SEATTLE — The King County Council Mobility and Environment Committee unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the alignment and station locations for RapidRide G Line serving the Madison Street corridor in Seattle.
The G Line will create a new route between First Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
The next step in extending the RapidRide program, the G Line will connect popular destinations such as Virginia Mason hospital, Swedish Medical Center, and Seattle University, with Central District neighborhoods. Metro routes 11 and 12 will be replaced with the new bus, which promises high frequency operation and improved shelter waiting areas to the existing lines.
Approved bus stop locations will occur in greater frequency than other Rapid Ride Lines, accounting for higher population density. Approximately one quarter of a mile apart, they intend to serve the community by providing easier access to downtown destinations.
According to the council, public response to the proposal has been positive. Higher than average concentrations of People of Color in the area have prompted conversations around the ability of the ordinance to comply with Seattle’s Social Justice initiative.
“Obviously public engagement is a big part of the work when we’re bringing new RapidRide Lines online and we have a lot more coming in the future,” district 5 committee chair Dave Upthegrove said. “The fact that we don’t have a room full of people and public testimony expressing concern about the alignment and location both speak volumes to me that the work that was done in the community.”
Seattle will provide the majority of the $121.4 million for the project, which is part of the city’s Metro Connects program. Metro Connects previously approved 13 operating RapidRide programs by 2025, with lines G through K expected to operate by that time.
The program enters year two of development, which includes design and further public outreach.
RapidRide G Line has a targeted opening of 2022.