King County Metro

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King County Metro
logo
Slogan We'll Get You There
Parent company King County Department of Transportation
Founded January 1, 1973
Headquarters 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle
Locale King County, Washington
Service area King County, Washington
Service type Transit bus
Alliance Sound Transit
Routes 223[1]
Stops 9,549[1] (year-end 2008)
Hubs 13 transit centers
Fleet 1,443[1] (year-end 2008)
Daily ridership 400,457 [2]
Fuel type Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid, Electric trolleybus
Chief executive Kevin Desmond, General Manager
Web site Metro Online

King County Metro, or Metro for short, is the public transit authority of King County, Washington, a division of the King County Department of Transportation. It began operations on January 1, 1973, but can trace its roots to Seattle Transit, founded in 1939, and Overlake Transit Service, founded in 1927. As of 2008, it operated 1,443 buses on 223 routes[1]. Its annual ridership in 2008 was 118 million[3], making it the seventh largest bus operator in the nation.[4] Metro employs 2,694 full- and part-time operators (year-end 2008)[1].

Contents

[edit] History

The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle, or Seattle Metro, was created by a local referendum in 1958 authorized to manage regional wastewater and water quality issues in King County[5]. After two failed attempts to enable it to build a regional rapid transit system, it was authorized to operate a regional bus system in 1972. The bus system was known as Metro and began operations in 1973. Its operations subsumed Seattle Transit, formerly under the purview of the City of Seattle, and the Metropolitan Transit Corporation, a private company serving suburban cities in King County. The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle was overseen by a federated board of elected officials in King County. After its representation structure was ruled unconstitutional in 1990, and a popular vote in 1992, the municipality's roles and authorities were assumed by King County government.[5] After completion of the downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project, attention was drawn again to developing a regional rail system. This interest led to the formation of the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, also known as Sound Transit, which holds primary responsibility for planning and building high capacity transit in the counties of King, Pierce and Snohomish, in western Washington state[6]. Metro Transit continues to provide local and regional transit service connections, primarily within its jurisdictional boundaries. Besides its own transit operations Metro operates bus service for Sound Transit, and will be the operator of Link light rail when it begins revenue service in 2009[7].

[edit] Operations

Metro Buses in Seattle, Washington

[edit] Routes

See also: List of King County Metro bus routes

Metro combines service patterns typical of city and suburban bus networks. The city network, descended in large part from the Seattle Transit system of converted streetcar routes, is arranged in a hub-and-spoke pattern centered on downtown Seattle, with lesser amounts of crosstown service. Routes in the city network are numbered from 1 to 79, with special late-night "Owl" routes in the 80s and the waterfront streetcar and its replacement coach numbered 99. Because of the scattershot evolution of the system, there is no easily discernible pattern to the route numbers, although there are clusters in certain neighborhoods: for example, the 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, and 49, as well as the 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 79 all run through the University District.

The in-city routes with the highest ridership are the 7, traveling from downtown Seattle through the International District and Rainier Valley; the 36, traveling from downtown Seattle through the International District to Beacon Hill; the 43 and 49 (the latter of which was formerly the northern portion of route 7), traveling through Capitol Hill to the University District; the 44, a crosstown route connecting the University District and Ballard; the 48, a very long crosstown route connecting most parts of east and north Seattle to the Central District and Rainier Beach, and the 3 and 4, connecting downtown to Queen Anne, First Hill, the Central District, and Madrona. However, because of the bus-only nature of the system, there are many other heavily used routes.

The suburban system is more numerically organized. Roughly speaking, areas south of the city from Burien and Des Moines through Renton and Maple Valley are served by routes numbered from 101 to 197. Areas east of the city from Renton to Bothell are served by routes numbered from 200 to 291. Areas north of the city from Bothell to Shoreline are served by routes numbered from 301 to 373. Numbers in the 400s and, for the most part, the 800s, are reserved for Community Transit (Snohomish County) commuter routes serving Seattle; numbers in the 500s are used by Sound Transit's Regional Express system, save for Pierce Transit's routes 500 (Federal Way-Tacoma) and 501 (Federal Way-Milton-Tacoma). 600 series routes are general "express" routes that are used for special purposes (the 630, for example, is intended to service the Kingsgate Park and Ride from Bellevue until construction adjacent to the park and ride is complete) as well as the Olympia Express Lines operated by Pierce Transit and Intercity Transit, and 900 series routes are reserved for Dial-a-Ride services and for routes serving outlying areas such as Duvall and Carnation.

Special routes numbered 206-208, 219 and 885-890 are used by Metro to serve Bellevue School District students. Special coaches are dispatched around the region to serve as special shuttles for local events, including Seattle Mariners baseball games, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Huskies football games, and other special events.

Major all-day Metro routes in the suburbs include the 120, connecting Seattle and Burien; the 174 and 194, connecting Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and Federal Way; the 150, connecting Seattle, Southcenter and Kent (The Kent to Auburn portion was replaced by the new route 180); the 101 and 106 between Seattle and Renton; the 255, connecting Seattle and Kirkland; the 240, connecting Renton and Bellevue; the 230 and 253, connecting Bellevue, Crossroads, and Redmond; the 271, connecting Issaquah, Bellevue, and the University District; the 347 and 348, connecting Northgate and North City; and the 358, operating up Aurora Avenue N. to Shoreline.

[edit] Freeway Express Services

Metro operates many peak-hour commuter routes serving park and rides that use 244.52 miles of the region's network of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes[8]. This practice was pioneered at Seattle Transit as the Blue Streak express bus service running between Northgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle. Special stops called "freeway flyers" or freeway stations were constructed to allow efficient transfer between local and express buses.[9] The first "freeway flyer" stop opened in 1975 at Montlake Boulevard and State Route 520[10]. Metro also takes advantage of new HOV direct-access ramps and freeway stations constructed by Sound Transit to improve speed and reliability of its commuter routes.[11][12].

[edit] Ride Free Area

To encourage transit usage, improve accessibility and encourage downtown shopping, a portion of downtown Seattle was cordoned as the "Magic Carpet Zone" in 1973, allowing for free rides within the area[13]. Today, it is called the Ride Free Area, and fares are not collected between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. within the area. The Ride Free Area extends from the north at Battery St. to S. Jackson St. on the south, and east at 6th Avenue to the waterfront on the west[14]. On routes that originate in the Ride Free Area and terminate outside of it, passengers pay their fare when they exit the bus at their destination. Routes 2, 3, 4, 14, 64, 303 begin and end outside of the Ride Free Area. Passengers that board the bus before it enters the ride free area and plan to alight outside of the RFA should obtain a transfer ticket while paying fare upon boarding. The transfer will be shown to the operator as they alight because after exiting the Ride Free Area, the bus will switch to collecting fares as passengers exit. A 1975 study found that this arrangement generally reduced bus travel times within the Ride Free Area except for buses that traveled through the Ride Free Area to other destinations. It also found that unloading outbound coaches once outside the Ride Free Area took additional time, though not entirely quantified vis-à-vis time saved within the Ride Free Area[citation needed]. Metro routes 116, 118 and 119 are not included in the Ride Free Area[15]. During peak hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. weekdays), bicycles are only allowed to be loaded or unloaded at a route's first and last ride free stop, save for the Tunnel, where bikes can be loaded and unloaded at each station. Metro cites safety as the reason to disallow bicycle loading in the core of the Ride Free Area.[14]

Skip-stops are used on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Avenues in Downtown Seattle, whereby each bus skips every other bus stop. On 3rd Avenue, bus routes are grouped into Blue and Yellow stops; on 2nd and 4th Avenues, routes are grouped into Red and White stops. These color groupings, however, are not readily apparent and customers are instead directed to identify their bus stop by looking at the numbers displayed on the flag or kiosk.

[edit] Wi-Fi

As of November 2008, Metro provides free Wi-Fi service to its passengers on the following routes:

  • 197 (Twin Lakes P&R/University District)
  • 255 (Downtown Seattle/Kirkland, Brickyard P&R)
  • 644 (temporary route, replaced by 244: Overlake/Kenmore)
  • 952* (Kennydale, Auburn/Boeing Everett)

*Available on last AM peak hour trip and last PM peak hour trip

Metro uses a cellular air card from Sprint which is plugged into a Junxion Box. The system is currently set up on 48 coaches. Metro advertises that the SSID is KingCountyMetro; however on many coaches it is Junxion_Box (possibly due to an extended loss of power to the Junxion Box). Initially these coaches had exterior markings, however many of these have been replaced with advertisements. Coaches continue to sport large stickers on the ceiling near the front of the coach[16]. [17] [18] [19]

In the February 2009 service change, there is no longer any mention of free Wi-Fi service in timetables for the above routes. It is unknown whether Metro has discontinued the service.

[edit] Operating Costs

The cost per boarding for Metro was $4.10 in 2005, compared to $2.50 among the 15 largest national agencies and $2.97, the national average. Metro's cost per boarding is 38% above the national average.[20]

In 2007 it cost $3.64 per boarding to deliver service in the West (Seattle) subarea, $4.79 in the South subarea and $7.27 in the East subarea of King County[20]. At the end of 2008, the systemwide cost per boarding was $3.70[1].

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

Main article: Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel
University Street Station

A major Metro operations facility is the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, or DSTT. The DSTT, a 1.3-mile-long, five-station tunnel through the center of downtown Seattle, was completed in 1990 at a cost of $455 million.[21] Planned from the outset to be convertible to light rail operation, the tunnel was outfitted with rails and overhead trolley wire. A fleet of 235 dual-propulsion buses were produced by Breda of Italy, powered by electric traction in the tunnel, and diesel on city streets. Mode changes occurred at the north and south portals.

The tunnel suffered some significant problems in operation, as the Breda buses proved overweight and unreliable. The original plan to have up to 489 dual-powered buses using the tunnel by the mid-1990s never materialized; the 235 Breda buses were the primary buses to use the tunnel until Metro acquired its hybrid fleet in 2005.[21][22]

The tunnel was closed in 2005[23] to replace the rails, lower the track bed for modern ADA-compliant light rail cars, and complete a stub tunnel for a future LINK light rail extension to the north. The tunnel finished its retrofit and returned to service on September 24, 2007[23]. The tunnel is served by routes 41, 71, 72, 73, 74E, 101, 106, 150, 174, 194, 212, 217 (mornings only), 225, 229, 255, 256, 301, and ST550[24]. In order to lower bus volumes (due to coming light rail service) and to increase the number of trips serving the tunnel in the midday hours, routes 177, 190, 196, 266, 306, and 312 did not return to service the tunnel after the retrofit[23].

[edit] Transit Centers

Transit Centers act as smaller regional hubs that are served by many bus routes. Some transit centers are located in a park-and-ride lot. While Downtown Seattle is Metro's main transit hub, Metro operates out of thirteen transit centers located throughout King County[25]:

Location Year Opened Notes
Auburn
Aurora Village 1985[26]
Bellevue 1985[26] Owned 51% by Sound Transit, 49% by Metro[25]
Burien
Eastgate
Federal Way 2006[27]
Issaquah
Kirkland 1986[28]
Northgate 1992[29]
Overlake 2002[30]
Redmond 2008[25]
Renton
Totem Lake 2008[31] At Evergreen Medical Center

There also exist transfer points which are transit hubs that lack their own facilities.

[edit] Park and Rides

In King County, Metro has 132[1] Park and Ride facilities containing a total of 24,524[1] parking stalls. Half of the lots are leased from other property owners such as churches.[25]

[edit] Bases

Metro operates out of seven bases spread throughout its 2,134-square-mile (5,530 km2) operating area:

Name Location Year Opened Notes
Atlantic 1555 Airport Way S, Seattle[32] 1941[33] Only base that serves electric trolley buses[33]
Bellevue 1790 124th Ave NE, Bellevue[32] 1983[citation needed]
Central 640 S Massachusetts St, Seattle[32] 1941[33]
East 1975 124 Ave NE, Bellevue[32] 1977[10]
North 2160 N 163rd St, Shoreline[32] 1992[34][35] Built mostly underground[34]
Ryerson 1220 4th Ave S, Seattle[32] 1987[26]
South 12100 East Marginal Way S, Tukwila[32] 1978[10] More coaches here than any other base[36] (as of Sep 2003)

Atlantic, Central, and Ryerson Bases are located close together near Safeco Field south of downtown Seattle and are known as the Central Campus[36]. East and Bellevue bases comprise the Bellevue Campus[36] and are located nearby each other in north Bellevue. The South and East transit facilities finished an ADA retrofit in 2001.[citation needed]

[edit] Other

Name Location Year Opened Notes
Atlantic Maintenance 1555 Airport Way South, Seattle[37]
Central/Atlantic/Ryerson[36] Operations 1270 6th Ave S, Seattle[37]
Central Maintenance 640 South Massachusetts, Seattle[37]
Communications Control Center 1505 6th Ave S, Seattle[37] 2007[38]
Component Suppy Center 12200 East Marginal Way South, Tukwila[37]
Employee Parking Garage 1505 6th Avenue South, Seattle[37]
Millwright & Tire Shop 1555 Airport Way South, Seattle[37]
Power Distribution 2255 4th Avenue South, Seattle[37]
Redmond Van Pool Center 18655 NE Union Hill Road, Redmond[37] 2002[39][verification needed] Van Pool van storage[40]
South Facilities 11911 East Marginal Way South, Tukwila[37]
Training and Safety Center 11911 East Marginal Way S, Tukwila[41] Operator training, new equipment qualifications, and retraining.
Across the street from the South Base.

[edit] Transit Now

Metro and four other transit organizations in the Puget Sound region use the same type of monthly passes, which can be issued in various configurations.

In April 2006, King County Executive Ron Sims announced a program entitled "Transit Now" that, if approved by voters, would provide for a 20 percent increase in transit service by the end of 2016 over 2006 service levels, measured in annual operating hours. In order to realize this growth, Transit Now proposed an increase in the local option sales tax for transit of one-tenth of one percent. The Transit Now ordinance[42], passed by the King County Council on 5 September 2006 and signed by Executive Sims on 11 September 2006, forwarded the tax proposition to the voters and identified the programs to which operating revenue generated from the sales tax increase could be appropriated. The measure was approved by 56.62% of King County voters in the November 2007 general election. The service programs identified in the ordinance are as follows:

  1. Implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service called RapidRide in five arterial corridors.
  2. Increase service on high ridership routes that provide frequent, two-way connections throughout the agency's service area.
  3. Service for growing areas in outlying sububuran/[exurban] areas.
  4. Partnerships with cities and major employers to provide more service than could otherwise be provided through typical resources.
  5. Additional improvements such as expanded ride-share and paratransit services in King County.

[edit] RapidRide

Main article: RapidRide

The RapidRide corridors are:

All lines will use new, low-floor, articulated buses that feature an identifiable look distinct from other Metro coaches. Stops will be farther apart than typical Metro service to increase speed and reliability and create "stations" more akin to what is found on light rail lines. Stations will have real time information signs to communicate estimate arrival times of RapidRide buses.[44] Some form of off-bus fare collection would be considered.

[edit] Intelligent transportation systems (ITS)

Collaborating with several local jurisdictions, Metro was an early experimenter with Transit Signal Priority (TSP), a system to extend green lights to allow buses to get through. The system can boost average speeds as much as 8%, and is in use on several of the city's busiest corridors, including Aurora Avenue N, Rainier Avenue S, and Lake City Way NE[45]

In 2010, Metro will rollout a new IP network based ITS infrastructure for its RapidRide service. Buses will communicate with roadside equipment using 802.11 wireless technology on the 4.9 GHz public safety band. A fiber optic backhaul connects access points and roadside equipment together to Metro's Communication Center. The system will extend the legacy RFID-based TSP system. It will also be used in conjunction with GPS technology to provide frequent and accurate location updates for next bus arrival signs at RapidRide stations. Those signs are a component of what Metro calls a "Tech Pylon", a free standing wireless-capable kiosk, that also has an ORCA Card validator and other rider information.[46][47]

Metro is a participating agency in the regional smart card program called ORCA (One Regional Card for All). It was launched for public use on April 20 2009, along with six other transit agencies in the region.[48]

Metro plans to have automated stop announcements on buses beginning in late 2009 as part of its on-board communications system update.[49]

In 1998 the fleet was updated with a Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system that utilizes battery-powered beacons located at some stops. Metro is currently in the process of replacing it with a GPS-based system as part of a system-wide radio update by 2010.[50]

The extent of Metro's application of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for transit information available for customers has been limited to a few projects:

  • An early project called MyBus by the University of Washington (UW) utilized the tracking data to provide real-time bus information. This is now hosted by Metro under the name Tracker. An improved version of MyBus called One Bus Away, developed by a UW graduate student, combines Tracker information with Google Maps.
  • Transit Watch displays, like those found in airports and major train stations, are installed at some transit centers and transfer points to show real-time bus arrival information.
  • A pilot project provided bus information displays along a city arterial. Metro discontinued the project in 2005, citing the cost of maintenance and technical problems.[51]
  • Metro has a regional trip planner that provides itineraries for transit trips within King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, including those on Sound Transit services, Washington State Ferries, the Seattle Center Monorail, and the Seattle Streetcar. Google Maps also provides trip planning using schedule data as part of their Google Transit service but it is limited only to Metro bus routes.

[edit] Programs

[edit] Fleet

A Gillig Phantom trolley in Seattle

Metro operates one of the largest bus-only fleets in the country (discounting its short waterfront streetcar, which is temporarily out of service). Bus-only operation results in some interesting operating characteristics of the Metro fleet, most notably a high concentration of articulated buses—almost half its current fleet and the largest articulated fleet in North America[citation needed]. Metro's use of articulated coaches dates back to 1978, when it was the first large agency in the country to adopt the technology. The other two-thirds are made up of mostly Gillig Phantom coaches: 395 40-foot (3200-3594), 15 35-foot (3185-3199; the latter two, 3198 and 3199, are used for special/disabled services), and 95 30-foot (1100-1194) buses. The 100 low-floor 40 foots (3600-3699) were built by New Flyer and are used mostly on routes within the Seattle city limits.

Metro also maintains a large fleet of electric trolley buses (ETBs) that serve 14 routes[53] along almost 70 miles[1] of two-direction overhead wire. The ETBs prove useful[neutrality disputed] both as zero-emission vehicles, and as vehicles well adapted to Seattle's hilly terrain. Until 2005, this was the largest ETB fleet in the country, including 236 dual-mode Breda "tunnel buses." In 2002, Metro replaced its 100 AMG trolleys with new Gillig Phantom shells. The drive train of the AMG coaches was retained with new electronics, saving approximately $200,000 per coach. Metro rebuilt 59 of the now retired Breda dual-mode coaches, converting them to electric-only operation and refurbishing them to replace aging MAN articulated ETBs. The rebuild included new Kiepe current collection equipment, new interior upholstery, a completely new driver's compartment, and new ADA-compliant signage.

The agency pioneered technologies in widespread use today. In 1979, the AMG trolleys were ordered with some of the first wheelchair lifts in the nation, promising a completely new level of independence for disabled residents. Early lifts were severely flawed, but by the mid 1980s the lifts were generally reliable and were ordered on all new buses. With the retirement of the 1400-series buses in 1999, the entire fleet became wheelchair-accessible—again, the first fleet its size to do so. Strangely, the agency was reluctant to adopt low-floor buses, not buying any until 2003. However, the low-floor coaches have slightly reduced seating capacity, because the wheelwells intrude significantly further into the passenger compartment; this may have been a concern, as many of Metro's routes are frequently "standing room only". Whatever the reason for the delay, Metro has now embraced low-floor buses, and all new fleet additions since 2003 have been low-floor.

Metro operates the largest fleet of articulated hybrid buses in the country, the fleet of 235[1] New Flyer DE60LFs it purchased to replace the Bredas. (Sound Transit bought an additional 21 similar buses.) Metro's hybrids were purchased to run in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, where they will operate together with light rail vehicles beginning in 2009. In the tunnel, the hybrid buses use electric traction to 15 mph (24 km/h); after 15 mph (24 km/h), traction is a combination of electric and diesel, operating in a quieter, low-emission mode. On May 16, 2007, Metro awarded its biggest contract ever to New Flyer for the purchase of 715 more 60-foot (18 m) hybrid buses.[54]

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a one-year comparative study between conventional diesel and GM hybrid-powered buses operating on a typical King County drive cycle. Results showed that the GM-hybrid powered buses lowered fuel consumption by 23%; NOxby 18%; carbon monoxide (CO) by 60%; and total hydrocarbon (THC) by 56% when compared to conventional diesel buses.

In addition, like Golden Gate Transit and SamTrans in the Bay Area of California (and unlike most transit agencies), almost all of Metro's fleet has highback non-reclining seating as opposed to lowback seating that is used by most other transit agencies on local routes. These buses operate on both local and express routes.

Model Motor Length Purchased Retired Qty.* Fleet Numbers
New Flyer DE60LF-BRT Cummins ISL/GM Hybrid 61' 2009 testing 16 6000-6015
New Flyer DE60LF Cummins ISL/GM Hybrid[55] 61'[56] 2008[56] in service 22 6813-6834[56]
2009 15 6835-6849
New Flyer DE60LF Cat C9/GM Hybrid[57] 61'[56] 2002 in service 1 2599
2004 213 2600-2812
New Flyer D60LF Caterpillar C9 60' 2004 in service 30 2870-2899[58]
New Flyer D40LF Cummins ISL 280[59] 40' 2003 in service 100 3600-3699 [60]
New Flyer D60 Cummins M11/330 60' 1998-2000 in service 274 2300-2573[61]
Ford/Champion Van Navistar T444E (branded as Ford Power Stroke) 25' 2003 in service 35 1200-1234[62]
Gillig Phantom ETB GE/Alstom (reman) 40' 2002 in service 100 4100-4199 [63]
Gillig Phantom Cummins ISC 250 30'[64] 1999-2000[64] in service 95 1100-1194[64]
Gillig Phantom Cummins M11/280 35' 1997[65] in service 15 3185-3199[65]
Gillig Phantom Cummins M11/280[66] 40' [65] 1996-1999 [65] in service 395 3200-3594[65]
Breda ADPB 350 AEG/Westinghouse 60' Converted 2004-2006 in service 59 4200-4258 [67][68]
Breda ADPB 350 DDC6v92TA/
AEG/Westinghouse		 60' 1988-1991 2005 236 5000-5235
MAN ETB Siemens[citation needed] 60' 1987 2007 46 4000-4045[69]
MAN Americana MAN 40' 1986-1987 2004 157 3000-3146; 3150-3159[70]
MAN SG-310 MAN 60' 1983 2001 202 2000-2201[71]
MAN SG-220 MAN 60' 1977 1999 151 1400-1550[71]
Flyer D900 Cummins VTB903 40' 1979 1997 224 1600-1823[72]
Flyer D900 Cummins VTB903 35' 1980 1997 35 1850-1884[72]
AMG 10240T GE 40' 1979 2003 109 900-1009 (no 911)[73]
AMG 10240B8 DDC 8V71 40' 1976 1996 323 1100-1313; 1340-1349[73]
GMC T8H-5305 DDC 8V71 40' 1968 1987 70 700-769[74]
Flxible 40' 1963 1985 100 500-599[75]
Brill Trolley 40' 1940 1963[76]

* at time of fleet purchase

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Facts". King County Metro. 2009-04-16. http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/MetroTransit/Facts.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-07-09. 
  2. ^ Sims, Ron (August 28, 2008). "Huge increase in Metro bus riders". http://ronsims.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/huge-increase-in-metro-bus-riders/. Retrieved on 2009-01-08. 
  3. ^ King County,Metro bus and van ridership set another record in 2008, 2009-02-05.
  4. ^ American Public Transportation Association,Largest Bus Agencies Transit Ridership Report, Third Quarter 2008.
  5. ^ a b HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, "Metro: Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle" (by Kit Oldham), http://www.historylink.org/ (accessed February 15, 2009).
  6. ^ Sound Transit. History and Chronology. October 2007.
  7. ^ Light rail operator Ordinance
  8. ^ Washington State Department of Transportation. Summary of Public Transportation - 2007. November 2008.
  9. ^ Chapter 2. Bob Lane, Better Than Promised: An Informal History of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle: King County Department of Metropolitan Services, 1995) http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/docs/better_than_promised/ch02.pdf
  10. ^ a b c King County Metro. Transit Milestones 1970s
  11. ^ King County Department of Transportation. New transit/HOV ramps now open at Eastgate 2007-03-07.
  12. ^ Sound Transit. ST Express Regional Bus Projects and Related Projects
  13. ^ HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, "Metro Transit establishes free Magic Carpet zone in downtown Seattle in September 1973." (by Walt Crowley), http://www.historylink.org/ (accessed February 15, 2009).
  14. ^ a b Metro Transit Ride Free Area
  15. ^ Route 116 Special Fare Collection Info
  16. ^ Viriyincy, Oran (June 4, 2008). "Wi-Fi Bus". http://www.flickr.com/photos/viriyincy/2574957114/in/set-72157603568278080/. Retrieved on 2009-03-04. 
  17. ^ "Metro bus riders can sample Wi-Fi as part of extended pilot project". 2007-04-05
  18. ^ "Metro bus riders test county’s first rolling WiFi hotspot". 2005-09-07.
  19. ^ Text transcript of Metro WiFi buses video. 2005-09-07
  20. ^ a b Review of Metro Transit, Municipal League of King County (November 2008) [1]
  21. ^ a b HistoryLink.org Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, "Metro transit begins excavating downtown Seattle transit tunnel on March 6, 1987." (by Walt Crowley), http://www.historylink.org/ (accessed February 15, 2009).
  22. ^ Noble, Alice. NEW METRO BUS: SMART MOVE OR A BAD BET? Seattle Post-Intelligencer. May 14, 1987.
  23. ^ a b c "[http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/pdf/TunnelReopeningFINAL.pdf Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel to reopen Sept. 24]" (pdf). September, 2007. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/sc/rideralert/pdf/TunnelReopeningFINAL.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-03-04. 
  24. ^ "Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel". March 26, 2008. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/tunnel/tunnel.html#intunnel. Retrieved on 2009-03-04. 
  25. ^ a b c d "2007 Annual Management Report" (pdf). King County Department of Transportation. 2007-12-14. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/reports/2007/2007-QMRyearend.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-14. 
  26. ^ a b c King County Metro. Transit Milestones 1980s
  27. ^ Sound Transit. Federal Way Transit Center/S. 317th
  28. ^ Sound Transit. Kirkland Transit Center
  29. ^ Lane, Bob (May 27, 1992). "Not Quite Your Average Bus Stop -- Design And Usefulness Meet At Metro's New Northgate Transfer Center". The Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920527&slug=1494090. Retrieved on 2009-02-14. 
  30. ^ Sound Transit. Overlake Transit Center/NE 40th
  31. ^ "Totem Lake Transit Center/Evergreen Medical Center". Sound Transit. http://www.soundtransit.org/x1359.xml. Retrieved on 2009-02-14. 
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Addresses of Metro Bases
  33. ^ a b c "Expanding Atlantic/Central Bases". Metro Transit. Transit Facility News. 2001, Summer.
  34. ^ a b "Slabs Of Concrete Today; A Bus Barn Soon". Carpio, Nina. The Seattle Times. 1990-02-07.
  35. ^ "New Metro Bus Base Will Open June 8". Aweeka, Charles. The Seattle Times. 1991-05-17.
  36. ^ a b c d "OBS/CCS Business Requirements" (PDF). Metro Transit (King County)/King County Metro. 2003-09. http://www.metrokc.gov/procurement/rfpdocs/2004/June/GoodsAndServices/04-001/Part_C_Sec1.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-05-21. 
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Invitation to Bid" (PDF). King County Metro. 2007-06-28. http://www.metrokc.gov/procurement/rfpdocs/2007/June/GoodsAndServices/1000-07/1000-07.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  38. ^ "A Tradition of Performance - King County Department of Transportation". www.metrokc.gov. http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/news/myr/myr2008metro.htm. Retrieved on 2009-03-27. 
  39. ^ "Assessor information for parcel number 0625069016". King County GIS Center. http://www5.kingcounty.gov/kcgisreports/property_report.aspx?PIN=0625069016. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  40. ^ "RESOLUTION: KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, FILE NO. L090012" (PDF). 2009-02-17. http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/citycouncil/20090217pdfs/AM09028.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  41. ^ "Metro’s training staff rolls seven days a week". 2008-06-16.
  42. ^ King County Ordinance 15582
  43. ^ "In Transit - Metro Employee Newsletter" (pdf). www.kingcounty.gov. http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/AboutUs/~/media/transportation/kcdot/AboutUs/InTransit_09MarApr.ashx. Retrieved on 2009-03-30. 
  44. ^ "RapidRide". King County Metro Transit. http://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/MetroTransit/TransitNow/RapidRide.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-03-30. 
  45. ^ "Transit Signal Priority tests a success,more signal synchronization planned countywide". King County Department of Transportation. 2001-02-15. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/archives/2001/tsp.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14. 
  46. ^ "King County Metro Transit ITS" (ppt). King County Department of Transportation. 2008-12-12. http://depts.washington.edu/itswa/2k8MtgPres/AnnualMtg/KCM_ITS_presentation%20for%20ITS%20WA.ppt. Retrieved on 2009-05-06. 
  47. ^ "King County Metro Transit ITS" (ppt). Region 43 Regional Review Committees - State of Washington. 2009-04-29. http://www.region43.org/documents/700MHz/20090429MeetingSlides.ppt. Retrieved on 2009-05-06. 
  48. ^ ORCA smart card limited rollout gets underway
  49. ^ Page 3. In Transit Newsletter, July/August 2008 issue. King County Department of Transportation.
  50. ^ City never responded to Metro's request to plow routes, bus chief says. Emily Heffter. Seattle Times. 2009-01-07. Accessed 2009-05-06.
  51. ^ "Pilot Project for Real-time Bus Information System on Aurora Avenue North". King County Department of Transportation. 2005-07-12. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/archives/2005/ledonaurora.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14. 
  52. ^ The Poetry on Buses program has, since 1992, "inspired residents of King, Pierce, Kitsap and Snohomish Counties to participate in this program that serves as a national model." Selected poems are displayed on interior bus placards, and selected poets receive an honorarium for the poems' use.
  53. ^ Metro, King County (2009-03-16). "Trolley Motorization Status". http://transit.metrokc.gov/up/rr/m-trolley.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-19. 
  54. ^ "New Flyer Receives Order for Up To 715 Buses From King County Metro Totaling Up To US $514 Million"
  55. ^ "Hybrid Vehicle Specifications". New Flyer Industries, Inc.. http://www.newflyer.com/index/hybrid_de30_35_40_60. Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 
  56. ^ a b c d "New Flyer Articulated Hybrid Diesel-Electric Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2007-12-14. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/hy-diesel.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-13. 
  57. ^ "Hybrid Vehicle Specifications". New Flyer Industries, Inc.. http://www.newflyer.com/index/diesel_d30_35_40_60l. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  58. ^ "New Flyer Articulated Low-Floor Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2005-06-28. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/low-floor.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  59. ^ "Diesel Vehicle Specifications". New Flyer Industries, Inc.. http://www.newflyer.com/index/hybrid_de30_35_40_60. Retrieved on July 20 2006. 
  60. ^ "New Flyer Low-floor, clean-air Diesel bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2003-11-04. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/low-floor.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  61. ^ "New Flyer Articulated Diesel Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2002-09-09. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/a-diesel.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  62. ^ "Champion Transit Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2002-09-09. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/metrovan.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  63. ^ "Gillig Trolley Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2002-09-09. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/g-trolley.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  64. ^ a b c "Gillig Small Diesel Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2002-09-09. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/g-diesel.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  65. ^ a b c d e "Gillig Standard Diesel Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2002-09-09. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/gillig.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-14. 
  66. ^ 3545-3594 1998 40ft Phantom
  67. ^ "Breda Articulated Trolley Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2005-06-28. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/breda-trolley.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  68. ^ "Retired - Breda 5000 dual mode bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2005-06-28. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/retired/breda.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20.  These buses are from a larger fleet of this model that have been converted to electronic trolley buses in order to replace the MAN ETB fleet. The remainder of this fleet is no longer in use by King County Metro.
  69. ^ "MAN Articulated Trolley Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2002-09-09. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/retired/a-trolley.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  70. ^ "MAN Standard Diesel Bus". King County Department of Transportation. 2003-05-28. http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/vehicles/retired/diesel.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-20. 
  71. ^ a b MAN Products
  72. ^ a b Flyer & New Flyer
  73. ^ a b AMGeneral Coaches
  74. ^ T8H-5305
  75. ^ Flxible F2D6V-401-1
  76. ^ Brill 40 SMT

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Mass transit in the Puget Sound area
Transit agencies
Link light rail
Streetcar / Tram
Bus rapid transit
Express bus
Commuter rail
Intercity rail
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Other
Italics denote proposed or under construction lines
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_County_Metro"
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