Route 221 is one of two new routes created in high-ridership areas on the Eastside in 2008.
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2—More service for high-ridership routes
- Total service hours to be added through Transit Now: 350,000
- Hours added as of Sept. 2008: 55,000
Studies show that when passengers can count on service being available at all times of day, ridership increases—even during commute hours. A portion of Transit Now funding is earmarked to enhance existing service on routes that have high ridership, with the goal of producing a network of routes with all-day, two-way bus service that connects residential, business, and recreational centers throughout the county. The target frequency for service on these routes is every 15 minutes, seven days a week.
What’s happened so far
Since the passage of Transit Now in 2006, Metro has rolled out more than 55,000 new hours of service in high-ridership corridors, improving service in 16 of the 30 corridors named in the Transit Now ordinance and also in three corridors that will get RapidRide service in a few years. This new service included the creation of two new high-ridership routes (routes 221 and 248) on the Eastside in February 2008.
What happens next
Metro received 22 new hybrid diesel-electric buses in mid-2008. These new buses are supporting service increases and providing more seats on many crowded routes. In September 2008, Metro added Saturday service to the Route 164 and extended frequent service later into the evening on routes 230 and 253.
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High-ridership route improvements (view larger)
High-ridership routes and corridors
The following routes are scheduled to receive additional service under Transit Now:
| Route | Connecting |
|---|---|
| 180 | Auburn—Kent |
| 181 | Auburn/Green River Community College—Federal Way |
| 44 | Ballard—University District |
| 36 | Beacon Hill—Downtown Seattle |
| 233 | Bellevue—Bear Creek |
| 271 | Bellevue—Eastgate/Bellevue Community College |
| 240 | Bellevue—Renton |
| 271 | Bellevue—University District |
| 120 | Burien—Downtown Seattle |
| 8 | Capitol Hill—Seattle Center |
| 121 | Des Moines—Downtown Seattle |
| 271 | Issaquah—Bellevue |
| 269 | Issaquah—Redmond |
| 166 | Kent—Burien |
| 168 | Kent—Four Corners |
| 164 | Kent—Green River Community College |
| 169 | Kent—Renton |
| 180 | Kent—SeaTac |
| 150 | Kent—Downtown Seattle |
| 230 | Kirkland—Bellevue |
| 234 | Kirkland—Bellevue |
| 245 | Kirkland—Eastgate/Factoria |
| 248 | Kirkland—Redmond |
| 255 | Kirkland—Downtown Seattle |
| 41 | Northgate—Downtown Seattle |
| 1 | Queen Anne—Downtown Seattle |
| 221 | Redmond—Eastgate/Factoria |
| 140 | Renton—Burien |
| 101 | Renton—Downtown Seattle |
| 331 | Shoreline—Kenmore |
| 70 | University District—Downtown Seattle |
RapidRide/high ridership corridors
The corridors that will be getting Metro RapidRide service are also high-ridership corridors. The following regular routes in these corridors will receive new service under Transit Now before RapidRide service starts.
| Route | Connecting |
|---|---|
| 358 | Aurora Village—Downtown Seattle |
| 15, 18 | Ballard—Downtown Seattle |
| 230, 253 | Bellevue—Redmond |
| 174 | Federal Way—SeaTac |
| 54 | West Seattle—Downtown Seattle |
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Last update: November 13, 2008