PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON TONIGHT'S MEETING

UPDATE, Chris Arkills, Transportation Policy Advisor to King County Executive Dow Constantine, clarified this issue with the West Seattle Herald today. We thank him for weighing in:

"All the changes are based upon the new service guidelines that were adopted last year and ridership on Route 37 is not real strong, especially along Beach Drive," Akills said. "We have a lot of tough decisions around King County to make in terms of how to allocate scarce dollars. This still has to pass through the King County Council. All around the county we have to look at places that were traditionally served. Route 37, and more routes, would have been cut if we hadn't passed the CRC. (The congestion reduction charge of $20 on vehicle registration.)

"I do think there are a lot of good things in West Seattle about this proposal," he emphasized. "I think it is very important that Route 120 will now touch Westwood Village (and grocery). Delridge corridor is probably the largest area in the city of Seattle that doesn't have access to a grocery store. Avalon and 35th Avenue will definitely be a full stop with real time bus information on Rapid Ride (and a regular stop). Route 50 would link West Seattle to SODO and Southeast Seattle and connect to several light rail stations. Route 40 also adds connections between the Alaska Junction and Georgetown.

"The public can make a case (to retain Route 37) to the King County Council. We have tough decisions to make. They certainly can be tweaked at Council, but again, this is based on our guidelines. We have buses that are overcrowded in other corridors and it's a tough balancing act."

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Happening TONIGHT: Meeting about termination of Metro's Bus Route 37 on Beach Drive. The meeting to take place at the West Seattle Eagles 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm tonight, Wednesday. about Metro's proposed plan to eliminate route 37.

This would leave us busless on Beach Drive as this is our only bus route. (Route 53 to be eliminated, too.)

Another meeting is scheduled for November 9 at Chief Sealth High School.

Here is the link to Metro Transit that references Route 37 and its proposed elimination.

Here's Metro's reasoning:
Suggested change

Replace Route 37 with service on Routes 773 and 775

Beach Drive SW would have no bus service.

Reason for change

Match service to ridership. Ridership on Route 37 does not meet Metro's guideline for continued service.
Reduce duplication with routes 773 and 775 and the West Seattle Water Taxi.
Alternative service

48th/49th Avenue SW: Go to California Ave SW and take new Route 40 or the new RapidRide C Line. The distance from current stops would be less than half a mile.
Between Alki and Alaska Junction: Take revised Route 128.
Between Alki and Harbor Avenue SW: Take Route 775.
Between Alki and downtown Seattle:
During peak periods: Use Route 56X (Current map and schedule).
During non-peak periods: Take new Route 50 to SODO and connect with Link light rail or routes 101, 106, or 150 (links go to current maps and schedules).