Tag Archives: bus

Metro service change proposals updated

January 13, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 2 Comments

On January 1 we posted that Metro wants to hear from you about the revised service change proposals for Southeast Seattle. The problem was, at that time the proposals hadn’t yet been published. Well, now they have, and you can find them on Metro’s website.

Here are some of the notable changes:

Route 36 will extend all routes to the Othello Link station using new trolley wire that will be installed on South Myrtle Street and South Othello Street; south of Othello, 36 will be replaced by 106.
Route 60 will run every 20 minutes during peak periods, and extend weekend trips from Georgetown to White Center starting in 2010.
New Route 50 will run from Othello Link Station to West Seattle via the Columbia City Link Station and SODO!
Route 38 will run from Mount Baker to the Beacon Hill Link Station, where people will now transfer to light rail to get to SODO.

There are other changes as well, and you can complete an online questionnaire to give Metro your feedback, or visit one of the open houses we listed on January 1.

Two additional open houses have been scheduled as well:

Wednesday, February 4, 1:30-3:30 pm, Holly Park Community Church, 4308 South Othello Street (downstairs entrance on east side of building)
Wednesday, February 4, 6:30-8:30 pm, Holly Park Community Church, 4308 South Othello Street (downstairs entrance on east side of building)

Thanks to Warren Yee for posting this to the mailing list!

Getting Around

Metro wants your feedback on new service changes

January 1, 2009 Wendi Dunlap

Metro has adjusted the bus service changes they proposed a few months ago, and they’d like to know what you think about the latest version. There will be several community meetings in the Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley area this month:

Wednesday January 7: Sounding Board Meeting at Holly Park Community Church, 4308 South Othello Street, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Saturday, January 17: Information Table at Rainier Beach Safeway, 9262 Rainier Avenue South, 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm
Tuesday, January 27: Open House at Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Avenue South, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Thursday, January 29: Open House at Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Avenue South, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Unfortunately, Metro’s website doesn’t yet seem to show what the new proposals are. We hope they will rectify that as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you need more information, you can email Sarah Luthens, Metro Community Relations Planner, at sarah.luthens@kingcounty.gov.

Thanks to the Rainier Valley Post for reporting this.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Bus delays and violent behavior

December 30, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Some buses will be slightly harder to catch for the next few days. Photo from Seattle Municipal Archives.

Did the “holiday” changes to Metro bus schedules this week catch you by surprise? Here is the information about the schedules through Wednesday. Note that the 38 is on a normal schedule, and the 36 and 60 are on “reduced weekday schedule.” To find out how the reduced schedule affects you, go to http://metro.kingcounty.gov/ and enter your route number, then look for the trips marked with “H”; those trips are cancelled.
A Junior Achievement poll states that a disturbing number of teens are nonchalant about violence; Seattlest discusses this in the context of violence in South and Southeast Seattle.

Getting Around, Local Events

Metro meeting to discuss transit changes tonight

October 28, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Metro is surveying Southeast Seattle residents on potential changes to the bus routes in our area. We should have mentioned that there is a meeting scheduled to discuss the changes — tonight. (Apologies; I thought we had.) The meeting is tonight, October 28, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, at Jefferson Community Center (Hasselberg Hall), 3801 Beacon Avenue South. Details are here. Thanks to the North Beacon Hill Council for the reminder!

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Diner rebirth, streetlights, and stories

October 24, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Downtown streetlight. Photo by iluvrhinestones.

Beacon Bits are collections of useful or interesting links or other tidbits that weâ€™ll post periodically.

This time, it’s the Bus Bitch giving his take on the proposed SE Seattle bus changes, with clear explanations of what each option will mean to you — Rainier Valley Post
Andy’s Diner re-Oriented: Clark Humphrey brings some good news: Andy’s Diner on Fourth Avenue South is reopening as the Orient Express! Permit data here. — via Blogging Georgetown
Now that the days are getting shorter, the broken streetlights in our neighborhood are becoming more noticeable. Here’s how to report a broken streetlight in your neighborhood. Hint: lights that go on and off are broken; report them! — Central District News
The UW Daily has a morbid — and probably entirely made-up — tale of ghoulish deeds and tragedy at the Georgetown Morgue. It’s not entirely false, though. There really was an earthquake in April, 1965 — via Blogging Georgetown
Super Saturday at Seward Park is tomorrow, October 25, with fun family activities including pumpkin carving, storytelling, a bat-themed nature walk, and more! — Rainier Valley Post

Getting Around, Local Events

Transit measure discussion forum, 10/26

October 22, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Grown Folks Coffee are hosting a community forum to discuss the Proposition 1 mass transit expansion measure, this Sunday afternoon from 1:00-3:00 pm. Lara Fowler is organizing this, and says “We’re working to see if there might be people available from the
campaigns, but regardless, there will be people in attendance who can address the issues.”

Grown Folks is at 4878 Beacon Avenue South, and there is parking available. If you are planning to attend or have specific questions, please let Lara know at lfowler AT gth-law DOT com.

Thanks to Lara, who posted this to the Beacon Hill mailing list!

Beacon Bits, Getting Around

Beacon Bits: Buses, speeding tickets, cheap(er) gas

October 22, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Will bus service changes cause some SE Seattle folks to be passed by? Photo from the Seattle Municipal Archives.

Beacon Bits are collections of useful or interesting links or other tidbits that weâ€™ll post periodically.

Erica C. Barnett has more to say about Southeast Seattle bus service changes — The Stranger Slog
Emphasis patrols are in place on I-5 for the next couple of days — watch your driving! — Seattlest
Joel Connelly uses an anonymous elderly Beacon Hill couple as poster children for an anti-tax editorial — Seattle P-I
As of last night, regular unleaded gas was $2.99/gallon at the AM/PM on Fourth Avenue South

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Buses, Chinese food, and crime

October 21, 2008 Wendi Dunlap 2 Comments

Beacon Bits are collections of useful or interesting links that weâ€™ll post periodically.

Erica C. Barnett weighs in on the proposed SE Seattle bus changes — The Stranger Slog
Nancy Leson at the Times is asking readers to post about their favorite “old-school” Chinese restaurants. At least one reader has posted a comment about Beacon Hill’s late, lamented Perry Ko’s South China Restaurant — Seattle Times
Columbia City residents met with Councilman Tim Burgess on Monday to discuss their concerns about crime and a lack of police presence in the area — Seattle P-I
If you’re an absentee voter and you want to drop off your ballot early without having to put it in the mail, you can — but not in Southeast Seattle. Downtown, Renton, Delridge, and the U District are your options until Election Day, when you can also take the ballot to your local polling place — King County Elections

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Detours, coffee, and voting

October 17, 2008 Wendi Dunlap 1 Comment

1960s postcard sent by the city to warn residents -- thanks Seattle Municipal Archives!

Beacon Bits are collections of useful or interesting links that we’ll post periodically.

If you use Spokane Street between First Avenue and Fifth Avenue, you’re going to have to deal with some rerouting for a while — Rainier Valley Post
Coffee is 5 cents a cup at the Krispy Kreme down on Fourth and Holgate! — Seattle P-I
It’s not too late to register to vote! and early voting is open if you want to vote in person, but it’s in Renton — The Stranger Slog
Crowds swarm local restaurants and coffee houses on presidential debate nights (Beacon Hill coffee house Grown Folks is mentioned) — Seattle Times, a few days ago
We already posted about changes in the local bus routes, but the topic has also generated a big discussion in the P-I’s Sound Off discussion section — Seattle P-I

Getting Around, Local Events, Urban Planning

Discuss the bus over pancakes

October 14, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Metro bus in West Seattle -- thanks Seattle Municipal Archives!

We posted earlier about this Saturday’s pancake breakfast, and about potential bus service changes in Southeast Seattle. Today, Jodie Vice of Beacon Hill Pedestrians posted some further information to the mailing list that allows us to combine both topics:

There has been quite a bit of discussion about bus service changes when light rail comes on board. It would be great to have a discussion about this and fill out our surveys as a neighborhood! I’ve contacted Metro and they are sending me about 50 surveys (in multiple languages) to hand out at the Pancake Breakfast THIS Saturday at El Centro – 9:30AM.

A bus service and light rail discussion will go hand-in-hand at our forum on creating a town center, because you can not create a “town center” without adequate access by ALL modes. We have an amazing opportunity with the light rail to be more connected to southend neighborhoods and downtown, but bus service is still crucial for local trips.

The current Metro plans include a potential crosstown route that will connect the Hill with West Seattle, possible changes to the 38 to eliminate redundant service once the light rail opens, and more.

Thanks Jodie and BHP!