SEATTLE — King County Metro closed several bus stops along 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street near Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, citing safety concerns.
Seven routes are impacted by the closures, which King County Metro will continue until further notice.
“The area of 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street continues to be a location of frequent illegal activity,” according to a Monday announcement from the agency. “This is a safety issue for our riders, transit operators and facilities employees.”
Routes 1, 7, 9, 14, 36, 60 and 106 remain on the regular routes with alternate stops available to replace the 12th and Jackson stops.
Bus riders are “often unable to comfortably use the stops to board or exit” buses in the area due to the environment. The 12th and Jackson area is commonly the site of violence, crime and open drug usage.
Hau Hau Market sits along 12th Avenue South and has been in operation for over 20 years, according to owner Quang Lam.
Lam, who grew up in Seattle and took over the international grocery business from his parents, said he’s seen how safety near the market has declined over the past two decades.
“This area’s been kind of a mess ever since the whole drug problem and navigation center was opened up … Seattle policies [are not] taking care of the drug problem,” he said.
While the rain kept many people off the sidewalks on Tuesday, Lam said sunny or summer days lead to crowds on the sidewalks with people using drugs or selling stolen goods.
“We try to clear our side of the street to keep it as nice as possible for our customers,” Lam said. “The other side – we don’t control that side so I have no idea what’s going on.”
His customers’ loyalty is what keeps the market open, despite the changing environment outside the business’ doors, he said.
“It’s an inconvenience for a lot of our customers that want to make the effort,” he said. “They don’t have that many options in this area for produce … Some people make the effort to come up here from the main part of Chinatown.”
The service is suspended at all stops along 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in all directions, according to Metro.
Metro said service will be reinstated when safety concerns are reduced.
Route alternatives:
- Routes 1, 7, 14 and 106:
- Eastbound service: the nearest stops are at South Jackson Street and Eighth Avenue South (for all routes), South Jackson Street and Rainier Avenue South (Route 14 only), and southbound Rainier Avenue South and South King Street (routes 7, 106 only).
- 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 and Eighth Avenue South and 12th Avenue South and South Weller Street. For east/southbound service, the nearest stops are at South Jackson Street and 8th Avenue South and 12th Avenue South and 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.
- The Seattle Streetcar First Hill route continues to operate at its stop at 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street.