RapidRide H Line
RapidRide expansion - coming in 2022
RapidRide H Line presentation
Closed captioned in multiple languages
We’re working to transform Route 120—one of our 10 busiest routes—into the new RapidRide H Line.
Public transit is an important part of how we will meet the diverse needs and priorities of our rapidly growing region. Our current demand for transit, plus future needs identified in our cities’ growth plans, require access to public transportation that is fast and reliable.
When the RapidRide H Line launches in 2022, it will come more often and be more reliable than Route 120 is today. It will provide connections from neighborhoods in Burien, White Center, and West Seattle to downtown Seattle along Third Avenue and South Lake Union. RapidRide H Line will also provide needed connections to other bus service and Link light rail.
Note:
King County Metro's projected budget revenue shortfall, brought on in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in the difficult decision to suspend some RapidRide lines. RapidRide H Line remains a priority to Metro and will be fully funded. You can read more about the budget's impact to the RapidRide program on the Metro Matters blog and its impact to the launch of RapidRide H Line service.
What changes you'll see
- Buses will come more often and be more reliable.
- More service will be added at night and on weekends.
- Some bus stops will be upgraded with new shelters, lighting, real-time arrival information, off-board ORCA card readers and more.
- Sidewalks, street crossings and signals, and paths for accessing stops will be improved for pedestrians, bikes, and those with limited mobility.
- New business access and transit (BAT) lanes will be added to improve travel times for transit and provide better access to businesses for drivers. Learn more about BAT lanes.
- New roadway improvements for people driving and taking transit, including new turn lanes and traffic signals, will make it easier for transit and drivers to move through the corridor.
- SDOT plans to improve access to transit along Delridge Way SW and is including bicycle and pedestrian improvements as part of the project. These improvements may include upgraded crosswalks and intersections, new crosswalks, better connections to nearby greenways, and a protected bike lane on Delridge Way SW Visit SDOT’s website to learn more.
What’s happening now?
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has already started construction on RapidRide H Line and other safety improvements along Delridge Way SW. You can learn more about the effects of construction along the Delridge Way SW portion of the RapidRide H Line project by signing up for updates on the SDOT project page.
Metro and the City of Seattle are engaging communities along this corridor to inform them of the upcoming changes as Route 120 transitions to RapidRide H Line. Riders can expect changes to roadways, bus service and stations.
The RapidRide H Line project has reached final design. This means we are ready to move into constructing the route improvements so they’re ready for operation in 2022! Thank you to everyone who participated during the RapidRide H Line design process by sharing your feedback and attending community events.
Three rounds of public outreach over the past several years had an important influence on the project’s final design. Community input helped to inform routing, stop locations, station amenities and safety and access improvements. Read a summary of RapidRide H Line outreach to learn more.
What's next
Before RapidRide service begins Metro will begin construction on roadway and pedestrian safety projects throughout the corridor and will begin to upgrade bus stations with RapidRide shelters and amenities.
Our team will share information about construction effects and about how to travel by bus in the area when construction is under way. We’ll be reaching out to route neighbors in advance of construction to notify them of the work and any impacts. We are also coordinating with our partners at the Seattle Department of Transportation to minimize impacts on concurrent construction work.
During RapidRide H Line construction, you can expect:
Construction can be disruptive. You can expect to see and hear construction activities throughout the corridor during the duration of work.
- Some sidewalk, intersection and lane closures
- Detours and temporary stop relocations for Route 120
- Typical impacts, such as noise, dust and truck activity
Stay informed
Be sure to sign up for project updates to stay informed on where we’ll be next to talk about RapidRide H Line and to stay up to date with construction activity.
Project partners
We’re working with partner jurisdictions to help keep what’s great about Route 120 while also improving access to bus service. They’ll help us find new ways of helping people get where they need to go, and collaborate with us to make roadway and corridor improvements that support RapidRide service.
Upcoming milestones
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Planning:
Identify corridors for upgrade to RapidRide service. -
Planning:
Partner with local jurisdictions to create the RapidRide H Line alignment. -
Planning:
Evaluate existing conditions
Analyze environmental impacts
Research RapidRide H Line alignment options and their potential impacts
Gather public input on community needs and priorities, as well as routing and stops
Identify opportunities to improve transit, speed, reliability and service
Choose routing and stops
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Design:
Advance design work
Gather public input on preferred concepts and final design
Plan construction
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Construction:
Build infrastructure for RapidRide H Line. -
Service launch:
RapidRide H Line service begins.
Community involvement
Thank you to everyone who shared feedback, attended community open houses and engaged with our project team throughout project design. The community’s input helped our team to explore route options and finalize the route alignment, to determine the location of safety improvement projects, and to select available bus station amenities.
What we heard during design
- Route Alignment: Community input helped to create a hybrid route alignment in place of the two proposed options. Metro heard that the community preferred a route that traveled along SW 150th St. instead of SW 148th St. to the Burien Transit Center. This allows for more direct access to downtown Burien businesses and services and improves travel time in and out of the transit center.
- Safety Improvements: Concerns from current and future riders about safety at key intersections helped determine the location of new traffic signals, pedestrian beacons and infrastructure improvements. These safety improvements will make accessing and navigating transit easier and safer for riders and neighbors.
- Station Amenities: Route 120’s upgrade to RapidRide H Line means new shelters and amenities at all RapidRide station locations. Community input helped to clarify which amenities future RapidRide H Line riders most preferred at their stations. Our team used this information to help determine the allocation of station resources among almost 50 RapidRide stops.
Contact us
Robyn Austin
RapidRide Communications and Engagement Manager
Send Robyn an email
or call 206-263-9768
