News Round-Up

Here’s a bunch of links, none of which need a post in their own right, but worth reading.

• This Crosscut piece details how Light Rail is being considered in the effort to update the City’s neighborhood plans. It’s a bit technical and not focused on development, but still interesting. 
• Pierce County has term limits, which means Sound Transit supporter John Ladenburg is leaving office – he’s running for State Attorney General against long-time light rail opponent Rob McKenna – so there’s going to be a new Pierce County Exec. This post from the News Tribune lists the candidates’ positions on Proposition One.
• Taxi fares have gone up in Seattle again, from $2 a mile to $2.50 a mile. Fares from the Airport to the Downtown hotel district have gone from $28 to $32.
• There’s a meeting on side-walks on Mercer street set for Monday. I’ve always felt that Mercer was one of the worst streets for pedestrians, and anywhere near SR-99 in South Lake Union/Uptown is barely walkable.
• The engineer in the Metro Rail crash in Southern California was definitely texting around the time of the crash. Goes to show it’s never save to operate any motor vehicle while texting.
• This article from the DJC ($) notes that the City is looking at how parking is used around light rail stations. Visit the City’s parking near light rail page for more info.
• Door Knockers are needed Saturday for a Mass Transit Now event in Bellevue, details here:
  

  Please join us this Saturday, October 4 at 10:00am in the parking lot of the Safeway store located at: 1645 140TH Ave. N.E., Bellevue, WA 98005.
  There will a short training and an opportunity to ask questions. Then, pairs will be sent to nearby neighborhoods to get out the vote on Prop. 1!

  If you are able to come for a few hours on Saturday, please contact Rebecca@masstransitnow.org so we can prepare for canvassing teams.