave NW).

P.A.B.L.O

From my interpretation, the 15 or the 18 would run their normal routes and then if you need to stop on 15th between Leary and downtown, you'll be forced to jump on the "D" Line. The information also doesn't answer whether the 15 or 18 would run their normal routing outside of express service (whatever that entails after changes).
I live between the 17 & 18 bus routes, and, I'd rather see the 15 get replaced by RapidRide: less changes would need to be made to routing and the 18 would (hopefully...) receive additional express service on the route along with the potential for better connections. I don't think with the road-diet now in place on 24th, RapidRide would never live up to its name.

Joey

David your proposed route would not be very rapid. In fact that would take much longer than it does today.

Would it be so much to ask to just have express routes operating all day rather than during rush hour?

Supplement regular service with 2-3 express routes an hour.

David

I'm not sure what gurple is seeing. It looks to me like there is a stop every 5 blocks between Market and 85th. On the route map I see "RapidRide Stations" (the red dots) at Market, 65th and 85th. I also see an "other RapidRide Stop" (blue dots with black centers) at 60th, 70th, 75th and 80th.

I have selfish reasons to favor the 15th route -- I live closer to (and East of) 15th, but a truly "rapid" route that runs closer to the core of downtown Ballard also seems like a good idea. Hey, why not come down 15th, turn west on Market, then continue via the old Number 18 route down Leary?

gurple

If I'm understanding the proposed routes correctly, either the 15 or the 18 bus is going to stop running, to be replaced with something that doesn't stop between Market and 85th.

If the 18 went away, it would be a lot harder for me to get downtown. I imagine many other people would feel similarly about the 15.

Bummer.