Seattle Transportation Plan Transit Element

Frequent, reliable transit service is the foundation of a transportation system that empowers all travelers and makes Seattle a truly transit-friendly city. A robust transit network is essential if Seattle is to meet its climate goals and address transportation-related inequities. At its most fundamental level, a transit network is made up of transit infrastructure such as bus lanes, transit signals, and bus stops, often arranged in corridors.  <div><br /></div><div><div>The transit service that travels on this infrastructure can be described as a series of routes that connect different parts of a community for a number of hours per day at a certain frequency (the number of trips at a bus stop per hour). SDOT’s vision for the service aspect of the transit network is followed by a vision for transit infrastructure in the sections below. </div><div><br /></div><div>Public input and surveys consistently point to transit frequency as the most critical factor that influences ridership behavior. This fundamental concept directly informs SDOT’s shared vision for a “Frequent Transit Network” (FTN), which builds from the 2016 Transit Master Plan (TMP) and establishes aspirational frequency targets for transit corridors throughout the city. A high-frequency transit network enables people to move through the city with confidence in a timely arrival—and without the need to consult a schedule—throughout the day and every single day of the week. Continual investment in improved transit frequency in Seattle is essential for many reasons:  </div><div><ul><li>Post-pandemic transit is likely to remain less commuter-focused and oriented specifically to Downtown Seattle and must adapt to new travel behaviors and patterns. </li><li>To support everyday trips by transit (not just commutes), people need reliable mobility at all times, such as early mornings, midday, evenings and at night all days of the week, not just at peak times on weekdays.  </li><li>Transit needs to accommodate work schedules of non-traditional and low-income workers including the times noted above. </li><li>Transit should be attractive for all types of trips throughout the week, including education, shopping, and recreational trips, as well as cultural gatherings. </li><li>An excellent transit network is necessary to accommodate the mode shift required to respond to the impacts of climate change in the next decade. </li><li>Frequent transit reduces wait time, increases reliability, and values the time for existing and future riders. </li><li>Frequent transit makes transfers more feasible and allows a network of routes to function as a system. </li><li>A connected network of frequent transit services is also critical to achieve STP climate goals, which require dramatic increases in transit ridership and VMT reduction to support broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation.  </li><li>High transit frequencies as part of a reliable, all-day service network can create a more equitable transportation system, making it possible for people of all ages, incomes, and abilities to get where they want to go regardless of when or where they need to travel. The Transit Element presents a vision for frequent transit service in Seattle that goes beyond the original Frequent Transit Network (FTN) presented in the 2016 Transit Master Plan.  </li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Refresh Cycle: None, Static. Manually as required.</div><div><ul><li>Original Publish: 5/23/2024</li><li>Update Publish: 7/11/2024 per Policy and Planning team</li></ul></div><div>Contact: Policy and Planning team.</div>

Tags: bus, gis, light-rail, sdot, seattle-gis-open-data, seattle-transportation-plan, stp, transit, transit-element
Organization: City of Seattle