Ever noticed how much quieter some buses (routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, etc.) are than the many others that run through Queen Anne? You can thank those overhead wires — and the electric trolley buses they power — for that respite from noise pollution. The trolley buses also produce much less air pollution than diesel buses.
Despite those benefits, Metro is considering whether to replace its aging fleet of trolley buses with diesel ones, which cost less.
Our news partner The Seattle Times covered this story last month. On Tuesday, June 22, the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the Trolley Bus System Evaluation, a study that will examine the 14-route trolley system and “help the county make an informed decision about the best vehicle technology to use on these routes as the current trolley buses wear out.”
(Photo provided by the City of Seattle, depicts the central corridor of the King Country Metro Trolley Bus Network as of 2010).
The open house will be held downtown at Plymouth Congregational Church (1217 6th Avenue) from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, see the City of Seattle’s electric trolley bus network data (.pdf).
What do you think of the trolley buses and their possible replacement with diesel buses or other alternatives?
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7 responses so far ↓
1 Chris B // Jun 18, 2010 at 10:15 am
One thing to note is the speed at which the electric trolleys are capable of traveling uphill – and the acceleration they’re capable of. I ride Route 2 up the Counterbalance every day and the electric coaches can shave MINUTES off the trip uphill. The diesel engines just don’t have enough juice to push them up the hill, particularly from a standstill.
…but it is a pain in the but to have the electric coaches all in a line downtown on Third Ave, as they’re incapable of passing each other. Three buses ahead of you loading a wheelchair? Better add five minutes to your trip.
In my opinion, the study should take time into consideration just as much as money.
2 Chas R // Jun 18, 2010 at 10:36 am
The cost of the exhaust particulates should also be considered in the study. At a time when so much consideration is being given to cleaner energy sources, it seems contrarian to be giving serious thought to diesel.
Also, what information is available on the long-term operating cost of electric coaches vs. diesel ones? Are electric trolleys cheaper to run over the expected life?
3 Joshua Daniel Franklin // Jun 18, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Third Ave actually has dual overhead wire, so the trolleybuses can pass each other. However, they usually don’t because there are so many buses in that corridor. The diesel buses don’t often pass each other either–and I’ve even see 3 diesel 48s stacked up on 15th Ave NE in the U-District.
4 Matt the Engineer // Jun 21, 2010 at 7:06 am
[Chris] Of course many of the issues with the electric trolley buses are due to their age. Modern trolley buses can kneel to allow wheelchair boarding at a much faster pace, for example. They can also go off-wire for a few blocks or even miles in case a re-route is needed.
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