From:                              Obeso, Victor [Victor.Obeso@kingcounty.gov]
Sent:                               Thursday, June 30, 2011 6:32 PM
To:                                   'Kate Joncas'; Lindmark, Ref
Cc:                                   Schellenberg, Dawn; Burrows, Tracy; 
Bryant, Bill; OClaire, Christina; Glass-Hastings, Andrew; Desmond, Kevin; 
Jacobson, Jim
Subject:                          RE: Southeast Seattle, Metro-Link integration 
and  Rt 42
 
Kate, Ref – at the CTAC III meeting this week Dawn provided a brief synopsis of 
interviews of people regarding equity and social justice issues and 
transportation access.  Among the issues raised was about the Route 42, the 
subject of significant public discussion as Metro made its proposal for service 
changes that began in fall 2009.  I understand the general topic of equity and 
social justice and access to light rail was further discussed later in the 
meeting.   These are very important issues to Metro, as you know from your 
participation in our Regional Transit Task Force and our inclusion of specific 
policies and measures in Metro’s strategic plan and guidelines. 
 
I know you are inundated with information but I think this information is 
relevant to the discussion and offers some data before and after Metro-Link 
integration and the scaling back of the route 42.  The info below provides 
information on two topics:  
 
  Access by bus to Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS), shown as daily 
  number of people getting on or off at the bus stops closest to ACRS. 
    Total access by bus at this location has shown very little change compared 
    to 2008, a year in which Metro experienced its highest ever system ridership 

 
  Total bus ridership on MLK Blvd S on the current route 8 compared to the prior 
  combination of routes 42, 42 Express and 48.   
    Overall bus usage on MLK Blvd S has increased 
 
 
Access by Bus to ACRS
 
Daily weekday passenger activity at the two sets of stops closest to Asian 
Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS), at South Walden Street, is described 
below. The Route 7 local trolley serves the stops on Rainier Avenue South, while 
frequent Route 8 and limited service Route 42 serve the stops on M.L. King Jr 
Way South.
 
Total on and off activity has changed little between Fall 2008, prior to the 
implementation of Link integration changes, and Spring 2011.
 
      BUS STOP ACTIVITY AT SOUTH WALDEN STREET       
                
      LocationRouteFall 2008Fall 2009Fall 2010Spring 2011
        OnsOffsOnsOffsOnsOffsOnsOffs
      Rainier Ave S / S Walden St Northbound713260140901297514485
      Rainier Ave S / S Walden St Southbound776128108135103146114161
      MLK Jr Wy S / S Walden St Northbound8, 424292244639434948
      MLK Jr Wy S / S Walden St Northbound8, 429984563733494155
      Totals: 349364328308304313348349
                
      Note: Fall 2008 data for MLK/Walden included Rt 42, 42X, and 48 activity.  
         

 
Ridership on Route 42 local service has fallen from an average of 3,950 daily 
rides in Fall 2008 to 120 daily rides today. Ridership on Route 8 has risen from 
3,400 to 8,020 daily rides during the same period. Former Route 42 rides 
certainly can account for part of Route 8's growth, but the availability of 
frequent Link light rail service at three stations along MLK also is an 
alternative for former Route 42 riders. The three Link stations are averaging 
about 3,000 total boardings on weekdays. 
 
Routes 8, 48 and the M.L. King Jr. Way South Corridor
 
Ridership on Route 8 in the M.L. King corridor has continued to grow rapidly. 
Since Fall 2009, Route 8 has gained over 1,900 riders, a 32% increase. Saturday 
ridership has grown even more, by 66%. The weekday and Saturday increases 
followed the improvement of Route 9 service frequency from every 30 minutes to 
every 15 minutes during off-peak periods in February 2010.
      Changes in Route 8 Ridership 2008-2010
      Route 8 RidershipFall 2008Fall 2009Fall 2010% Change Fall 08-09% Change 
      Fall 09-10
      Weekday3,4006,0908,02079%32%
      Saturday1,4503,4705,745139%66%
      Sunday1,0802,5703,180138%24%

 
The net change in Route 8 Fall 2010 ridership of 4,620 (8,020 – 3,400) exceeds 
the 2,811 daily weekday boardings formerly carried by routes 42, 42X, and 48 
along the M.L. King corridor. A number of riders formerly carried by Metro buses 
along the M.L. King corridor may have shifted to Link; this hypothesis is 
plausible given that approximately 60% of the boarding/alighting activity of 
riders on routes 42 and 48 occurred within one-quarter mile walking distance of 
a Link station. Link boardings at the three stations in Rainier Valley have 
continued to grow since the startup of service in July 2009, and now stand at 
almost 3,000 daily weekday boardings.
 
Thank you again for allowing me the time to present to the committee yesterday.  
Let me know if any further clarification or additional information would be 
helpful.
 
Thanks,
 
Victor Obeso
Manager, Service Development
 
206-263-3109