CHS once called the oddball but busy route the platypus of Metro lines. (Image: Metro)
Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation are looking at how to speed up service during peak hours on Route 60, the sprawling bus connection that runs from White Center through Georgetown all the way across Capitol Hill to Broadway.
A survey open through February 20th will help shape a new plan for the 60. The goal, Metro says, is to reduce Rt. 60 travel times “by 10-15% during busy commute times” —
About 70% of all Route 60 buses arrive on time, performing below Metro’s on-time performance goal of at least 80%. Despite this challenge, Route 60 experiences an average of 6,200 weekday boardings, making this route a candidate for investments to address delays and inconsistent travel times.
Segment 1 alternatives
In addition to possible changes in stops, routing, and additions like curb bulbs, Metro says it will also study transit signal priority throughout the corridor.
Metro has broken the planning into four areas including Segment 1 covering Broadway East & Mercer Street to 12th Avenue South & South Weller Street (First Hill, Capitol Hill International District).
The most significant changes being weighed for the Segment 1 area are the possible addition of a dedicated bus lane for northbound buses on 12th Ave near Boren Ave, “a location which causes significant delays during peak travel periods,” consolidation of Rt. 60 stops along 9th Ave, and the addition of bus bulbs that would allow the coaches to let riders on and off without pulling out of and into traffic at Harborview and Capitol Hill Station.
Potential improvements to this segment may include:
- Consolidation of bus stops on Ninth Avenue. Removing bus stops that are too close together and improving stop locations would improve reliability and save travel time.
- Rerouting northbound buses from Broadway and Fir Street to Yesler Way and Eighth Avenue. Buses on Fir Street currently face delays due to the narrow street width and loading activities.
- Building bus bulbs (wider sidewalks at key stops where buses face challenges merging in and out of traffic), including the stops at Capitol Hill Station and Harborview. Allowing a bus to stay in the lane while serving a stop reduces the amount of time lost to merging in and out of traffic, improves accessibility for riders, and can improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Intersection improvements including changes to signal operations and lane configurations where buses face delays. Prioritizing transit movements reduces the amount of time buses spend at traffic lights and can improve travel times.
- A Business Access and Transit (BAT) lane and queue jump for northbound buses on 12th Avenue approaching Boren Avenue. A transit lane and dedicated signal could improve reliability and address a location which causes significant delays during peak travel periods.
You can review the rest of the segment’s potential changes and ideas for the rest of the route here.
The Seattle Transit Blog is asking why planners aren’t also considering a re-reroute that would move the 60 fully onto Broadway between Yesler and Madison.
The planning for Rt. 60 comes as another key Capitol Hill-connected route is in line for optimization. CHS reported here on the order from Mayor Katie Wilson for Metro and the city to work out a plan to add a bus lane to Denny to speed up the consistently late Route 8.
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