Link vs Bus travel times

2008 Mar 8, 11h

Reposted from HorsesAss

@30 Interesting assignment, Troll. While I’m not the same person you replied to. I was curious myself. So here are some numbers. All times estimated. Bus travel times may vary due to traffic. Typical bus frequencies shown. Bus hours of service may vary. Link Light Rail frequencies are every 6 mins during peak hours and every 10-15 mins during the rest of the day. Link service runs 20 hours a day. Bus travel times taken during the day.

International District Station – Ohtello Station
via Route 42 (every 30 min) ~20 min
via Central Link (every 6-15 min) 15 min
via Route 36 (every 10 min) ~28 min
Note: #36 is planned to be extended to serve Othello Station in 2008

Westlake Station – Ohtello Station
via Route 42 (every 30 min) ~35 min
via Central Link (every 6-15 min) 21 min

Westlake Station – Rainier Beach Station
via Route 7 (every 10-15 min) 40-50 min
via Route 36 (every 20 min) 30 min
via Central Link (every 6-15 min) 24 min
This is not a fair comparison since it takes 10-15 min to walk between MLK and Rainier but Route 7 will be extended to serve the station see Metro

International District Station – SeaTac/Airport
via Route 194 (every 15-30 min) ~25 min
via Route 174 (runs very late) ~30 min
via Central Link (every 6-15 min) 31 min

Westlake Station – Capitol Hill
via Route 43, 49 (every 15 min) 10-15 min
via University Link (every 6-15 min) 6 min

Westlake Station – U District (station is next to UW Med Center, Husky Stadium; walking time to campus HUB from any stop is 10 min)
via Route 43 (every 15 min) 20-30 min
via Route 71,72,73 (every 10-15 min) 15-20 min
via University Link (every 6-15 min) 7-9 min

Conclusion
Link Light Rail overall is faster, and more reliable than a comparable bus route. The Central Link somewhat improves travel times for most trips. The University Link beats the bus hands down. The improved frequency and predictability is much better than the bus. I do agree that the long walk to the stations are a negative but you could reasonably bike to the stations and the bus extensions will make using Link worthwhile.

While it is true that Rt 194 is faster on paper, the reality is that I-5 traffic really affects the reliability of this route and the actual time can vary greatly. Construction projects in the area like the Viaduct replacement, I-5 repaving, etc. are definitely going to increase those travel times. Transit needs to be reliable if people are going to use it on a regular basis.

Have you ever ridden the 194 during rush hour? It’s crowded and cramped with people and their luggage. It’s like that even at 8 am on Sunday! Trains are much more spacious and easier to board than any BRT bus ever could (see LA).

I think of light rail not as a solution to reduce congestion but as an alternative. Anyone who claims their plan, be it more buses, trains, or lanes, will reduce or eliminate congestion, is not thinking clearly. The population growth far exceeds our ability to keep up with transportation capacity. If we continue to be a metropolitan city, congestion will always exist in some form or another. Even New York, Tokyo, and London, with all their rail systems and walkability still suffer from horrible congestion both on the roads and on the trains. But people there have a choice, and that’s the point.

When did getting people of buses onto trains is a bad thing? That frees up resources for Metro so they can redeploy the buses to areas that need it and feed more people into the rail system.

I’d like to see how you would route the light rail? If not through the Rainier Valley, then through where? I keep hearing you claim that the current routing is inefficient but you have not provided an alternative.

@34 You’re wrong. Light rail can be used as a freight service if designed and marketed properly. In fact VW uses it to transport luxury auto parts in Dresden. They also have plans to deliver goods to a mall in the central city from a rail distribution center.

Salt Lake City runs freight on their light rail line (outside passenger hours) with 14 active customers.

Others say

Commenting is closed for this article.