If we’re reading this right, Metro is planning to reduce the number of closely spaced bus stops on the Route 41 and 73 corridors in Maple Leaf by nearly a dozen this month when buses resume running on 15th Avenue Northeast.
Metro is planning to reduce the number of closely spaced bus stops on the Route 41 and 73 corridors, affecting some stops that also serve routes 48, 242, 243, 71, 72, 73, 77, 79, 83, 347, 348, and 373. The changes will help buses move faster and operate on a more reliable schedule, reduce energy consumption and emissions, and reduce Metro’s operating and maintenance costs.
Squinting at Metro’s map (above and online here), it roughly looks like nine stops will remain in Maple Leaf along 15th Avenue, while 11 will be cut. (The numbers depend on where exactly you think Maple Leaf begins and ends.)
Also in rough numbers, Metro says it intends to increase spacing between stops from about 700 feet to 1,200 feet.
As a result of the changes, about 16 percent of Route 41 riders who board north of Northgate Transit Center and Route 73 riders who board north of NE 50th Street will have to catch their bus at a different stop. When the project is completed, all riders should have a faster, more reliable trip.
The Maple Leaf Community Council, in an email, said:
Metro has opened a comment period on bus stop removal on 15th Avenue NE and 5th Avenue NE in the Maple Leaf neighborhood.
The Route 73 corridor changes include removal of 33 of the 85 stops north of 50th NE.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please forward this email to your block watch lists, PTSA lists, and/or to your neighbors who might not be on our email lists. If you have a neighbor, particularly elderly neighbors, who might not be internet users please print a copy and drop it by their homes.
If you own a business, please consider posting something in your window (hit reply to this email if you need help with a flyer).
When Metro first proposed the elimination of 14 stops on 15th NE in our neighborhood, they did so without any input from the community. They made some bad choices. This is our chance to address those choices plus all these new ones.
Comments are due April 18. You can comment in one of three ways (all three are also on the Metro web site page at the link above):
Metro’s Comment Form
http://www.surveymk.com/s/Metro41-73Call Metro’s message line, 206-296-4511, and record your message, including the location of your stop.
Send an email to community.relations@kingcounty.gov with “Route 41, 73” in the subject line.
I think this is fantastic – the bus seems to crawl down Roosevelt/15th on my way to Pinehurst (120th). I do hope the reduction of stops to fewer than one every other block improves the pace of these routes!
@DC:
Well, having to walk a little further would reduce stomach size and overall navel size, therefore reducing the amount of area for navel fuzz build up and the associated time needed to pick the fuzz out. So, its seems like a win win situation we have here.
In case you are not aware, the above comment is laced with extreme sarcasm and meant to mock your little rant above……..good day neighbor 🙂
I know where I stand on this: out in the rain walking further to get the bus on dark winter mornings and especially dark winter evenings on the way home.
I think they are cutting too many of the stops.
@DC: when budgets are as bad as they are now, many choices need to be made to gain efficiencies. Nobody likes having to make those choices, but it needs to be done.
DC,
It also is about the nice folks who don’t live in our neighborhood. They have to deal with more delays if the bus makes more frequent stops in our neck of the woods. Some of them may be elderly as well.
I haven’t made up my mind where I stand on this issue yet, but I’m just stoking the conversation.
And to hell with the elderly and infirm, for whom an extra block or two IS a big deal. Hey, they take to long to board anyhow! Throw them under the bus, hey?
You folks who think everything is so simple need to quit picking the fuzz out of your navel long to realize there’s a lot of different needs in this community, and not everything should be decided on the basis of “efficiency”.
Simon and MapleLeafBob:
I couldn’t agree more! So happy to see people supportive of change. I too think that Metro’s changes are reasonable and will in the end probably do more to help the bus system i.e. have more riders if it is more efficient and timely.
@ Simon:
I agree!!
I’m sure people will be up in arms about the removed stops, since change = bad to many people, but I actually agree with Metro on these changes. In most cases, there is only one extra block for people to walk, and the lower number of stops _will_ increase line speed and minimize traffic delays behind buses during rush hour.