The 2 in its wired days (Image: CHS)

Last week, CHS wen through the A) and the B) of RapidRide G’s first months of service — including ridership optimism, the foreseeable future of the semi-permanent big orange panels, and the surprise tunnel at 10th and Madison.

Here is C) as CHS checked in with King County Metro and Seattle city officials on the schedule for restoring some key elements of nearby lines removed for the project’s long construction.

C)  WHERE ARE THE WIRES? G’s launch also brought a major overhaul to Metro’s routes around the new RapidRide core that included changes and cuts to dozens of bus lines including moving Route 10 back onto E Pine.

Construction of RapidRide G and the new alignments included the de-electrification of Route 2 and Route 12’s trolleys. Metro’s standard coaches are now plying both routes. Restoring the electric trolleys won’t happen quickly.

Metro now says restringing the wiring removed for the construction of the G line requires “additional trolley poles” to be installed along the lines due to realignment and configuration issues before Metro’s Power Distribution division can install the “trolley overhead catenary wire system.”

Metro says there also configuration issues with the 12’s adjusted route that will delay its re-electrification indefinitely.

Metro’s current schedule for the for Route 2 to “return to trolley service” is during Metro’s Fall 2025 service updates.

But Metro says there is no estimate for when Route 12 will return to trolley service “due to extended work needed for line work at 14th and Pine St.”

Meanwhile, the Route 2 and 12 trolleys sit in the Metro yard waiting to be put back into service.

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