Calling All Seattle-Area Public Transit Experts

February 1, 2010 7:21 PM

Asking-for-a-friend-filter: A friend is flying into Sea-Tac Airport on Friday (2/5/10) around 11:00 AM. She needs to get to an address in Snoqualmie (around the corner of Denny Peak Dr. SE and SE Ridge St.) that afternoon. What is the best and least hassle-y way for her to do this via public transit?

Complicating factors: on previous visits, she just rented a car and drove the 25 or so miles, but has been recovering from a traumatic brain injury within the last 6 months and is not comfortable driving just yet. Because of this factor, it also would be really nice if confusing transfers were limited.

Just getting into Snoqualmie itself somehow and then taking a taxi to her ultimate destination would be an okay option if necessary.

Thanks!

posted by charmedimsure to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Best answer: Her best bet is to take a Shuttle service from the Airport to Snoqualmie. It will take her directly to her destination. If it were me, I would spring for the $40 or whatever...

If she is truly wants/needs to take public transit, her best bet is to take the Sound Transit Light Rail from the airport to downtown Seattle.

From downtown she can catch the 215, a commuter bus that runs from Downtown Seattle to what looks like about a mile from her destination. The only thing is she would have a couple of hours to kill downtown before the first bus left, around 3:40. When getting Snoqualmie, according to Google Maps, she would have to walk half a mile. I'm unfamiliar with the streets in that part of Snoqualmie and if they they are pedestrian friendly.

The link for the Metro Route is here:

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/cftemplates/show_map.cfm?BUS_ROUTE=215&DAY_NAV=W

Here is the timetable:

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/schedules/s215_0_.html
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 7:45 PM on February 1, 2010

Best answer: At that time of day, Google Maps suggests:

1. Link Light Rail to International District Station
2. Walk to 5th Ave S and S Jackson St: Take Sound Transit 554 to Issaquah Park and Ride
3. Walk to Bay 4: Take Metro Transit 209 to Snoqualmie

I'm very pro-transit, but this looks like quite a trek honestly. Estimated time: approximately 2 h 10 min, and you still have to get to your final destination somehow (which looks like more of a walk than I would want to do). I would look for a shared ride airport shuttle service instead.

On preview, yeah, if you're willing to wait, you can take the 215 straight out there from downtown.
posted by grouse at 7:50 PM on February 1, 2010

Snoqualmie is pretty far out of the way. I would take public transit to Bellevue - Eastgate P&R then take a taxi.
posted by wongcorgi at 9:35 PM on February 1, 2010

Best answer: Snoqualmie isn't out of the way. It is the destination. Don't stop at the Eastgate P&R.
Both King County Metro Transit, (http://metro.kingcounty.gov/) and Sound Transit, http://www.soundtransit.org/, provide public bus service in this area. Metro route 215 serves Seattle and Snoqualmie but not at the time you want. Metro route 214 and Sound Transit route 554 serve Seattle and Issaquah which is in the direction of Snoqualmie. Metro route 209 serves Issaquah and Snoqualmie. (You want the Issaquah Transit Center in downtown Issaquah and not the Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride.) Bus service in Snoqualmie is provided by Snoqualmie Valley Transportation, http://www.snoqualmievalleytransportation.org/ .
The Shuttle Express, http://www.shuttleexpress.com/index.html, provides transportation from the Seattle airport to Snoqualmie. I have not used this service.
I'm a bus rider who lives near Snoqualmie; let me know if you have any questions.
posted by llc at 10:25 PM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Great- thanks, everyone!
posted by charmedimsure at 8:43 AM on February 2, 2010

PROTIP: One Bus Away will allow your friend to get mostly-accurate real-time information about when the next buses are coming. She can call it on the phone using the linked instructions, or use the web site directly if she has a smartphone.
posted by grouse at 9:11 AM on February 2, 2010