King County Executive Dow Constantine today proposed more and faster transit service for the Eastside through the launch of the RapidRide bus rapid transit. He is also calling for more convenient, efficient and cost-effective bus service to support it in his fall service change ordinance transmitted to the Metropolitan King County Council.

“Rapid Ride will allow you to just show up to catch a bus between Bellevue and Redmond every 10 or 15 minutes, without having to check a schedule,” Constantine said. “We heard from Eastside residents, businesses, and public agencies, and this proposal reflects their wishes to consolidate resources and make Metro an easier alternative to driving a car.”

If adopted by the Council, the proposed changes would revise 24 King County Metro Transit bus routes to coincide with the launch of RapidRide B Line service between Bellevue and Redmond via Overlake and Crossroads. The service change would go into effect on October 1.

“RapidRide serves as a missing link for frequent, reliable connection to our employments centers in Bellevue and Redmond, said council Vice Chair Jane Hague, who represents part of Bellevue. “This is a major increase in transit services for the Eastside.

Constantine said the proposed transit service changes will improve Eastside connections to take advantage of recent service additions made by Metro and Sound Transit to the all-day routes between the Eastside and Seattle. These improvements were made possible through federal Urban Partnership grants, a recent redistribution of existing property taxes, and the Sound Transit Phase II plan – all of which provide alternatives for people who will soon be paying tolls to cross the State Route 520 Bridge.

The proposed revisions to the 24 Metro bus routes are being coordinated with the launch of the B Line. That means some current Eastside bus routes will be changed or eliminated in order to maximize bus service and avoid duplicating the new RapidRide service. Eastside bus riders should have the same level of service – and in some cases more – but some may need to adjust to new routes or transfer connections, county officials said.

The first of King County’s new RapidRide lines serving the route from Tukwila to Federal Way has proven so popular in its first four months that ridership is up 25 percent over the less frequent route it replaced, with 84 percent of those surveyed saying they’re satisfied or highly satisfied with the new service.

The executive’s proposal will be heard by the County Council at a public hearing on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island.

On the Eastside, the proposal calls for:

New Metro routes: RapidRide B Line, 226, 235 and 241

Routes with added service: 212, 255, 271

Routing changes: 221, 234, 240, 245, 246, 249, 250, and 265

Routes proposed for elimination since service will be offered by other routes: 222, 225, 229, 230, 233, 247, 253, 256, 261, 266, 272, and 926