Metro prioritizes new transit lines with equity focus

In a recent government meeting, Metro presented a comprehensive plan outlining the prioritization of future rapid ride lines across the region. The plan includes eight candidate routes spanning areas such as Auburn, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Redmond, Seattle, and Tukwila. Among the proposed routes are several in Seattle, including routes 44, 36, 49, and 40, as well as routes 150, 181, and 165 in South King County.

The committee emphasized the need for a detailed prioritization process, which was mandated during the deliberations on Metro Connex in 2021. As part of this process, Metro is required to submit a report by June 2024 that evaluates the candidate lines based on five key measures: equity, environmental sustainability, service impacts, capital investment needs, and implementation impacts.

Metro utilized a scoring system to assess each candidate line, initially weighing all measures equally. However, after conducting a sensitivity analysis, the agency decided to give greater weight to equity and sustainability, scoring these measures at twice the level of the others. This adjustment did not significantly alter the overall ranking of the candidate corridors.

Additionally, Metro conducted preplanning studies for each candidate corridor, examining factors such as route alignment, capital investment needs, travel time savings, current and projected ridership, and safety records. This extensive analysis informed the scoring and ranking of the proposed lines.

Stakeholder engagement was also a critical component of the study, with Metro collaborating with its equity cabinet, affected jurisdictions, partner agencies, and the council to gather input and feedback on the proposed plans. The findings and recommendations from this meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the future of public transit in the region.