New bus service for Cedar Mill neighborhoods
by Susan Rosenthal

Line 50 Route Map click to enlarge

A significant change is coming in the bus service in our area. At present the Leahy Rd neighborhood is served by bus Route 60, and the rest of Cedar Mill is served by the Cedar Mill Shuttle. Trimet is facing a significant deficit because of the poor economy, and these routes were among a number of routes system-wide that were deemed not sustainable due to low ridership and high fixed costs.

In early 2009, Trimet announced plans to discontinue service on both lines. Neighborhood residents worked closely with Trimet to develop an alternative that would assure continued service in our area. Trimet decided to consolidate both routes into Route 50, a fixed route service that will serve the area on weekday mornings and afternoons/evenings.

Service on the new route will begin on Sept 14, 2009. In the morning, the first run will leave Sunset Transit Center (STC) at 5:31 am and the last run will leave at 8:42 am. In the evening the first run will leave STC at 3:06 pm and the last run will leave at 6:50 pm. In the morning the route will head out to Cedar Mill via Barnes - Cedar Hills Blvd – Cornell - Saltzman - Thompson – McDaniel - 119th Ave - Cornell, and then serve the Leahy Rd area on107th Ave - Leahy - Taylor - Valeria View - Barnes - STC. In the evening the bus will follow the same route in reverse order, as the Leahy Rd neighborhood will be served first. Each run of the 50 will take approximately 35 minutes.

The new service offers several advantages to local residents. The existence of a visible Trimet bus along a fixed route of service that has marked stops may attract new riders. A set schedule will help people plan their transportation. The new route contains more stops along Leahy Rd than the present Route 60, which alleviates some safety concerns about walking along Leahy Rd. Additionally there are numerous bus stops along most of the route, as safety is a concern in these neighborhoods with few sidewalks. The route will provide new service to SW Taylor St and SW Valeria View Rd. The route will provide a direct connection between Leahy Rd and the Cedar Mill business district, eliminating the need to take two buses.

Download a printable PDF file of the route map and schedule

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