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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: City Helps Increase Seattle Bus Service
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/18/2009 3:15:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard Sheridan (206) 684-8540
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City Helps Increase Seattle Bus Service
Bridging the Gap funds 8,800 more hours annually on lines 2, 8, 13 and 48
SEATTLE – The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced today that beginning Saturday, September 19, the City of Seattle will help fund 8,800 new hours of King County Metro transit bus service. Thanks to the voter-approved Bridging the Gap transportation levy, bus riders throughout many Seattle neighborhoods will enjoy an increase in service on routes 2, 8, 13 and 48 . The city is using levy funds to purchase additional bus hours for Seattle residents through the county’s Transit Now program.
“While Bridging the Gap is best known for building sidewalks, replacing street signs and paving roads, it also helps enhance transit services that are critical to our residents,” said SDOT Director Grace Crunican. “Thanks to Bridging the Gap, the city is working with our partner Metro to add hours and better serve Seattle bus riders.”
This increase builds on hours previously added to the 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 14, 26, 28 and 44 bus lines in 2008. In 2010 Seattle will have added a total of 45,000 hours of new bus service per year – the equivalent of ten buses running twelve hours per day 365 days per year.
Purchasing more bus service for these routes moves the city closer to its goal of having a network of reliable transit service running every 15 minutes or better, 18 hours a day, seven days a week on corridors connecting neighborhoods with active business centers. Frequent, reliable transit service offers people options to driving and helps fight global warming. Many of the service additions are focused on electric trolley bus service, which results in virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Approved by voters in 2006, the $365 million Bridging the Gap levy enables much needed work by the Seattle Department of Transportation, such as roadway paving, sidewalk development and repair, bridge upkeep, and tree pruning and planting. It also supports the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master plans, the Safe Routes to School program, enhanced transit connections and large Neighborhood Street Fund projects.
The Seattle Department of Transportation builds, maintains and operates Seattle's $12 billion transportation infrastructure. To further Mayor Nickels’ goal to get Seattle moving, the department manages short- and long-term investments in streets, bridges, pavement and trees, that better connect the city with the region.
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