3 of top 10 bus routes are in the CD

I'm curious where the highest percentage of #2, #3 and #48 riders are based out of. In my experience riding the 48, most ridership is based in the U-District, while the #2 picks up its largest share of riders in Capitol Hill. That said I do think we need to push the city for more transit options. It's a shame that the light rail stops in CapHill and then bypasses a huge swath of the city on its way to the UW stadium. Why wasn't a 23rd and Madison stop ever considered? There's even available land there.

Regarding the street car, putting it on 12th will depress ridership. The street car was added to subsidize first hill for removing their light rail stop. We shouldn't be jockeying for other neighborhood's transit options. The 12ave couplet would also make 12th a far less bike friendly route, which is reason enough to put the train on Boren or Broadway.

The city is analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the streetcar route alternatives. I'll wait for that to be done to evaluate the best choice. But, as for the First Hill light rail station --- it would have had a pedestrian entrance at Madison and Boylston and it would have been a convenient point of access to LINK for not just the hospitals on First Hill, but also for Central Area residents and workers. That would have been our neighborhood's transit option just as much as the First Hill neighborhood to the west.

Of course the ridership is high and increases as any bus nears certain destinations and decreases as it nears the other end of the route. That is why buses are routed to and from certain areas. For instance, many of the #48 riders are headed to the U-District, as are quite of few riders of other buses through the U-District and it is significant that the 48 ranks high among all including other routes to the U-District. Nonetheless, the #48 bus is usually reasonably full during the day between Madison and Mt. Baker. I know that in the morning around 8AM often standing room only is all that is available going north from Union toward the U-Distict. Yes, it clears out the closer to the Med. Center and U. Again coming this direction from the U around 5:30 PM, standing room only can last at least to Union. If you board in the U-District around 5 PM or so a seat is usually available for those already on board when it stops at the hospital, but the riders entering the bus there are not all so lucky.

There are many buses serving Capitol Hill to Downtown, right? Meaning the #2 route serves and important and different areas and yes, is often stuffed with passengers in the downtown area. I note that #49 and #43, #10, #14, #60, and #12 serve various areas of Capitol Hill.

I would argue that the #2 primarily serves the CD, Virginia Mason, Swedish, SU and Downtown. Again if you board on 3rd during the late afternoon(heading to the CD) or even sometime during off-peak hours standing room only is often the case until it stops at the library and those already on the bus can then find... read more ats. However, those boarding the bus at the library often cannot find a seat until the stops around 14th and East Union or sometimes at Virginia Mason, depending on the time of day. Yes, there are people getting on and off at Broadway and Union, Some carrying QFC bags or groceries. Seattle Central and SU are also destinations. And yes, by the time it arrives at Madrona Beach and Spectrum Dance Theater area the number of riders has, of course decreased. Grocery Outlet, Madrona School, the 34th Avenue businesses, and residences are all served here.

The mornings going downtown can be pretty crowded with only standing room as the #2 nears downtown. And, it is an important link locally in CD to Broadway and Union and Grocery Outlet, schools, to the Beach and to Downtown.

The #3 and #4 are very crowded around Swedish and Harborview.

Also I believe that commutes of more than 5 minutes or so should be designed to guarantee a seat. One of the perks of riding mass transit is that you can read or do other things. Also bags can get heavy with a longer ride. Commuters deserve a seat.

i hope they are counted as the Seattle School District has an agreement with metro and pays them some $s. All public schools have mass transit access, a few not so great. Don't forget Nova and SBOC at Meany.