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Metro Bus Tunnel (Seattle)
Encyclopedia
The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, also referred to as the Metro Bus Tunnel, is a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) public transit tunnel
that runs the length of downtown Seattle, from 9th Avenue and Pike Street to 5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street. Approved by Metro Transit in 1983, construction began in 1987. It was completed and service began in 1990, at a total cost of $455 million. In May 2000, the King County Council transferred ownership to Sound Transit
but ownership was transferred back to King County Metro in 2002.
The tunnel was closed on September 24, 2005 for modification to accommodate both buses and Sound Transit
's Central Link light rail
trains on a shared alignment. Prior to closure, around two dozen bus routes ran through the tunnel. The buses were dual-powered
, using electricity in the tunnel from an above wire connection and diesel on city streets. It reopened on Monday, September 24, 2007. The two-year closure included retrofits for light rail as well as other operating system upgrades. Also, a stub tunnel, branching from the main tunnel, was constructed under Pine Street between 7th and Boren Avenues to allow light rail trains to stop and reverse direction and for future extension
of Central Link.
Due to the conversion to light rail, the dual-mode buses that are powered by the above electric connection can no longer operate in the tunnel. Those buses have already been replaced by Metro's current new fleet
of hybrid buses. While these buses produce significantly more emissions than electric trolley buses that use overhead wires, they produce fewer emissions than standard diesel buses, and require no connection to overhead wires.
Since the floor of the tunnel was lowered for the light rail, there have been concerns that the bus mirrors are now at head height and may strike those who are waiting on the platform. To prevent this, the mirrors are equipped with flashing lights. As well, the buses' speed limit as they approach and leave stations has been lowered from 15 miles per hour (24.1 km/h) to 10 miles per hour (16.1 km/h).
The tunnel is entirely within the Ride Free Area, so no fare
is required on buses at any station
during hours when the policy is in effect. Due to Sound Transit
's different fare structure, fares are required on Central Link light rail trains.
), 74 Express (U-District, Sand Point), 76 (Green Lake P&R, Wedgwood), 77 (Maple Leaf, Jackson Park, North City), 101 (Renton
), 102 (South Renton, Fairwood
), 106 (Rainier Beach, Renton), 150 (Southcenter
, Kent
), 212 (Eastgate
), 216 (Sammamish, Bear Creek P&R), 217 (Eastgate, N Issaquah
), 218 (Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Highlands P&R), 255 (Kirkland
, Brickyard P&R), 301 (Richmond Beach, Aurora Village), 316 (Green Lake P&R, NSCC, Meridian Park) and Sound Transit Express 550 (Bellevue
).
The tunnel is open for light rail and bus service Monday through Saturday, 5:00 am to 1:00 am, and Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight. Buses running after tunnel operating hours are rerouted to nearby surface streets.
express lanes. From this point, the tunnel runs southwest-northeast under Pine Street, then turns left and runs northwest-southeast under 3rd Avenue for most of its length. The tunnel passes four feet below the Great Northern Tunnel
. The south portal of the tunnel is located near 4th Avenue and Royal Brougham Way, where buses have dual entry/exit onto the Interstate 90
express lanes, or the SoDo E-3 Busway. At the south portal, the light rail tracks split from the shared alignment onto their own right-of-way
, which runs parallel to the SoDo Busway until just south of Lander Street.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
that runs the length of downtown Seattle, from 9th Avenue and Pike Street to 5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street. Approved by Metro Transit in 1983, construction began in 1987. It was completed and service began in 1990, at a total cost of $455 million. In May 2000, the King County Council transferred ownership to Sound Transit
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
but ownership was transferred back to King County Metro in 2002.
The tunnel was closed on September 24, 2005 for modification to accommodate both buses and Sound Transit
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
's Central Link light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
trains on a shared alignment. Prior to closure, around two dozen bus routes ran through the tunnel. The buses were dual-powered
Dual-mode bus
A dual-mode bus is a bus that can run independently on power from two different sources, typically electricity from overhead lines or batteries, alternated with conventional fossil fuel ....
, using electricity in the tunnel from an above wire connection and diesel on city streets. It reopened on Monday, September 24, 2007. The two-year closure included retrofits for light rail as well as other operating system upgrades. Also, a stub tunnel, branching from the main tunnel, was constructed under Pine Street between 7th and Boren Avenues to allow light rail trains to stop and reverse direction and for future extension
University Link
University Link is a future light rail extension of Sound Transit's Link light rail system in Seattle, Washington, USA. The line will connect downtown Seattle with the University of Washington via Capitol Hill. The line was approved by the Federal Transit Administration in November 2006...
of Central Link.
Due to the conversion to light rail, the dual-mode buses that are powered by the above electric connection can no longer operate in the tunnel. Those buses have already been replaced by Metro's current new fleet
Fleet vehicles
Fleet vehicles are groups of motor vehicles owned or leased by a business or government agency, rather than by an individual or family. Typical examples are vehicles operated by car rental companies, taxicab companies, public utilities, public bus companies, and police departments...
of hybrid buses. While these buses produce significantly more emissions than electric trolley buses that use overhead wires, they produce fewer emissions than standard diesel buses, and require no connection to overhead wires.
Since the floor of the tunnel was lowered for the light rail, there have been concerns that the bus mirrors are now at head height and may strike those who are waiting on the platform. To prevent this, the mirrors are equipped with flashing lights. As well, the buses' speed limit as they approach and leave stations has been lowered from 15 miles per hour (24.1 km/h) to 10 miles per hour (16.1 km/h).
The tunnel is entirely within the Ride Free Area, so no fare
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger allowing him or her to make use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.-Uses:...
is required on buses at any station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
during hours when the policy is in effect. Due to Sound Transit
Sound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
's different fare structure, fares are required on Central Link light rail trains.
Service
In addition to Central Link Light Rail, the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel currently serves the following bus routes during tunnel operating hours: King County Metro 41 (Northgate, Lake City), 71 (U-District, Wedgwood), 72 (U-District, Lake City), 73 (U-District, Jackson ParkJackson Park (Seattle)
Jackson Park is a public park and golf course in north Seattle, Washington, occupying most of the space between N.E. 145th Street on the north, N.E. 130th Street on the south, 5th Avenue N.E. on the west, and 15th Avenue N.E. on the east. It opened to the public in 1928. Jackson Park has both a...
), 74 Express (U-District, Sand Point), 76 (Green Lake P&R, Wedgwood), 77 (Maple Leaf, Jackson Park, North City), 101 (Renton
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
), 102 (South Renton, Fairwood
Cascade-Fairwood, Washington
Cascade-Fairwood is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 34,580 at the 2000 census. Based on per capita income Cascade-Fairwood ranks 77th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked....
), 106 (Rainier Beach, Renton), 150 (Southcenter
Westfield Southcenter
Westfield Southcenter, formerly known as Southcenter Mall, is a shopping mall located in Tukwila, Washington, USA. It is currently anchored by JC Penney, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Sears and owned by the Westfield Group. A Rainforest Cafe is also at the mall...
, Kent
Kent, Washington
Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...
), 212 (Eastgate
Eastgate, Washington
Eastgate is a census-designated place in unincorporated King County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,958 at the 2010 census....
), 216 (Sammamish, Bear Creek P&R), 217 (Eastgate, N Issaquah
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
), 218 (Eastgate Freeway Station, Issaquah Highlands P&R), 255 (Kirkland
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
, Brickyard P&R), 301 (Richmond Beach, Aurora Village), 316 (Green Lake P&R, NSCC, Meridian Park) and Sound Transit Express 550 (Bellevue
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
).
The tunnel is open for light rail and bus service Monday through Saturday, 5:00 am to 1:00 am, and Sunday, 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight. Buses running after tunnel operating hours are rerouted to nearby surface streets.
Route
The north portal is located near 9th Avenue and Olive Way, with dual entry/exit ramps onto the Interstate 5Interstate 5 in Washington
Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
express lanes. From this point, the tunnel runs southwest-northeast under Pine Street, then turns left and runs northwest-southeast under 3rd Avenue for most of its length. The tunnel passes four feet below the Great Northern Tunnel
Great Northern Tunnel
The Great Northern Tunnel is a double tracked railway tunnel under downtown Seattle, Washington, completed by the Great Northern Railway in 1905, and now owned by the BNSF Railway and is on its Scenic Subdivision. At the time it was built, the tunnel was the highest and widest in the United States...
. The south portal of the tunnel is located near 4th Avenue and Royal Brougham Way, where buses have dual entry/exit onto the Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in Washington
Interstate 90 , a transcontinental Interstate Highway from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts, crosses the state of Washington before crossing the Idaho state line between Spokane and Post Falls...
express lanes, or the SoDo E-3 Busway. At the south portal, the light rail tracks split from the shared alignment onto their own right-of-way
Right-of-way (railroad)
A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as for a trail, driveway, rail line or highway. A right-of-way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance or expansion of existing services with the right-of-way...
, which runs parallel to the SoDo Busway until just south of Lander Street.
Stations
The Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel has five stations, listed below from north to south:| Station | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convention Place | 9th Avenue and Pine Street | Serves Washington State Convention Center, Paramount Theatre Paramount Theatre (Seattle, Washington) The Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington is a 2,807-seat performing arts venue at 9th Avenue and Pine Street in Downtown Seattle in the United States of America. The theater originally opened March 1, 1928 as the Seattle Theatre with 3,000 seats, the theater was placed on the National Register... , Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and... terminal, Federal Courthouse United States District Court for the Western District of Washington The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan,... . Transfer to surface bus or cross Interstate 5 Interstate 5 Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S... to Capitol Hill. Bus routes from south of the tunnel have their terminus and layover Layover In transportation, a layover, also known as lays over or stopover, is some form of a break between parts of a single trip.-In mass transit:... here. This station is a future transit-oriented development Transit-oriented development A transit-oriented development is a mixed-use residential or commercial area designed to maximize access to public transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership... site. This station is served only by buses. |
 |
| Westlake | Pine Street between 3rd and 6th Avenues | Serves Westlake Center Westlake Center Westlake Center is a four-story shopping center and twenty-five story office tower in Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. The southern terminus of the Seattle Center Monorail, it is located across Pine Street from Westlake Park, between 4th and 5th Avenues. It is named for Westlake Avenue, which now... , Seattle Center Monorail Seattle Center Monorail The Seattle Center Monorail is an elevated monorail line in Seattle, Washington, that runs a little over one mile along Fifth Avenue from Westlake Center in Downtown to Seattle Center in Lower Queen Anne... , South Lake Union Streetcar South Lake Union Streetcar The Seattle Streetcar—South Lake Union Line is a streetcar line connecting the South Lake Union neighborhood to Downtown Seattle, United States. Service began on December 12, 2007... , Nordstrom Nordstrom Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings... , Macy's Macy's Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States... , Pike Place Market Pike Place Market Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers,... . Transfer to surface buses toward Belltown, Queen Anne Hill, Magnolia, Fremont, Shoreline Shoreline, Washington Shoreline is a city in King County, Washington, United States, north of Downtown Seattle bordering the northern Seattle city limits. As of the 2010 census, the population was 53,007, making it the 19th largest city in the state of Washington.... , Green Lake, and Redmond Redmond, Washington Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000.... . Transit information and passes can be obtained from the Metro Customer Stop on the mezzanine level. This is the northern terminus of the Central Link light rail. At this point, the tunnel makes a left, and follows Third Avenue. |
 |
| University Street | 3rd Avenue between Union and Seneca Streets | Serves Benaroya Hall Benaroya Hall Benaroya Hall is the home of the Seattle Symphony in Downtown Seattle, Washington, USA. It features two auditoria, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, a 2500-seat performance venue, as well as the Nordstrom Recital Hall, which seats roughly 500... , Seattle Art Museum Seattle Art Museum The Seattle Art Museum is an art museum located in Seattle, Washington, USA. It maintains three major facilities: its main museum in downtown Seattle; the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the central Seattle waterfront, which opened on... , Seattle Central Library Seattle Central Library The Seattle Public Library's Central Library is the flagship library of The Seattle Public Library system. The 11-story glass and steel building in downtown Seattle, Washington was opened to the public on Sunday, May 23, 2004... , Main Post Office United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States... , Washington Mutual Tower. Transfer to surface buses toward First Hill |
 |
| Pioneer Square | 3rd Avenue between Cherry Street and Yesler Way | Serves Pioneer Square, King County Courthouse King County Courthouse The King County Courthouse is the administrative building housing the judicial branch of King County, Washington government. It is located in downtown Seattle, Washington, just north of Pioneer Square... , King County King County, Washington King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States.... and City of Seattle government offices, King County Jail, Washington State Ferries Washington State Ferries Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile... Colman Dock |
 |
| International District/Chinatown | 5th Avenue S. and S. Jackson Street | Serves International District, King Street Station King Street Station (Seattle) King Street Station is a train station in Seattle, Washington. Located between South King and South Jackson streets and Second and Fourth Avenue South in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, the station is just south of downtown... , Uwajimaya Uwajimaya Uwajimaya, Inc., doing business as , is a family-owned supermarket chain with its corporate headquarters in the Industrial District, Seattle, Washington, and with locations in Greater Seattle. Uwajimaya sells mainly Asian food—with an emphasis on Japanese—though it also stocks Western staples... , Waterfront Streetcar Waterfront Streetcar The Waterfront Streetcar, officially the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar Line, was a -long streetcar line run by Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington, so named because much of its route was along Alaskan Way on the Elliott Bay waterfront... , Metro and Sound Transit Sound Transit Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils... offices. Transfer to surface buses toward Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, Industrial District, SoDo, and the Eastside Eastside (King County, Washington) File:Seattle-lakewashington-lakesammamish.PNG|250px|right|The Eastside is to the right of Seattle.# rough city boundariespoly 137 256 148 256 158 194 172 179 172 237 212 266 133 266Renton... . Bus routes from north of the tunnel have their terminus and layover here. |
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