Route 48 Corridor Speed & Reliability Improvements
Project Update

July 18, 2005

Effective immediately, the northbound bus stop on 23rd Avenue at E Madison Street is permanently closed. Customers can use the bus stop located at 23rd Avenue at E John Street to board northbound route 43 and 48 buses. A new shelter was recently installed at this stop. These changes improve the speed and reliability for the route 48 and provide a better transfer point for customers traveling north to the University District.

February 20, 2004

Based on additional feedback and ridership analysis, King County Metro is proposing to close 2 more bus stops on Wallingford Ave N at N 80th St, in both directions. Closure of these bus stops will improve schedule reliability and reduce the potential for accidents at this location.

Bus stop notices have been posted at the affected bus stops and customer comments will be collected until March 12, 2004. After the comment period has ended, we will review all the comments we receive about our proposal and make adjustments to mitigate any negative impacts to our customers. A new bus stop shelter is planned for the northbound bus stop on Wallingford Ave N and N 82nd St.

December 29, 2003

The Seattle Department of Transportation has completed re-timing traffic signals along 23rd and 24th Avenues between NE Pacific Place and S Massachusetts Street. New signal timing will help improve traffic flow to route 48 buses as well as general traffic and other bus routes. King County Metro provided funding for this work through its signal synchronization grant program.

September 25, 2003

The northbound bus stop located on 23rd Ave S at S Grand St will be closed effective October 3, 2003. This bus stop is located close to other stops and is not near a signalized pedestrian crossing. The southbound stop at Grand St was closed previously, and after hearing additional feedback from bus drivers and riders, Metro decided to also close the northbound bus stop.

June 23, 2003

Update: Segment 4 Bus Stop Consolidation Finalized

Metro has finalized the bus stop consolidation plan for segment 4, from Loyal Way NW to Oswego Pl NE. Based on 44 total comments received from riders and community groups during the comment period, the initial proposal was modified. In the final plan, 14 of the 69 existing bus stops along segment 4 will be closed permanently and 4 will be relocated.

The following bus stops will be closed:

The following bus stops will be relocated:

• Northbound Wallingford Ave N at N 85th St will be closed and 48 local service will be added to WB N 85th St at Wallingford Ave N. (around the corner)
• Westbound 3rd Ave NW will be relocated to the far-side of the intersection
• Westbound 9th Ave NW will be relocated to 10th Ave NW
• Westbound 21st Ave NW will be relocated to 22nd Ave NW

These changes will become effective with the autumn service change beginning September 27, 2003. Rider Alerts will be posted at these bus stops prior to final removal or relocation. Before consolidation, the average stop spacing is one stop every 650 feet, after consolidation, the average stop spacing will be one every 815 feet. See maps of final bus stop consolidation plan: Segment 4A [59 kb] and Segment 4B [77 kb]

Note that the closed bus stop locations will still be available for passenger drop-off after 9 PM, using Metro's Night Stop Service.

Update: Segment 1 Madison Transfer Point

After hearing comments from riders and local community organizations, we are proceeding with a plan to consolidate the two northbound stops at Madison St and Thomas St into one new stop at John St. See March 13 project update and Map for more information about this plan.

The new stop at John St will be installed soon, at which time the existing northbound stop at Thomas St will be closed. The Madison St stop will stay open until a shelter can be installed the new John St Stop.

Update: Segment 2 Garfield Bus Stops

Metro is proceeding with plans to relocate the northbound bus stop at Terrace St closer to the pedestrian signal at Alder St. The new bus stop at Alder St will be installed within the month, at which time the bus stop and shelter at Terrace St will be closed. Metro's facilities crews are working on installing a shelter at the new Alder St stop. Also, the southbound bus stop at Alder St will be moved slightly south.

April 17, 2003

Maps are now available for the proposed bus stop consolidation in segment 4 (Loyal Way NW to Oswego Pl NE). See proposed bus stop consolidation page. Beginning in early May, project information will be posted at affected bus stops along the corridor in segment 4. Customer comments will be collected for this segment until June 2, 2003. After the comment period has ended, we will review all the comments we receive about our proposal and make adjustments to mitigate any negative impacts to our customers.

Summary of proposed changes Segment A

Summary of proposed changes Segment B

April 15, 2003

Metro has finalized the bus stop consolidation plan for segment 2 (E Madison St to S Jackson St) and segment 3 (S Jackson St to S Alaska St). Based on 57 total comments received from riders and community groups during the comment period, the initial proposal was modified. In the final plan, 12 of the 61 existing bus stops along segments 2 and 3 will be closed permanently including these stops:

In addition, the northbound stop at Judkins St will be relocated to the far-side of the intersection.

These changes will become effective with the summer service change beginning June 7, 2003. Rider alerts will be posted at these bus stops prior one week to final removal or relocation. See maps of final bus stop consolidation plan: Segment 2 [36 kb] and Segment 3 [51 kb]

Metro will be further evaluating some of the remaining stops, based on the feedback received during the comment period, including:

• Closing the northbound bus stop at S Grand St.
• Relocating the northbound bus stop at E Terrace St to E Alder St.

If and when further changes to these bus stops are proposed, notices for comment will be posted at all of the affected stops.

March 13, 2003

Metro is proposing an alternate plan for bus stop locations on 23rd Ave E between E Thomas St and E Madison St. This new proposal addresses the concerns raised in the many comments we received from riders and the community about our original proposal.

We are now proposing to:

• Close the northbound bus stops at E. Madison and E. Thomas Streets on 23rd Ave. E.
• Create a new northbound bus stop north of E. John St. (with a shelter, pending available right-of-way)

These changes are illustrated on this map. [67 kb]

Making these bus stop changes will:

• Add a northbound stop closer to Madison St that will serve both routes 43 and 48.
• Encourage pedestrian crossing at signalized intersections.
• Reduce transit delays at traffic signals at E. Madison and E. John Streets.
• Improve traffic flow between E. Madison and E. John Streets.

We realize that some riders may need to walk an extra block or two, however, we feel the improvements noted above may help compensate for this inconvenience.

We will post information at the affected bus stops and will collect comments until April 2, 2003 before we finalize any plans. Metro staff will attend the Miller Park community meeting on Thursday, March 20 from 7-9 p.m. to collect comments and answer questions. The meeting location is at McKinney Manor located at 1916 E. Madison. If you cannot attend, we encourage you to send us your comments.

January 31, 2003

Metro has finalized the bus stop consolidation plan for segment 1 (NE Pacific St to E Madison St), and the changes will become effective on February 7, 2003. Based on over 50 comments from riders and community members that were received during the 7-week comment period, the plan was modified. In the final plan, seven of the 35 total bus stops along segment 1 will be closed permanently, including:

• Pacific St (southbound)
• Shelby St (northbound, stop will continue to serve eastside routes)
• Calhoun St (northbound)
• Interlaken Pl (northbound)
• Interlaken Pl (southbound)
• Lee St (northbound)
• Highland St (southbound)

Before consolidation, the average stop spacing is one stop every 725 feet, after removal, the average stop spacing will be one every 975 feet. See map of final bus stop consolidation plan [44 kb].

Note: The stops at Thomas St. will remain because it would impact transfer between Routes 8, 11, 43 and 48. Metro will evaluate an alternate proposal for the stops between Madison St. and Thomas St. that would address the transfer issue. This effort will be coordinated with a pedestrian study effort lead by the City of Seattle. If and when further changes to these zones are proposed, notices for comment will be posted at all of the affected zones.

For project questions about segment 1 e-mail tsr@kingcounty.gov

January 21, 2003

Maps are now available for the proposed bus stop consolidation in segment 3 (S Jackson St to S Henderson St). See proposed bus stop consolidation page. In the next few weeks, project information will be posted at all bus stops along the corridor on segment 3. Customer comments will be collected for this segment until March 24, 2003. After the comment period has ended, we will review all the comments we have received about our proposal and make adjustments to mitigate any negative impacts to our customers.

Summary of proposed changes segment 3A

No proposed changes for segment 3B

January 6, 2003

Please note changes in comment periods for bus stop consolidation. The comment period for segment 1 (NE Pacific St to E Madison St.) is extended to January 24, and we will collect comments for segment 2 (E Madison St to Rainier Beach) until March 24, 2003. See updated bus stop consolidation schedule and map.

December 23, 2002

Rider Alerts have been posted along segment 2 of the Route 48 corridor, E Madison St to Rainier Beach. Customer comments will be collected for this segment until March 24, 2003 before the stop consolidation plan is finalized.

Summary of proposed changes to bus stops for this segment planned to become effective by September 2003. Summary of proposed changes and maps for S Jackson St. to Rainier Beach available soon.

December 4, 2002

Rider Alerts have been posted along the first segment of the Route 48 corridor, NE Pacific St to E Madison St. Customer comments will be collected for this segment until January 24, 2003 before the stop consolidation plan is finalized.

Summary of proposed changes

Bus Stop Consolidation Schedule

The bus stop consolidation will proceed along the corridor in parts, according to the following schedule. Rider alerts will be posted during the comment period and prior to the completion date, when the changes will become effective.