Metro bus service to Mariner games returns after a year's absence

Metro will again be able to provide transportation to Seattle Mariner, Seattle Seahawk and University of Washington Husky football games, under a provision put in a Senate Appropriations bill by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.

Public bus service to the Mariners games was stopped last spring after a Federal Transit Administration ruling that prohibited taxpayer money from being spent for public transit to private events.

Because of the rule, Metro did not provide service to Mariner or Seahawk games this year.

The rule established during the Bush Administration said public transit can't provide bus service to games if private charter operations are able to do so.

But Murray says the charter buses couldn't accommodate disabled fans, drastically increased fees and did nothing to reduce congestion. The senator says she proposed this provision in response to numerous complaints from fans and sports organizations.

In 2008, the FTA gave Metro a reprieve to continue the special shuttle service to Mariner games, but that expired.

Then, the FTA announced that Metro must solicit bids from private bus-charter agencies for all sports and cultural events. Only if there were no bids could Metro continue to provide the service

One company, Starline Transportation, bid on the Mariner service but that was rejected by the Mariners, which called the bid incomplete.

Gladys Gillis, head of Starline, said at the time her company was prepared to take over the service, but the Mariners balked at the price. The Mariners paid Metro a maximum of $150,000 for the season to provide $3 shuttles to the baseball games, while Starline was asking $560,000.

This year, the UW contracted with Starline for service to Husky football games and Starline subcontracted to Metro for some of the service.

Under the federal policy, shuttle service to several events — including Seafair, University of Washington Husky games, the Flower and Garden Show and Seattle Seahawk games — was to be made open to private bus companies.

Metro doesn't make or lose money on the shuttles because event sponsors cover the costs through a fee and passenger fares.

Murray fought for the Metro exemption in the transportation bill because the new FTA rule imposed more costly service provided by private carriers.

"This rule has gotten between fans and an affordable, convenient way to get to games in our region," said Murray. "My provision will not only restore Metro service on game days, it will help reduce congestion throughout the city. Especially now, as our economy struggles, we can't stick fans with steep fares and subpar service on their way to support our local teams."

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com