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.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC | ANNUAL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 78 | 827 | 1,234 | 1,451 | 1,624 | 1,492 | 1,961 | 2,932 | 1,937 | 2,084 | 1,695 | 1,488 | 18,803 | |
| 2019 | 1,827 | 1,528 | 1,981 | 2,381 | 2,331 | 1,860 | 2,235 | 2,297 | 2,165 | 2,902 | 2,571 | 2,660 | 26,738 | |
| 2020 | 2,552 | 2,544 | 1,761 | 634 | 896 | 1,117 | 1,590 | 1,669 | 1,868 | 1,346 | 1,195 | 1,184 | 18,356 | |
| 2021 | 1,216 | 1,126 | 1,454 | 1,535 | 1,455 | 1,494 | 1,565 | 1,640 | 1,689 | 1,377 | 1,384 | 1,058 | 16,993 | |
| 2022 | 1,171 | 1,226 | 1,498 | 1,320 | 1,333 | 1,520 | 1,558 | 1,802 | 1,567 | 1,576 | 1,702 | 1,623 | 17,896 | |
| 2023 | 1,643 | 1,685 | 2,020 | 1,858 | 2,120 | 9,326 | ||||||||
| TOTALS | 8,487 | 8,936 | 9,948 | 9,179 | 9,759 | 7,483 | 8,909 | 10,340 | 9,226 | 9,285 | 8,547 | 8,013 | 108,112 |
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.
