Sound Transit may increase express buses' frequency, destinations

Starting next year, Sound Transit plans to offer commuters more frequent express-bus service and some new destinations.

Highlights include a new Route 577 operating every half-hour all day between Seattle and a proposed Federal Way Transit Center by 2006. That line was not part of the regional transit plan voters had approved in 1996, but transit demand has been strong in the south suburbs and Sound Transit has considerable leeway to alter projects.

Buses from Lynnwood to Bellevue would continue south to Eastgate in 2005, while buses from Federal Way to Bellevue would continue northeast to Overlake.

The proposed changes, which would take effect in 2004 through 2006, were tentatively approved by a Sound Transit committee yesterday as part of a three-year service plan. The changes require approval of the full board. The plan includes the purchase of 35 new buses for $15.5 million, raising the Sound Transit fleet to 232 buses.

Bellevue Mayor Connie Marshall said she's happy about the addition of more trips, which would shorten "headways," or waiting periods, between buses. Her city's downtown transit center recently doubled in size, and some afternoon buses departing for Renton or Lynnwood are nearly full.

"Decreasing the headways is always great because it makes the ride more predictable," she said. "It makes it easier as a commuter to commit yourself to transit when you know if I miss a bus, another one will come in 15 minutes instead of every hour, or every half-hour."

Sound Transit is also considering buying 15 new "highway buses" that offer a smoother ride and more legroom than conventional coaches. But Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, a Sound Transit board member, warned that "they only have one entrance, so the time they spend at a bus stop is greater."

Riders take about 24,500 trips per weekday on Sound Transit express buses, up 15 percent from a year ago. The increase comes mainly from new routes, and many of those riders were siphoned off from older King County Metro Transit routes. Sound Transit trips are usually faster, and commuters should save additional time as more high-occupancy-vehicle lanes and regional transit centers open.

The agency also is considering doubling the size of the proposed Issaquah Transit Center, from 400 park-and-ride spaces to 800, including a garage. That would add between $3.6 million and $8.2 million to the $13.9 million project.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com.

Planned changes


Buses would travel more frequently on several routes, according to a draft service plan endorsed yesterday by Sound Transit's Executive Committee. Under the plan:

In 2004


• Ash Way-Lynnwood-Seattle (Route 511) — Weekend service increases from hourly to every half-hour. Buses use new direct-access ramps between transit centers and Interstate 5 HOV lanes. The Alderwood Mall stop is deleted.

• Seattle-Bellevue (Route 550) — Service after 9:30 p.m. increases from hourly to every half-hour.

• DuPont-Lakewood-Tacoma-Seattle (Routes 591, 592) — Peak-hour trips extend to DuPont Station.

In 2005


• Woodinville-Seattle (Route 522) — Weekday runs convert to larger 60-foot articulated buses.

• Everett-Bellevue (Route 532) — Peak service improves from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes.

• Lynnwood-Bellevue (Route 535) — Weekday trips extend from downtown Bellevue to Eastgate.

• Bear Creek-Seattle (Route 545) — Peak service could increase from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes, or off-peak routes could change to serve Capitol Hill.

• Federal Way-Bellevue (Route 565) — Route extends from downtown Bellevue to Overlake.

• Tacoma-University District (Route 586) — September-to-June service increases from 12 weekday trips to 18. Summer service increases from eight weekday trips to 11.

In 2006


• Everett-Seattle (Routes 510, 513) and Everett-Bellevue (Routes 530, 532) serve new South Everett Park & Ride along I-5, and drop Eastmont stop.

• Ash Way-Lynnwood-Seattle (Route 511) — Weekday daytime service increases from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes.

• Seattle-Bellevue (Route 550) — Saturday service increases from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Issaquah-Seattle (Route 554) — Peak service increases from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes. Buses stop at new Eastgate freeway ramps, and stops at Richards Road are deleted.

• Federal Way-Seattle (Route 577) — New route serves the proposed Federal Way Transit Center, with service every 30 minutes between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.