On Wednesday, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay transmitted RapidRide R Line alignment legislation to the King County Council. The R Line will travel between Rainier Beach station and downtown Seattle on Rainier Ave when it opens in 2032. In August, Metro asked the public for feedback on an initial alignment proposal. While many support the project, the planned removal of several existing Route 7 stops drew widespread criticism from Rainier Valley residents, transit advocates, and disability advocates.
In response to this feedback, the latest plan restores the stops on Rainier at Bayview St and State St/Grand St. The King County Council will discuss and vote on the R Line’s alignment over the next few weeks. This will establish the route’s path and general station locations. Additional project components, such as transit priority infrastructure, new crossings, and sidewalk improvements, will be finalized in later project stages. Executive Zahilay has proposed front-loading the project’s budget in an effort to potentially move up the R Line’s opening date.
Another key feedback theme Metro received involved the removal of stops along the Prentice Street loop. Today, every third Route 7 bus continues south of Henderson St to provide coverage in Rainier Beach. The R Line will turn right on to Henderson and terminate at the Rainier Beach Link station. In response, Metro highlighted Route 106 on Renton Ave and the Rainier Beach Metro Flex zone. The agency is also planning a southeast Seattle restructure that will take place in 2028 or 2029. Based on feedback received during restructure process, Metro may adjust other routes to back-fill Prentice St loop coverage once the R Line launches in 2032.
The full set of updated project maps is available here. This is an open thread.
