South Beacon Hill Neighborhood Council

Sept 3 Metro Notes

Oct 01, 2008

Notes from Sept. 3 meeting with South Beacon Hill Community Council?¾
From: Lattemann, Jack (Jack.Lattemann@kingcounty.gov)
Sent: Thu 9/11/08 2:42 PM
To: wpmallow@hotmail.com
Cc: Luthens, Sarah (Sarah.Luthens@kingcounty.gov); Cleary, Pat (Pat.Cleary@kingcounty.gov); Jim Moore - Sound Transit (moorej@soundtransit.org); masnikc@soundtransit.org; keith.hall@soundtransit.org
Here are some notes from the meeting with the South Beacon Hill Community Council on September 3rd on the Transit Connections project to consider bus connections with ST's Link light rail and King County Metro's Pacific Highway South RapidRide Bus Rapid Transit line. Staffing the meeting were: Jack Lattemann, King County Metro Service Planning; Pat Cleary, King County Transportation Community Relations; Jim Moore, Service Planning & Development, Sound Transit; Carol Masnik, Marketing Specialist, Sound Transit; Keith Hall, Community Relations Specialist, Sound Transit. Thirteen members of the public attended.
Jack Lattemann and Jim Moore gave a short overview of the upcoming public outreach process and decision timeline. King County Metro and Sound Transit are partners on the Transit Connections project. Jim Moore review the Link light rail service characteristics and alternatives for revising ST Express service in the I-5 South corridor between Tacoma, Federal Way, and downtown Seattle in conjunction with Metro's proposed discontinuation of Route 194. A tabloid describing alternatives will be mailed to all households in early October. Public meetings to gather input on alternatives for changing bus routes to connect with Link will be held between October 16 and 30. A second round of outreach will occur in January 2009 to obtain public feedback on a set of proposed route changes. The King County Council and the Sound Transit Board would consider and take action on the recommended changes in April/May. Implementation of approved changes would be spread out over three service changes beginning in September 2009.
Summarized below are specific comments and questions:
o Rt. 36 - Crowding and bus bunching are problems on this route. What will Metro be doing to alleviate this?
o Rt. 60 - Interest in more capacity, through larger buses, such as articulated buses, more frequency, longer span. Metro staff mentioned that a service partnership between King County and the City of Seattle will extend all trips on Rt 60 to White Center with more frequent evening service in 2010.
o Rt. 38 - A suggestion was made to extend this route to First Avenue South in SODO and all the way to the flier stop at I-90, make it more of an east-west route, and provide connections to other routes.
o A connection to Southcenter in Tukwila is needed to replace the Rt 39 connection we lost, no way to purchase general merchandise within the Rainier Valley, this is important. Route 126 currently runs only during peak hours. Staff responded that an alternative for public review would change Route 140 to connect via a transfer with Link light rail at Tukwila International Blvd Station.
o Need east-west service to the Columbia City Station. Staff said that several alternatives will be presented to the public for comment.
o Rt. 36 and 106 should be paired at downtown stops.
o What routes will serve Columbian Way and the VA Medical Center? Staff responded that several alternatives are possible to provide east-west service, but the VA would be served by Route 60 and at least one other route.
o Rt. 106 - More frequent service is needed on this route.
o How late will Link light rail operate?
Jack Lattemann offered to return in November to discuss the service alternatives. William Mallow said he would be in touch regarding a date.
Jack Lattemann
Transportation Planner IV, Service Planning
King County Metro Transit
(206) 684-6764
Please note: My email address has changed to: jack.lattemann@kingcounty.gov