King County Metro's latest RapidRide, the R Line, is on track to begin passenger service in 2032. The RapidRide R Line will span approximately eight miles between downtown Seattle and the Rainier Beach Link light-rail station. The line will be the first RapidRide line to operate in south Seattle, bringing frequent service to Route 7, which is one of the busiest bus corridors in King County, Wash., while connecting transit to the Link light rail 1 line in the Rainier Valley.
According to the agency, the project is moving forward after design work was paused due to funding challenges caused by the pandemic. While the project was on hold, the corridor continued to grow and change. The Seattle Department of Transportation and the Washington State Department of Transportation completed street, sidewalk and intersection improvements, and new housing and businesses were built along the route.
The RapidRide R Line aims to improve transit travel time, reliability and rider experience through the following upgrades to Route 7:
- Upgraded transit stations and shelters
- Enhanced lighting and passenger amenities
- Signal upgrades to reduce delays
- Safer pedestrian access to transit
The RapidRide R Line follows in the footsteps of the RapidRide I Line, which will span 17 miles in Renton, Kent and Auburn, Wash., starting in 2027.
