King County Metro announced the immediate closure of the bus stops at 12th and Jackson Street on December 16, citing safety concerns.
“Due to the current daily environment in the surrounding area, our customers are often unable to comfortably use the stops to board or exit,” Metro said in a statement. “As a result of these conditions, Metro made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend serving all the stops at 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in all directions.”
On November 8 last year, a man stabbed five people in the area. The area has long been a gathering place for homeless people in Seattle, as well as a site of drug consumption, drug sales, and informal vending. On November 15 last year, Mayor Bruce Harrell issued an executive order aimed at discouraging “illegal vending,” increasing police enforcement and streamlining the permitting process for vending.
Metro said the closure was temporary, but did not indicate how long it would last.
The following is bus route information from King County Metro:
Affected bus routes 1, 7, 9, 14, 36, 60 and 106 remain on regular routes and are serving riders at other nearby stops along the routes.
Alternate stops are available for riders:
Routes 1, 7, 14 and 106:
- For eastbound service, the nearest stops are at South Jackson Street & 8th Avenue South (for all routes), South Jackson Street and Rainier Avenue South (for Route 14 only), and southbound Rainier Avenue South and South King Street (for routes 7, 106 only).
- For westbound service, the nearest stops are at South Jackson Street and 8th Avenue South and South Jackson Street and Boren Avenue South.
Route 36:
- For north/westbound service, the nearest stops are at South Jackson Street & 8th Avenue South and 12th Avenue South & South Weller Street.
- For east/southbound service, the nearest stops are at South Jackson Street and 8th Avenue South and 12th Avenue South & South Weller Street.
Route 60:
- The nearest stops are at 12th Avenue South and South Weller Street and East Yesler Way and Broadway.
Route 9:
- For northbound service, the nearest stops are at Boren Avenue and East Yesler Way and Rainier Avenue South and South Dearborn Street.
- For southbound service, the nearest stops are at Boren Avenue and East Yesler Way and Rainier Avenue South and South King Street.
