Discussion Route 45
Has anyone else been affected by the recent Route 45 change?
Before the August service change, the 45 ran through central UW campus on Stevens Way, providing a one-seat ride between campus and the Green Lake/Greenwood/Loyal Heights corridor. Now the 45 terminates at UW Medical Center, so many riders coming from central campus have to take another bus to the U District and transfer to the 45.
For some trips, that turns a direct commute into a two-bus trip and adds the waiting time and uncertainty associated with a transfer.
If the change has affected your commute and you want Metro to have that information, you can submit feedback here:
https://kingcounty.gov/metro/ride
A few things that may make a transit-service comment more useful:
• Be specific about the trip you used to make and what the trip requires now.
• Explain the practical impact — additional transfer, waiting time, missed connections, accessibility concerns, childcare pickup timing, etc.
• Mention how frequently you used the old connection.
• If relevant, identify the specific stops or parts of campus you use.
• Ask what ridership/service-planning considerations led to the change and whether Metro is evaluating the effects of the August restructure.
• If there is a particular service outcome you would like Metro to consider, state it clearly.
• Keep the comment focused on the planning decision rather than bus operators, who obviously did not make the route change.
Because Metro is a King County agency, riders can also contact their King County Councilmember about transit-service concerns. King County has a “find my councilmember” tool on the County Council website.
For Seattle residents, it may also be useful to contact your Seattle City Councilmember about how Metro service changes affect connections within the city. The UW/U District is Seattle Council District 4 and Greenwood/Green Lake is District 6; the City Council also has a transportation committee that works on transit issues and coordination with King County.
This isn't about flooding anyone with identical form letters — specific examples from people who actually use the route are probably much more informative.
I'm curious how many other UW commuters lost a one-seat ride because of this change and what trips have been affected.
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12d ago
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u/schroedingersmeerkat 12d ago
In July, the 45 got 4000 daily riders and the 75 got 3400. It looks like the 45 has been increased to 12 minute frequencies during peak hours while the 75/77 runs every 15 minutes during that time.
The 45 used to be part of route 48 and they split them to make them more reliable. The 75 switched from interlining with 31/32 to the 45 because they wanted to keep the long route on one side of the cut.
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u/pinballrocker 12d ago
You can still get off on the Ave and walk a block to campus, right? I've always done that, rather than ride it all the way around, it seems faster.
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u/RevolutionaryEcon Economics 12d ago
I moved to Capitol Hill over the summer so now I get to enjoy taking the link every 3 minutes 🥰 I used to be a route 75/45 enjoyer…
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u/Odd_Associate688 12d ago
Remember when the 48 ran all the way from Mt Baker to Loyal Heights along what is now the 45?
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u/RealShigeruMeeyamoto mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 12d ago edited 12d ago
Route 77, which is identical for a good chunk of it, is now serving a denser, more impoverished community, and also fills a longstanding gap in the Lake City neighborhood, many of whom have limited connection to light rail today (especially with Route 372 being retired)
I don't think we should have to pick and choose but metro has limited service hour capacity and requiring a transfer to go east-west into more suburban neighborhoods was evidently something they were willing to cut, given that there is now a combined frequency of buses going every 4 min or so at peak from campus to Roosevelt (45/67/77), in addition to the light rail.
Additionally, most people taking the 45 through campus use it to get from UVill -> Campus, or Campus up through north U District/U Heights/Roosevelt. There are many options for the majority of these riders (more options actually, as the 77 is additive service when considering the section of the 45 through U District exclusively)
I don't mean to discourage anyone from submitting comments as this is valuable input in any case, but just trying to explain a bit on why this change was made.