Remember a year ago when buses traveled through Maple Leaf up and down 15th Avenue Northeast? Those days will be returning sooner than we thought.
Although the regular 15th Avenue buses were rerouted last February in anticipation of the bridge closure that didn’t start until mid-May, Linda Thielke with the King County Department of Transportation says there won’t be as big of a lag between the bridge’s reopening and buses returning to 15th Avenue. She tells us:
The plan is to do our best to coordinate moving the buses with the bridge opening. We do not plan to wait for the June service change; the plan is to put the 73, 373 and 77 back in the middle of the service change. As SDOT gets closer to completion, we will attempt to fine tune our bus-move date with their bridge opening date.
As of now, the bridge is scheduled to reopen in March.
I applaud Metro for moving so quickly to get the buses back to 15th after the bridge opens.
As someone who lives on the east side of 15th, no, the 77, 73 and 373 should not remain on Roosevelt. It’s a long walk, and there are some very steep slopes to climb. Perhaps Metro should look into making some of the routes that run on Roosevelt more convenient to those who live nearer to Roosevelt if there are complaints. Katy, write in to Metro if you have an opinion. Even if they aren’t soliciting feedback, your comment will be shared.
I wonder how ridership of these lines has changed and may remain. I now catch the 306/312 on Lake City rather than make the trek to pick up the 77, but I still take the 77 home, getting off at the first stop at 80th & 15th as I can still beat the bus because it has to make that ridiculous loop. When the 77 returns, though, it’ll be my only bus again. I can’t wait.
I’ve also really liked having the 73 running on Roosevelt, personally. Is Metro taking any feedback on this?
Interesting, I commented at 6:56 PST, but it displays as 8:56. Why are the comments on Central time?
While I now live to the west of 15th, I grew up between 15th and LC way.
The 73 was a lifeline. Quite a bit closer than the 72 that doesn’t actually use LC way until about 94th. Also, the hills there are steep, a walk down from 15th is preferred than a walk up from Ravenna!
While you are correct that the walk between Roosevelt and 15th is mild, just think a bit about what the rider on the other side of 15th feels about the matter.
Unless you are coming from downtown, the 66 & 67 are an option. They are only just a bit away on 5th, right?
@ Mapleleafer – The Lake City buses are already great for those who are near 15th. And, the 72 does not go north of Maple Leaf and does not have a direct route downtown.
The whole point of having both the 72 and the 73 is that they’re different routes! The 72 will still go down Roosevelt, and there’s still commuter buses that go down lake city way and make it to downtown in 10 minutes. Those of us who live east of 15th Ave now get to have a bus stop within a mile of our houses. Personally, I can’t wait to feel like I live in a city with transit again!
correction to above it goes right on 8Oth not 8th! Pheew : )
@ prefers, the 77 has to do that big wierd around the block reroute just to make the turn onto Roosevelt. Normally it goes right at 8th then left onto 15th Ave. NE and beyond. Currently it goes right @ 80th all the way down to 20th Ave. NE and goes right then goes down to NE 75th St. goes right and THEN goes down to Roosevelt and veers right again. Long way to go jus to start where yo got off the freeway in the first place, just a couple blocks over to your West. Imagine the folks on 20th getting articulated buses on that already narrow stretch. I did hear tell last year that they were going to “consolidate” some of the 15th Ave. NE stops. Any truth to this, anyone?
@73/77 Rider:
I agree with you. It makes much more sense to run the buses on Roosevelt than on 15th. I can’t believe some people complain about having to walk a couple extra blocks. Its probably a blessing in disguise for some to have to walk a bit more. I say do not bring the buses back to 15th and keep them on Roosevelt only.
It has been a blessing to have the buses run on Roosevelt. My primary mode of transportation is bus and I spend a lot of time in Maple Leaf in the business district along Roosevelt Way. My commute and meeting schedule has been so much easier with buses on Roosevelt Way instead of 15th. 15th is difficult to cross, dark and single family residential. I don’t understand why buses run on 15th at all. It seems far better for everyone for the buses to run on Roosevelt Way. Does anyone else feel this way? Know why they run on 15h to begin with?