King County Metro awarded $37.5M for BRT

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $37.5 million to the King County Department of Transportation to build two new bus rapid transit (BRT) lines as part of greater Seattle’s new six corridor RapidRide BRT system.

The new RapidRide E and F lines are funded through the FTA’s Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program. The E Line will operate between Shoreline and downtown Seattle. The F Line will provide connections between the cities of Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila and Renton, as well as to Link light rail and Sounder commuter rail. The lines will provide riders with more frequent bus service along designated business lanes along portions of the routes and traffic signal improvements that help buses get through intersections quicker. The hybrid buses also have lower floors for easier accessibility from the streets.

“King County’s RapidRide bus lines are a great example of bus rapid transit done right,” said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. “The RapidRide system is essentially rail on wheels and will help people keep more money in their wallets instead of paying it at the pump.”

RapidRide A and B Lines opened in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and currently serve more than 13,000 riders on an average weekday. The C and D Lines are expected to open this fall. Service on the E and F Lines is slated to begin in the fall of 2013.