It's time for Metro to bring back the Route #4

Dear Route #4 supporters, King County Metro’s Route #4 bus service to Judkins Park has been discontinued for almost ten months during the weekdays due to the 23rd Avenue S. Corridor Improvement Project. According to a 5/6/15 email message from Bill LaBorde, Chief Policy Advisor, Seattle DOT, and Stephanie Pure, Intergovernmental Relations, Office of the Director, King County DOT, “Route #4 will resume operating on its normal pathway at its current service level once the roadway has been re-opened to traffic in both directions on 23rd Avenue up to East Cherry Street.” As of Mon., 3/14, the segment of road affecting Route #4 has been reopened. Service should have been fully restored to this critical route more than two weeks ago. I wrote to city and county officials recently and encourage you to do the same to demand that Route #4 be restored immediately. Below is a sample message and email addresses for Bill LaBorde, Stephanie Pure, Larry Gossett (County Council District 2) and Kshama Sawant (City Council District 3). I appreciate your support. Thank you, Leslie Stewart Bill.LaBorde@seattle.gov Stephanie.Pure@kingcounty.gov Larry.Gossett@kingcounty.gov Kshama.Sawant@seattle.gov Sample message: Route #4 serves residential neighborhoods that are lower-income, high minority and contain many social service organizations and public services. For many, this route is the only viable alternative to get to medical appointments, especially for those at its southern terminus living at Center Park, a low-income housing complex specifically designed to serve people with disabilities. Since people with disabilities experience the most barriers in the provision of transportation services, suffice it to say that the long-term suspension of Route #4 service has created a hardship for Center Park residents, as well as residents in the areas served by Route #4 that experience physical or other barriers. Many in the community who don't necessarily experience everyday barriers have been extremely inconvenienced as they find alternate routes, often involving a transfer. While alternatives may exist, they do not compare to a full-time bus route. Metro should resume Route #4 immediately, as promised, to provide this important service to Center Park and Judkins Park.