After posting information about Metro buses piling up at the Children's Hospital NE 45th Street bus stop, a neighbor commented:
I live directly across from the bus stop. Metro painted the curb in front of my house red recently to accommodate for the buses to do a U-turn in the event they are out of sequence. For the most part they stage in front of my house at least once a week. Frustrating. Lately, these buses are empty and it is obvious they are using the bus stop for a convenient turn around and parking area for their path back down the hill.
The unfortunate and concerning part of the deal is it is the end of the line and now we are getting very unstable and in-need people getting delivered straight to our neighborhood and they have to get off. I have personally watched many people gravitate into the neighborhood. (The Boulevard) And very late into the evening. We have to get this issue worked out.
The security at the hospital is very responsive but they only get them off the property and then they roam the neighborhood.
From a ridership number perspective the stop is useless. The end of these routes needs to get moved down the hill where the bus serves its more valuable purpose for the hospital.
The Laurelhurst Blog contacted Metro who responded:
Thank you for sharing the concerns of your neighbor with us. We’ve shared your feedback and concern regarding riders for our operations staff to further monitor this route and location, as well as monitor the operations of the buses accessing this loop.
To provide background, Metro established the terminal for routes 31 and 32 in coordination with Children’s Hospital based on the route pathway and available space, rider demand, and connecting drivers to a restroom at the hospital.
It is correct that riders who disembark at the last bus stop of a route are able to re-board for the return trip. Metro also continues to face the challenge of riders who travel on transit without a particular destination. The riders who board and exit in public places are accountable for their behavior. Should incidents arise that are concerning neighbors, incidents can be reported to local emergency responders and social service providers.
Transit security officer services are deployed geographically to cover a broader range of routes and transit hubs, with 24/7 coverage. Their deployment is monitored and adjusted regularly, informed by customer and employee reports.
From your inquiry, staff now are aware of this new concern about riders who exit at this location and are monitoring the situation.
Metro drivers can contact the Transit Control Center in the event that they need help addressing rider behavior, and supervisors can be dispatched if needed. If riders that disembark in the neighborhood need medical assistance or are causing an emergency, it is best addressed by Seattle Police or Fire Department responsibilities if it rises to that level. If problems are occurring at Metro facilities, either local police or Metro Transit Police/King County Sheriff’s Office can be sent to respond (KCSO non-emergency is 206-296-3311).
To report transit-related incidents, contact customer service by phone or online.
Metro bus revised its bus service in Laurelhurst and throughout the city last fall.
Laurelhurst went from one to 2 new bus routes, 31 and 32 route, running from 5:45am to 11:30pm, stopping at the NE 45th Street Hospital turnaround, and no longer going through the neighborhood.
Metro said that the Routes 31 and 32 were revised to provide improved east-west transit connectivity along NE 45th Street and to make connections between the new U District Station and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
However, with 2 busses running the same route at around the same times, neighbors report that many times it results in 3-4 busses at the NE 45th Street turnaround, with one bus usually hanging out on to NE 45th Street.
To submit comments to Metro about the bus service and any impacts go here.
.
