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RapidRide H Line
Metro's RapidRide H Line brings a new level of frequent transit service to Burien, White Center and Delridge. The H Line operates between the Burien Transit Center and Downtown Seattle at Third Avenue and Virginia Street every day of the week, almost every hour of the day. The H Line replaces Metro Route 120, consistently one of our busiest routes.
Route schedule
Monday – Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Construction updates
The majority of construction is expected to last through March 2023 with some construction to last into the summer. As construction moves forward, our team will share information about what to expect and how to continue traveling by bus in the area. Please sign up for updates to stay informed on RapidRide H Line construction activity.
Three rounds of public outreach over the past several years have had an important influence on the project’s final design. Community input helped to inform routing, stop locations, station amenities and safety and access improvements. For more information, reports can be found here: Phase 1, Phase 2, and summary of RR H Line outreach. Please visit the Metro Matters Blog for more information about the construction activity.
What to expect during construction
Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm, with some nighttime and weekend work. You can expect:
- Noise, vibrations and dust in the project area.
- Temporary parking restrictions.
- Periodic lane and driveway closures.
- Large machinery and truck activity.
- Construction staging and parking impacts near the construction site.
- Some sidewalk, intersection and lane closures.
- Detours for people walking, biking and rolling.
- Temporary bus detours and a handful of bus stop relocations for the H Line and other transit routes.
- Flaggers to direct traffic around work areas.
We will provide notifications to businesses and residents ahead of construction activities in the area.
FAQ
Access to businesses will be maintained throughout construction. We are reaching out to neighbors, businesses and local community organizations in advance of construction near them to share when and where work will happen, as well as what impacts to expect.
Typical work hours for the RapidRide H Line project are Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm, with some nighttime and weekend work. While RapidRide H Line service began in March 2023, we are continuing some punch list work, which is anticipated to continue through early 2024. This work will not impact bus service.
Construction on RapidRide H Line was previously delayed due to a region-wide concrete driver worker strike, supply chain issues and limited availability of materials. Visit our website to read more about how King County is managing delays due to concrete supply issues.
Where crews are doing construction varies week by week. For more details about the locations where work is ongoing, refer to the construction map or visit our blog for more information. You can also choose to email us at rapidride@kingcounty.gov or call the construction hotline number: 206-257-3079.
The red striping on Ambaum Boulevard denotes Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes which allow buses to travel more efficiently through the corridor. This minimizes delays and increases transit speed and reliability while maintaining access to local businesses and residents. For transit riders, a designated bus lane, or BAT lane, allows buses to move more freely, leading to greater opportunity for on‑time arrivals. Similarly, for drivers, BAT lanes enhance the capacity of general‑purpose lanes by removing buses from general traffic. Finally, access to driveways is improved through added visibility and opportunities to turn into driveways.
While BAT lanes are for transit only, other drivers may use them long enough to turn right at the next intersection. Signage is posted where right turns are allowed.
Only buses may travel in the BAT lanes, but drivers may use them to access businesses’ driveways.
Posted signs and pavement markings indicate where Bus Only or BAT lanes begin. Drivers should merge into general purpose lanes or make a right turn at the next intersection. Drivers may use Bus Only or BAT lanes to enter driveways and alleys throughout the corridor.
Public transit is an important part of how we will meet the diverse needs and priorities of our rapidly growing region. Our current demand for transit and future needs identified in our cities’ growth plans require access to expanded public transportation that is fast and reliable.
RapidRide H Line buses operate more reliably, and riders will have access to more peak commute trips operating in the reverse direction and more trips operating at night on weekends. It provides connections from neighborhoods in Burien, White Center, Delridge, and downtown. RapidRide H Line will also provide needed connections to other bus service and Link light rail.
Riders will experience a decrease in travel time with the RapidRide upgrades, including more frequent buses—operating weekdays every 10 minutes most of the day.
King County Metro conducted a traffic analysis in 2018 before the pandemic that travel times would only be marginally affected since the lanes on Ambaum were under utilized. This traffic information was presented to the City of Burien City Council and approved prior to the project proceeding. As our region grows, public transit is a key part of the solution to moving people from their homes to jobs and other destinations. Transit helps maximize the use of the region’s existing infrastructure by moving more people in less space than by personal vehicles.
The RapidRide H Line project is funded by the City of Burien, City of Seattle, and King County.
The following improvements are being added along the future RapidRide H Line route in Burien:
- New pedestrian crossing signals and crosswalks.
- New sidewalks, sidewalk repairs and ADA‑compliant ramps.
- Increased accessibility and safety features.
- RapidRide upgrades will make it easier and safer to walk and roll onto the bus.
