District 10 Como Community Council

Big Changes Coming to Route 3

Big Changes Coming to Route 3

Route 3 Transit Bus Stop

Big Changes Coming to Route 3

Route 3 Transit Bus Stop
This bus stop at Front and Oxford is among those scheduled to be eliminated along Routes 3A and 3B in Como.

Metro Transit is studying significant alterations along Route 3, including in Como, that could be a done deal by the end of summer. Project manager Michael Mechtenberg gave an overview and answered questions at the District 10 Land Use meeting on Wednesday March 3. You can view a recording of his presentation. You can also take this survey to offer feedback to Metro Transit before March 12.

Among changes proposed as part of the “Better Bus Routes” initiative: Eliminating some bus stops. That would, in theory, reduce travel time and increase schedule reliability, Mechtenberg says. More than two dozen of the stops scheduled for elimination are in Como; most of them have low use or serve significantly fewer passengers than adjacent stops, he says.

Here are stops scheduled for elimination and their average weekday ridership, based on pre-pandemic numbers from October 2019.

On Route 3A:

  • Eastbound and westbound stops at Como/Horton and Lexington (4)
  • The eastbound stop at Van Slyke and Como (5)
  • The westbound stop at Chatsworth and West Como Blvd. (3)
  • Eastbound and westbound stops at Como Ave. and Ryde (2)
  • Eastbound and westbound stopsat Como Ave. and Milton (1)
  • The westbound stop at East Como Blvd. across from Rose (1)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Maryland and St. Albans (6)

In addition, during road construction in summer 2020, stops were eliminated at Como and Winston (an average of 4 riders each weekday), Como and Arona (6), and Como and Albert (3).

On Route 3B:

  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Energy Park Drive and the Snelling access ramp (4)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Energy Park Drive near Energy Lane and Spencer Road (14)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Energy Park Drive near Bandana Blvd. E. (27)
  • The eastbound stop at Energy Park Drive at Lexington (0)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Front and Oxford (12)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Front and Ryde (8)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Front and Avon (6)
  • The eastbound and westbound stops at Front and St. Albans (14)

Other changes that are part of the initiative:Relocating some stops to the far side of stoplights, to reduce delays. None of these are in Como.

  • Installing concrete pads and shelters at selected stops, to improve accessibility and rider comfort. In District 10, stops scheduled for new concrete pads on Route 3B:
    • Energy Park Drive: both eastbound stops near the Energy Technology Center, and the westbound stop at Decourcy Circle
    • Front Ave.: the eastbound and westbound stops at Grotto (the eastbound stop also is in line for a new shelter)
  • In District 10, stops scheduled for new concrete pads on Route 3A:
    • Como Ave.: the eastbound stop in Como Park near the Woodland Outdoors Classroom (this stop also would be relocated closer to the existing walking path)
    • East Como Blvd.: the eastbound stop at Maryland
  • Adjusting the route alignment and schedule, though none of the proposed changes are in Como.
  • Expanding the no-parking zone around some bus stops.

These changes would happen whether or not Route 3 gets upgraded to high-frequency Bus Rapid Transit sometime after 2025. Once you read more details of the proposed changes, you can take this survey to offer feedback.

Copyright 2021 Como Community Council. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License