I got an email from King County Metro Transit recently (sign up here!) informing me of the following. I love the language, so I’ll just quote them here:
Starting Saturday, Feb. 5, Metro will make routing and bus stop changes for approximately two dozen bus routes serving downtown Seattle to keep people moving during the long-term construction in downtown Seattle and the SODO area.
Although the road closures and construction projects will be phased over many years, Metro thinks it is best for bus riders if their routes change as few times as possible. The major adjustments being done this February also helps Metro set the stage for two future RapidRide routes to downtown Seattle from West Seattle and Ballard that are scheduled to start in 2012.
“Metro thinks it is best.” I don’t know why I think that’s funny, but I do.
Anyway, here’s what you need to know. Starting 2/5, Metro will divert a number of bus routes away from First Ave downtown. Many buses will move to Third Ave. Some routes on Second and Fourth will change a bit. And certain stops will move. Which brings us to why the changes matter up here north of downtown.
Wallingford-serving routes #16 and #26. The 26 will drop off & pick up passengers at new locations on Third Avenue downtown. The #16 northbound from the ferry terminal will pick up south of Marion St. Don’t fall victim to my recurring nightmare, where I stand at a bus stop for 25 minutes, then the bus passes me because I was waiting on the wrong corner. No! No! Noooooo!
Just be alert. My guess is that the #16 and #26 will only move a block or two, and stay on Third. New schedules will be distributed shortly, and we’ll know for sure.
Get full details on service changes here. And be sure to read the bus stop signs!
Southbound the 26 stops will be the same. Northbound they’re moving to the current 358 stops (so from the current stop at Pike to the one at Pine by Macy’s).
They’re using a color coding system that seems to make the whole thing a little more convoluted. The 16 & 26 (or 124 southbound) hit the Yellow/Green stops southbound and the Blue/Green stops northbound. Green is the color to watch.
“Metro thinks it is best!”
Why you should never, ever use two spaces after a period.
Thanks, Dennis. @Doug, my mother gave me a typewriter in 1979 so I could support myself someday in the future when I couldn’t keep a man. (P.S. I’m a dyke.)
So not only do the excessive spaces reflect this dilemma, they also age me. 😉