King County Metro Route 635 2018 – 2023

Route 635 is a shuttle bus that transits from Angle Lake Station down to 216th and Wesley. It was created as a funding match partnership with the City in 2018. This year, KC has taken over 100% funding, which is great.

JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNEJULYAUGSEPTOCTNOVDECANNUAL
2018788271,2341,4511,6241,4921,9612,9321,9372,0841,6951,48818,803
20191,8271,5281,9812,3812,3311,8602,2352,2972,1652,9022,5712,66026,738
20202,5522,5441,7616348961,1171,5901,6691,8681,3461,1951,18418,356
20211,2161,1261,4541,5351,4551,4941,5651,6401,6891,3771,3841,05816,993
20221,1711,2261,4981,3201,3331,5201,5581,8021,5671,5761,7021,62317,896
20231,6431,6852,0201,8582,1209,326
TOTALS8,4878,9369,9489,1799,7597,4838,90910,3409,2269,2858,5478,013108,112

From Metro’s point of view this is the ‘multi-modal transportation’ that a passenger ferry is definitely not. The combination of shuttle buses like the 635 is a low cost way to move a bajillion people into Seattle (and eventually Tacoma and Everett)l, which is why it’s essentially free for seniors and kids and heavily subsidised for low-income households. The 635 is the last mile that makes mass transit realistic.

The only problem I see with it is that there isn’t a second shuttle being planned to come on line with the Kent Des Moines Station in 2026. There needs to be a loop from the new station to Highline College and Judson and the Marina and the south end of Des Moines–just as there now is for Angle Lake and Wesley at the north end of Des Moines. In terms of efficiency, cost and equity that is where our multi-modal transportation dollars should be going.

Comments

  1. There is no public transportation where I live on Marine View Dr. I could probably walk to Judson Park and catch a bus there to get me to the Lite Rail at Angle Lake and also to downtown Des Moines. There are many older people in this community and many of us no longer drive. We need public transportation available to us.

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