Metro Transit cuts could put thousands of UW drivers on Seattle roads
May 9, 2014, 12:24 PM | Updated: 1:08 pm
Last month’s defeat of a funding measure for King County Metro Transit could mean thousands more drivers on the road that normally ride the bus to and from the University of Washington. The school is scrambling to do what it can to soften the blow.
Metro officials have said they will cut 72 routes and reduce service on dozens of others. The cuts will affect more than 35,000 who commute to the school, says Celeste Gilman, UW commute options manager.
“If you think about a transit coach, it can easily hold 85 people,” Gilman says. “Imagine what it looks like if each of those people is in their own vehicle. That’s a very big impact.”
Forty-two percent of all trips to campus by faculty, staff and students are on transit and the majority of those are on Metro, according to Gilman. Just 9 percent of commuters drive alone.
UW Transportation Services (UWTS) will provide personalized commute assistance to help those impacted by the changes in hopes of keeping as many people as possible from driving alone.
“Huskies are smart, they could figure out a new trip for themselves, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the one that works for the whole system. And it’s a painful process to go from something that really works for you to try to find a new option.”
UWTS is encouraging carpooling, offering discounts on what is expected to be extremely limited parking availability on campus this fall. It is also offering incentives for commuters to take part in van pools, which can save upwards of $70 a month thanks to the school’s U-PASS program.
While transportation officials at the school are hopeful they can convince a significant number of commuters to rideshare, walk or bike to school, Gilman admits many will likely resort to driving alone. With so many students, faculty and staff members coming from across the Puget Sound region, the impact will be felt far beyond campus.
“Change is hard. This is a disruptive change. A great city deserves great transit. We hope this is just a temporary situation,” she says.
