RapidRide R Line

Project vision and early planning

RapidRide R Line was identified through Metro Connects, King County’s long-range plan for expanding frequent transit service, as a priority investment to improve transit along the Route 7 corridor. Serving one of Metro’s busiest and highest-ridership bus routes, the project is intended to improve speed, reliability, capacity, and the overall rider experience while providing better connections to jobs, schools, housing, and other destinations. This phase established the project vision and laid the groundwork for future corridor planning, funding and community engagement.

What happened in this phase

• Metro Connects identified RapidRide expansion as a long-term priority, and Route 7 as a priority for future RapidRide service.
• King County Council approved funding to begin planning and design for RapidRide R Line project.
• Metro developed an initial project concept in coordination with SDOT and other agency partners.
• The project was paused in 2020 due to COVID-19-related funding constraints and resumed in 2023 with updated planning work to reflect changes along the corridor.
• Metro advanced the project toward route adoption and the next phase of design.

Community engagement

What we did

From June to October 2019, Metro conducted community engagement during the RapidRide R Line needs assessment phase. Given the extensive community input on this line through previous work led by SDOT, we first needed to report back on what we had heard, explain how these issues and concerns will be reflected in design, and highlight future opportunities to influence decision-making. Metro had two main goals during the needs assessment phase: 1) re-engage Rainier Valley residents and introduce RapidRide R Line, and 2) gather community input on transportation needs and priorities to inform design concepts.

Engagement activities during phase 1 included interviews with community-based organizations (CBOs), service providers, and other community groups; in-person outreach consisted of tabling at community events and hosting community briefings in partnership with CBOs and other community partners; and an online survey was available in English, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Across these channels, we gathered input on the following areas:

• Elements of the existing Route 7 that people appreciate most as well as areas for improvement
• Priority places people want to travel to and from when using Route 7
• Barriers to accessing transit and improvements to encourage more transit use
• Ways to effectively share information with, and gather input from, historically underrepresented or underserved communities

We also asked people to identify specific destinations along the Route 7 corridor that are important to serve and locations where they would like better access to transit or have safety concerns.

What we heard

Community input informed Metro’s design concepts and the communications and engagement activities planned for phase 2.

Early design

During the Planning Phase, Metro is refining the RapidRide R Line project concept to reflect current conditions along the corridor and the community’s evolving transportation needs. This work includes evaluating changes that have occurred since planning was paused, coordinating closely with partner agencies, and refining the proposed improvements to support faster, safer, and more reliable transit while aligning with other planned investments along the corridor.

What happened in this phase

• Metro evaluated corridor conditions and identified improvements to make transit faster, more reliable, and easier to use.
• The project concept is being refined through technical analysis and feedback from community members, riders, businesses, and partner agencies.
• Metro coordinated closely with SDOT to align the project with planned transportation improvements along the corridor.
• Metro is developing a preferred project concept that reflects current and future conditions along the corridor.
• Metro will seek King County Council approval of an Alignment Ordinance in early 2027 to confirm the route and station locations as the project advances into the next phase of design.

Community engagement

What we did

Phase 2: Metro gathered input on the preferred concept from November 2019 through March 2020. We had two community engagement goals:

1. Share proposed RapidRide R Line station location options and gather feedback to inform the preferred concept, and
2. Continue conducting intentional, inclusive, and equitable community engagement.

Metro’s engagement during phase 2 consisted of briefings, conversations, and walking tours with CBOs and other community groups; in-person outreach was performed through tabling at community events, gathering places, and housing communities; bus stop outreach; in-person open houses; an online open house available in English, simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese; engaging with Route 7 operators; and briefings with city and county councilmembers.

We gathered feedback on the following elements of the RapidRide R Line preferred concept:

• Proposed station locations
• Projects to make it easier and safer to get to the bus
• Roadway and intersection upgrades to make the bus faster and more reliable.

The feedback we received helped refine Metro’s design for the preferred concept. Summary of this report is available in the Resources section below.

What we heard

Community input directly informed the current preferred concept through the following ways:

• Community feedback about service needs in Chinatown-International District influenced the decision to have RapidRide R Line serve both Maynard Avenue S and 8th Avenue S.
• Community feedback on station location options in Columbia City informed the decision to include RapidRide R Line station pairs at S Edmunds and S Dawson streets.
• We heard overwhelming community input and support about maintaining the existing S Walker Street station pair location and needed improvements to make it easier to safely access these stations.
• The connection to Link light rail at Rainier Beach Station brought through the S Henderson Street extension emerged as an important community priority.

Phase 3: In the third phase of engagement, Metro shared information about the final preferred concept which included station locations, proposed features, projects that enhance bus speed and reliability, and projects to make it easier and safer to get to the bus.

Now that Metro has restarted this work, the project will continue with its final phase of engagement by re-introducing and re-engaging community members. Outreach activities will consist of flyering across neighborhoods, engaging property owners, hosting virtual and in-person Open House, updating the website, and providing briefings upon request. The engagement phase will run from August 1 to 31, 2026.

Turning the project into a buildable plan

The Design Phase will further develop and refine the project recommendations from the preferred project concept.

What happens in this phase

• Station placement at the identified service intersections is further refined.
• Speed & Reliability treatments are further developed for implementation.
• Access to Transit Concepts are designed to provide enhanced access for cyclists and pedestrians.
• Project designs are evaluated for utility conflicts, property impacts, and overall constructability.
• Project cost estimates are further developed to match the approved budget.

Preparing for and building the project

In this phase, Metro can explain what happens after final design and before visible construction begins. The focus shifts from design development to implementation readiness.

What may happen in this phase

• Permit coordination and agency approvals
• Early utility work or advance preparation
• Construction planning and procurement steps
• Public information about what to expect before work begins

Launching RapidRide R Line service

This phase can celebrate the project opening and shift the page toward rider information. At that point, the focus becomes how to use the service and what customers need to know on day one.

What may happen in this phase

• Service launch information
• Station and rider amenities
• How to ride and service highlights
• Links to schedules, maps, and rider tools