Riders fret as major changes come to Metro service
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BURIEN, Wash. -- Getting to and from work is a critical part of the day. Dozens will lose their direct ride at the end of the month, when Metro transit puts major changes in place.
One of those changes is the cancellation of Route 133. It starts at the Burien Transit Center and ends at the UW Medical Center.
"This one gets me there in 45 minutes," said Sheri Munson.
She asked the Problem Solvers for help as she's been fighting for Metro to keep this route. It's a direct one bus route with no transfers, and it runs four times each morning and four times in the evening.
Jim Ponder's been riding it seven-years straight.
"Normally I stand," Ponder said.
Used to seeing a standing room only crowd, news that Route 133 is being canceled came as a shock to regular riders.
Munson even collected more than 90 signatures in favor of Metro keeping this route in place. But that didn't work -- it's gone effective Sept. 29.
"Every seat was full and how could Metro encourage us to get on the bus, be more green," said Fong Chinn. "Yet at the same time, telling us to cancel our bus, tell us to transfer in the tunnel, which is an hour and a half, when I have two young kids, I have to go home."
Route 133's cost to Metro nearly double the average
Eliminating the 133 is just one of 80 changes Metro is making.
"Systemwide it's significantly more expensive for boarding," said Victor Obeso with Metro.
The 133 route costs Metro $7.77 per passenger. That's almost double the system wide average of $4.05.
"And this is one of several changes that we're making this fall to improve the efficiency, the cost effectiveness of our system, to serve more people every day," Obeso said.
There are other buses available, but riders tell me their commute times on alternate routes will more than double.
"I get to take three buses to get to work," Munson siad.
Another rider said "I have to go to downtown and then catch another bus to go to the university and to Children's so usually it will take me 3 buses now."
Driving is an option that many of these riders just couldn't handle financially, with gas and parking fees, let alone the time it would take them, fighting traffic.
Metro suggests other solution- riders forming Vanpools. The University of Washington held a ride share mixer on campus. I went looking for other 133 route riders and found two ladies looking for options after the 133 is gone.
"We're just going to try to work together with other riders and either carpool or vanpool," said Liz Setran. "Vanpool is our goal because it would be cheaper for us."
Setran says she's got four people so far for her vanpool, but would like to have seven.
This might be just the solution Sheri Munson was looking for and is now in contact with other riders working on this option. And since most of these people are UW employees, the commute voucher they get through work will likely cover the cost of their new ride.
Anyone can set up a vanpool. You need at least four people. The more you have, the cheaper it is. You have to a designated driver, who must complete an application and orientation.
Metro Transit operates the largest vanpool service in the nation, with 1,200 vehicles.
For More Information:
Metro Commuter Vans
Metro Service Changes
One of those changes is the cancellation of Route 133. It starts at the Burien Transit Center and ends at the UW Medical Center.
"This one gets me there in 45 minutes," said Sheri Munson.
She asked the Problem Solvers for help as she's been fighting for Metro to keep this route. It's a direct one bus route with no transfers, and it runs four times each morning and four times in the evening.
Jim Ponder's been riding it seven-years straight.
"Normally I stand," Ponder said.
Used to seeing a standing room only crowd, news that Route 133 is being canceled came as a shock to regular riders.
Munson even collected more than 90 signatures in favor of Metro keeping this route in place. But that didn't work -- it's gone effective Sept. 29.
"Every seat was full and how could Metro encourage us to get on the bus, be more green," said Fong Chinn. "Yet at the same time, telling us to cancel our bus, tell us to transfer in the tunnel, which is an hour and a half, when I have two young kids, I have to go home."
Route 133's cost to Metro nearly double the average
Eliminating the 133 is just one of 80 changes Metro is making.
"Systemwide it's significantly more expensive for boarding," said Victor Obeso with Metro.
The 133 route costs Metro $7.77 per passenger. That's almost double the system wide average of $4.05.
"And this is one of several changes that we're making this fall to improve the efficiency, the cost effectiveness of our system, to serve more people every day," Obeso said.
There are other buses available, but riders tell me their commute times on alternate routes will more than double.
"I get to take three buses to get to work," Munson siad.
Another rider said "I have to go to downtown and then catch another bus to go to the university and to Children's so usually it will take me 3 buses now."
Driving is an option that many of these riders just couldn't handle financially, with gas and parking fees, let alone the time it would take them, fighting traffic.
Metro suggests other solution- riders forming Vanpools. The University of Washington held a ride share mixer on campus. I went looking for other 133 route riders and found two ladies looking for options after the 133 is gone.
"We're just going to try to work together with other riders and either carpool or vanpool," said Liz Setran. "Vanpool is our goal because it would be cheaper for us."
Setran says she's got four people so far for her vanpool, but would like to have seven.
This might be just the solution Sheri Munson was looking for and is now in contact with other riders working on this option. And since most of these people are UW employees, the commute voucher they get through work will likely cover the cost of their new ride.
Anyone can set up a vanpool. You need at least four people. The more you have, the cheaper it is. You have to a designated driver, who must complete an application and orientation.
Metro Transit operates the largest vanpool service in the nation, with 1,200 vehicles.
For More Information:
Metro Commuter Vans
Metro Service Changes
I'd say doing the Vanpool would be the best way to go. Find people who work the same schedule and just meet up at the bus station where you would catch the bus anyway. Plus it would probably save you guys money if your work offers the voucher. AND you wouldn't have to deal with standing room only.
If you have questions, please feel free to ask your friendly and courteous Metro Transit Operator. They are a handsome group of people I must say. And... always willing to give you that little 'extra" for your commuting pleasure.They may seem a little harried at times but it's only because Metro's new "efficiency" guidelines mean that-by DESIGN- your bus will be late.Â
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Their thinking is that they can SCHEDULE a 10 minute layover (instead of 20), knowing the bus is most ALWAYS ten minutes late, thereby cutting out any "non-essential" break time for drivers to walk that three blocks (and back) to the Third World pit they call a "restroom" at Gas-O-Mart.
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This is nothing. Think how much they would âfretâ if they had to pay their fair share. It is hard to work up sympathy for leaches who expect me to subsidize their transportation.Â
I would like to say a big sarcastic "boo-hoo" to those people on route 133. I used to commute from Federal Way to Bellevue...an hour and a half each way. So that's 3 hours out of my day spent on a bus.
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Sorry, I can't feel sorry for you people.
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That all being said, they do need to hurry up with their "Letter Lines" (C, D, E...etc lines) expansion so that they can get better efficiency and get better direct coverage system wide.
I say make those lazy 47% lazy victims take personal responsibility and pay their fair share. 7 Bucks should be about right :)
By the by, cool. I made some of that bus, quite likely.
Yet if union workers were riding that bus as primary passenger numbers on that route, there'd be no cuts considered at all. Poop stupid working humans like the ones on there now ain't got a chance. Walk, you bums. Better walk quick, too, cause there'll be a lot more of you non union types outta work down on the flats soon.
So if I read this right the bus route can be replaced with about 40 vanpools, vans provided and vouchers get everyone a free ride. This saves the taxpayers money?
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Funny how they seem to always have new busses but continue to hold people hostage to their  micro-analysis of the routes.  How is it in this liberal environment we live in we are told not to drive cars but getting a bus is becoming impossible. Rather than making it easier for people, they make it harder.  Some of us don't  have hours to get from point A to point B. I do commend them however, for getting rid of the free ride zone, how much revenue has that cost Metro for the last couple decades?  BTW, ever tried to get a parking space at the Tukwila light rail station...don't bother.  The genius' who have crammed Sound Transit down our throats were such visionaries.  Obviously they didn't think anyone was going to ride the light rail, because they essentially provided no parking. Â
I live 6 miles from work, the quickest route is 1 hour 20 minutes and a total of 1 mile walking (so the 1 hour and 20 minutes does not include the walking time). It is not efficient nor cost effective and I chose to drive 15 minutes to work.  I would rather not lose the extra 2 hours and 10 minutes of my life a day sitting on a bus to go 12 miles.Â
 @Nitroxman a bicycle would get you there faster than walking. less stress on the knees and joints. burns calories and you will have a great looking set of bunns. ive never owned a car and some days i would travel over 14 miles a day. (sundays & holidays) you could also ride part way and ride the rest of the way on the bus. i traveled about 10 miles round trip the other day just to apply for 1 job. times are getting desperate and we gotta do what we gotta do.
 @Ann Bonney  @Nitroxman riding a bike is great. however my husband uses an electric power chair. He goes to work in it. Kinda hard to put him on a bike to bike the 1.5 miles to and from work.
 @Nitroxman You could walk the total 6 miles in 1:20 and not pay a dime. Plus you'd probably be in better shape.
Or I could drive and have that extra 2+ hours to spend with my family so they don't forget my name??
 @Nitroxman Family is definitely more important. You could ride 6 miles on a bike in less than 30 minutes (if there is a good/safe route).
 @Nitroxman and if your worried about staying in shape, that two hours + hours you save each day you can take your kids to the park and have them chase them around.
They need to raise the fares for riders. The buses should never run a deficiet, if they can not support themselves than they should be reworked until they do.
 @Unsalvageable I agree with you but that is how government operations work! Be it Amtrak, postal service or metro.Â
 @Zoso @Unsalvageable No means of transportation available to the public is without direct of indirrect subsidies. The Feds & state put money into rail, airlines, highways, waterways, busses, trains, planes & their infrastructure & support system.  They are all too large & expensive to cover the entire cost of operation from the fare box.Â
 @Unsalvageable Fares are high enough already, and it's because of that I'm not doing it anymore. They have done nothing but skyrocket the last decade. Half the times, the driver doesn't even give me those free passes.
@Zoso @Unsalvageable Which Free pass are you talking about? Transfers?  You have to ask for one if you want one & better hope that you can use it within the 2 or 3 hr they give.
 @Unsalvageable They have never been able to support themselves, and they problably will never be able to. The transit system is subsidized by the government (ie taxpayers).
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$4 per person needs to cover the cost of the driver, bus, insurance, maintenance, etc... Maybe they could raise the rate to $7/person instead of $4.05 to see if the bus is still full.
 @Unsalvageable Unfortunately, every payer-based transit system in the country looses money, usually requiring grants to stay afloat, except for the Seattle Monorail.
 @Unsalvageable thats a slippery slope of doom. Raise fare to much and you loose riders.
It is ok for the system to run a deficit if supported by local taxes. If other countries can do it, then so can we.
 @Jalharad  @Unsalvageable "The 133 route costs Metro $7.77 per passenger. That's almost double the system wide average of $4.05."
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If the fares PAID for the ride, then metro wouldn't need to cut the route. They would increase the cost of this route to $7.80 and see what happens.
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My wife works in Seattle and wants to take the bus back to Overlake on the Eastside, but it's terrible because at busy times of the day (when she also wants to take the bus) there will often be 1 or 2 buses that just fly by because they are 100% full. Metro can't increase the number of buses because each extra bus actually costs them money to run because they're subsidized and the level of subsidy is not increasing. So now she just drives.
 @Jalharad  @Unsalvageable not when those taxes are paid by me! I already ponied over the 20 bucks when I got my tabs. I think metro owes me some free rides, at least 20 bucks worth! :)