Save the #20 Bus!

Wallingford neighbor Rosanne penned this article about a bus route of great importance to many in our area: the Route 20 line, which runs from the U District, through Wallingford, to Northgate and Lake City.

Rider Alert! Many riders don’t realize that the 20 bus may be on the chopping block or subject to reduced frequency. The 20, which runs up and down Latona Avenue, goes directly to the UW and to the U District Light Rail station.

Last spring, I found out about a possible extinction of the 20 via a friend of my husband. There were no “Rider Alert” signs posted at bus stops. After an online search, I found a well-hidden survey under Lynnwood Link Connections that showed the 20 bus as a possible deletion.

I went door to door up and down Latona to alert neighbors. I (and others) emailed the Dan Strauss, the city council member for this area and Sara Nelson, the at-large city council member who lives in the neighborhood. One way or another, through their efforts or through neighbor responses, the bus kept running—though with less frequency (every 30 minutes rather than every 15).

Now, with a new deadline of August 27 for public response, the 20 is again on the list for either elimination or reduced frequency (does that mean once per hour?). There are very few signs posted at bus stops but there IS a “Rider Alert” on 50^th and Latona with a QR code for accessing a survey.

When I boarded the 20 bus last Tuesday I asked the bus driver if he knew of the proposed reduction or elimination. He did not. Then I asked riders on the bus if they knew. Even though there was a Rider Alert posted on the window of the bus, no one had noticed it.

Instead of making it easier to link to mass transportation (via Light Rail) the removal of the 20 bus would make it more difficult. It seems misdirected to remove or reduce this bus.

Here is a link to the map that shows what’s included. It does not show the 20. Here is the survey. Please take a few minutes to save the 20 bus.