Traffic signal troubles along the C Line

A technical problem recently emerged at four intersections along the RapidRide C Line in West Seattle. Some traffic signal software was causing signals to be stuck or go into flash mode, and the transit signal priority feature that gives buses more green lights has been temporarily disabled at these four intersections while the problem is sorted out.

Buses are taking a little longer to get through the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Avalon Street

We’re working closely with the Seattle Department of Transportation on a solution, and together are committed to reactivating transit signal priority at the four intersections – 35th Avenue SW and SW Avalon Way, 35th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street, 42nd Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street, and California Avenue SW and Fauntleroy Way SW.

RapidRide buses will continue to travel their routes while we work to find a solution, and transit signal priority remains active at four other intersections along the C Line. Thanks for your patience as we work on this issue.

Transit signal priority is one element that RapidRide incorporates to improve speed and reliability.  On the A, B, C, and D lines there are currently more than 80 intersections equipped with signal priority. The C Line will have nine once they are fully operational.

More C Line trips to improve frequency, reliability

Some good news for evening commuters who ride to West Seattle: more bus trips for the RapidRide C Line, starting Nov. 5 and 13, to maintain frequent service even when buses get stuck in traffic near lower Queen Anne.

Starting Nov. 13, bus drivers also will have updated evening schedules, based on what we’ve learned from operating RapidRide in downtown Seattle the past six weeks. The revised schedules will help C Line buses arrive more regularly at stops.

See the  news release for more details.

Metro is continuing to gather and analyze data to make the bus system work better in this time of growing ridership and tight budgets. We’ll have more to report in coming weeks. Keep us posted on how the changes are working for you.

More West Seattle residents take transit; Metro works to ease C Line crowding

The good news is that the C and D lines are up and running and we saw an immediate spike in ridership after their launch.

Initially, however, that popularity created some delays and overcrowding during the busiest commute times, particularly on the C Line.

To address this, Metro has added four extra trips to the C Line during peak commute hours (two trips in the morning and two in the evening). The added trips should increase bus arrival frequency from every 10 minutes to every 8-9 minutes during the busiest times – 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m.

We can’t say that all of the problems vanished overnight, but we can say that service has been running more smoothly this week, and we’re continuing to make adjustments as we learn more about operating this new service in real-world conditions. So things should continue getting better — and in the meantime, the patience of our riders is greatly appreciated. Please know that we’re paying close attention, both to the service itself and to customer feedback.

Read Metro’s Oct. 5 news release about added trips »

Tune in next week for a C and D line update – what’s working, what isn’t (yet), and why.

C Line bus on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle

C Line construction begins

Metro is about to begin making bus stop improvements to get ready for the start of the C Line in September. This work will include passenger amenities at each C Line stop, plus roadway changes to improve bus operations.

Work on the C Line north of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal (except Alaska Junction) is being done by the City of Seattle. They’ll break ground as early as today at three stops on Fauntleroy Way SW and work their way up the corridor, a few stops at a time, through April.

Work on the rest of the stops on the southern end of the route (toward Westwood Village) will be done by Metro starting later this week. Metro will also manage the construction of C Line improvements at the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal and Alaska Junction beginning in March.

Existing bus stops will be closed while this work is done, but Metro will provide alternative stops nearby and buses will continue normal operations. We’ll work on only a few bus stops at a time and do everything we can to minimize disruptions.

Look for rider alerts at the affected stops with details about where to catch your bus during construction. As work progresses along the corridor, we’ll also post updates about key construction activities here, and send out notices via Transit Alerts to those who have signed up for messages about affected bus routes. The City of Seattle will also be providing updates about their work on their project website.