by Stephen Fesler
(This article was previously published at The Urbanist and has been reprinted with permission.)
A new Metro RapidRide line is coming to Auburn, Kent, and Renton in 2023 to provide more than just more frequent and faster bus service. King County Metro also is planning new station standards at stops and making lasting improvements to streets. In the latest project update, Metro unveiled four types of station standards depending upon expected ridership and station access needs, which will dictate which improvements will be rolled out.
Metro's RapidRide program has long had its own station design standards, but the RapidRide I Line will feature a completely new look and feel from past iterations. The agency has released four general versions of stations based upon expected ridership of stops, which include the following:
Tiers 1, 2, and 3 will all have ORCA card readers, lighting, and benches, but Tiers 1 and 2 will also come with transit shelters, waste bins, and real-time arrival signs. Tier 3 Low will be the most basic station design with only a bus stop flag and bus loading pad.
For branding, the Tier 1, 2, and 3 stations will appear in the traditional RapidRide red and feature blocky pylons with attached ORCA card readers, maps, and real-time arrival signs where available. Transit shelters will have a similar blocky theme and feature the station stop name on canopy blades.
The Rapid Ride I Line, scheduled for completion in 2023, will provide fast bus service between Renton, Kent, and Auburn.
Metro has already predetermined which station stops along the corridor will be Tier 1, 2, and 3. Most stations will fall into Tiers 1 and 2. In tandem with outfitting and opening these stations, the agency is planning to provide better access through street improvements. Metro has identified 19 different station access projects along the RapidRide I Line corridor that could be implemented. Many of these are new pedestrian crossings near stations.
In Renton, improvements include the following:
In Kent, improvements include the following:
In Auburn, improvements include the following:
As far as right-of-way re-channelizations go, Metro is proposing modifications in all three cities to prioritize bus movements (see maps for gold lines and location) that largely involve some targeted roadway widening and installation of business access and transit (BAT) lanes in these locations:
Overall, the improvements planned for the RapidRide I Line are expected to reduce travel times up to 20%, which should be a welcome change for riders. But the plans do involve a lot of expensive and seemingly unnecessary road widening rather than conversion of existing lanes for bus priority. Bike lane improvements at stations may also have mixed, conflicting results where they overlap with boarding areas rather than being routed behind stations next to the sidewalk. Nevertheless, final design of the project should wrap up in the fall and construction is planned to begin in 2022.
RapidRide I staying on schedule makes it unique among Metro's expansion plans. Facing budget constraints, Metro has delayed other planned RapidRides such as the RapidRide R upgrading Route 7 in the Rainier Valley and the RapidRide K in Kirkland. Moreover, the Seattle Department of Transportation and Metro agreed to cut in half the RapidRide J (upgrading Route 70) and shelve RapidRide plans for Route 40, Route 44, and Route 48 in Seattle to stretch a thin budget. Likewise, the RapidRide G has faced a series of delays and snags, pushing it back from an initial hoped-for opening of 2019 to fall 2024. However, the agency is prioritizing completion of RapidRide I, citing its equity framework and high transit-dependent population in the corridor.
To comment on the proposed RapidRide I Line, you can send an email to rapidride@kingcounty.gov.
Stephen Fesler is an urban planner with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. Stephen lives in Kenmore and primarily covers land use and transportation issues for The Urbanist.
Featured Image: Metro recently announced plans for stations on the new Rapid Ride I Line that will serve Renton, Kent, and Auburn by 2023. (rendering of station courtesy King County Metro)
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