Job Sprawl

Posted on by Andrew Smith
more sprawl
Suburban Sprawl in Florida, photo by .res

This recent paper from the Brookings Institute’s Elizabeth Kneebone on so-called “Jobs Sprawl” is both interesting and slightly maddening. The “Jobs Sprawl” analysis is an attempt to measure the percentage of jobs in an employment area located near downtown (within three miles of the “center city”, defined arbirtrarily), sort of near downtown (three to ten miles away) and not at all near downtown (ten or more miles away). The paper notes that since the last study, in 2001, more jobs are being located outside of downtowns nationwide.

Seattle ranks as the tenth most “decentralized” major employment center, that is, the major employment with the tenth highest percentage of jobs located ten miles or more from the city center. In 2006, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area had approximately 1,461,291 jobs, and 19.1% were within three miles of the center of the city, 24.8% were between three and ten miles away, and 56.0% were more than ten miles away. Seattle is also “rapidly decentralizing”, since the number of jobs being created more than ten miles away from the “center city” has grown much faster than the number of jobs within three miles of the heart of the city.

While that’s interesting, I have a serious problem with this analysis in that the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area has more than one downtown. Any job downtown Tacoma or Downtown Bellevue, since both are more than ten miles away from Third and Seneca or whatever is the center of Downtown Seattle, are “decentralized”, which means “job sprawl” according to Kneebone. And similarly any job in the University District is more than miles away from that point and is thus not centralized or decentralized. Having many centers may mean Seattle is “decentralized” – in fact that may be the very definition of “decentralized” – but that’s a pretty crummy definition of “jobs sprawl”. A job in North Bend is sprawled-out, a job in Downtown Tacoma or Downtown Bellevue certainly is not. 

The Austin Contrarian has some other problems with the study, including a problem with the three and ten mile ‘polls’ used.

King County Funds Its Own Projects

Posted on by John Jensen

Sometimes we hear about Seattle and King County getting all of the transportation money from the rest of the state. Of course this sort of politics of resentment we might expect from the rest of the state, but is it a fair criticism? No:

By the most comprehensive measure, for every $1 King County residents contribute in taxes they’ll get a buck back through investments by the state, county and cities in the county between 2004-2017.

Pew, that’s a relief! I’m sure Rep. Roach is over it by now.

Olympia vs. Sound Transit

Posted on by Frank Chiachiere

This post originally appeared on Orphan Road.

In most normal, semi-sane democracies, politicians see something popular and trip over themselves to get behind it. “There go my people, I must find out where they are going so I can lead them,” goes the old saying.

Indeed, as one examines recent light rail successes in the American West (Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver), a pattern emerges: the state governments in all these cities saw their role as a willing partner to the urban transit agency. They chose to help it, to foster it, not to thwart it at every possible turn.

But as Andrew documents in great detail, this is simply not the case when it comes to our state representatives and Sound Transit. You’d think they would have got the message by now that their constituents love Sound Transit (“North Korea-style margins” is one of the funniest phrases I’ve read in a while) and want more of it. Bizarrely, this has not been the case.

When East Link is finally built out, and the ST2 map is complete, the resulting constellation of connected stations will resemble nothing so much as an extended middle finger, pointed South toward the capitol building that tried endlessly — and failed — to strangle it in the crib.

Amtrak Stimulus plus HSR Preview

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Niantic River Railroad Bridge
Niantic River Bridge, photo by DM Coxe

The Associated Press reports that Amtrak is spending $50 million on projects in the Pacific Northwest. The majority, $35 million, will go to a new maintenance facility and a new storage and employee building near King Street Station. You can see the full list nationwide list, totaling $1.3 billion here at Amtrak’s website.

The bulk of the money nationwide, 57%, is going to the Northeast Corridor Acela line. The most expensive project on the list is a $100 million bridge over the Niantac river in Connecticut. The current bridge is not aging well, and replacing it is the only way Amtrak can maintain its current 100 mph speed there. $40 million is going to a new commuter rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York.

Later this month, the Federal Railroad Administration will release a plan documenting how they plan to spend the $8 billion in high speed rail cash from the stimulus package. A couple preview videos below the fold:

Continue reading “Amtrak Stimulus plus HSR Preview”

Is the Problem Auto-Dependency or Suburbia?

Posted on by John Jensen
Atlanta. Photo by Flickr user Nrbelex.
Atlanta. Photo by Flickr user Nrbelex.

Where someone lives is often a deeply personal choice. Sometimes it’s not so much personal as circumstantial (drive-til-you-quality) or temporal (no traffic! [not yet, anyway]). So questioning where someone lives is destined to create contention — we all know that.

If I criticize a portion of Bellevue’s cul-de-sac development, a commenter is just as likely to deride my urban elitism as seriously analyze the serious consequences of that development. And true, Seattle itself is hardly the best example of perfect development. We can’t get density on major rail corridors without seeing “threatening” images of Hong Kong.

Read on after the jump…

Continue reading “Is the Problem Auto-Dependency or Suburbia?”

I-90 Move Just the Latest

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Capitol Lake
State Capitol Building, Olympia

So State House Speaker Frank Chopp may want to take a billion or two from Sound Transit. What’s new? The legislature has been going after Sound Transit money for years now, and this is just the latest attempt in a long line of attempts. I’ve been writing about the state’s transportation funding troubles for two years now, and much of this story will be familiar to long-time readers. Whole history (as I see it) below the fold.

Continue reading “I-90 Move Just the Latest”

Goldy: Chopp Behind R8A Shenanigans

Posted on by Martin H. Duke
Frank Chopp
Frank Chopp

Update: Andrew points out that Ben made a fairly similar point two weeks ago.

As we’ve reported on the R8A saga, we’ve focused on the agency of Mercer Island Representative Judy Clibborn, based on her sponsorship of various legislative items, past statements skeptical of Link on I-90, position as chair of the House Transportation Committee, and service to a constituency that has a vocal minority opposed to light rail.

Today, however, Goldy at Horsesass reports that the ultimate culprit may be House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43rd), in an attempt to raid Sound Transit funds to build his preferred (expensive) SR 520 bridge option.

I can’t say anything intelligent about Goldy’s sources in Olympia, but I can add that the political economy of this makes a lot of sense, in spite of the North Korea-style margins by which Prop 1 won in Chopp’s District.  After all, you have a fairly large number of voters and interest groups clustered around (or with a view of) the Montlake interchange, and 100% of them care very strongly about what that interchange looks like while having little regard for costs incurred by the state.  Moreover, a larger constituency just wants to get the SR520 bridge done, and the more money that’s thrown at the project the quicker that’s going to happen.

Against that, you have a relatively diffuse group in the district that’s excited to take light rail to the Eastside.  If this kind of thing had flown under the radar, a delay to East Link may very well have been framed as Sound Transit incompetence, while important 43rd district interests would have gotten their goodies.  All in all, it’s a win-win for Chopp and a loss for regional voters and taxpayers who want a comprehensive transit system.

Goldy’s right, however, that any shakedown of ST by WSDOT is a straight transfer of dedicated transit funds to roadbuilding, and should be viewed as such.

What is Light Rail?

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Route 48 and Central Link
48 and Link, photo by Oran

Cap’n Transit described diesel multiple units (DMU) as “light rail” in a post about the Federal Railroad Administration’s relaxing of safety rules that mostly prevented DMUs from operating on freight lines. A DMU is a passenger rail car with a built-in diesel engine, so it doesn’t need to be pulled by a dedicated locomotive. Similarly, an electric multiple unit, or EMU is a passenger car with a built in electric motor; all Link cars are EMUs.  The Cap’n Transit post struck me as odd: I had never heard of DMUs describe das “light rail” before. It got me thinking: what exactly does “light rail” mean?

Continue reading “What is Light Rail?”

Why can’t I take a shuttle to the Mariners game?

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Safeco Field
Safeco Field, photo by Fusion Panda

You may remember that George Bush, Mary Peters, et al. implemented an immensely stupid rule that transit agencies cannot provide game-day service to sporting events if any private operator is interested in providing service. It doesn’t matter whether a private operator actually has a contract to provide service, as long as one is interested in bidding, public transit agencies cannot provide the service.

Fine, but Bush hasn’t been president since January, and there are still no buses for Mariners games. (H/T to Frank Friend) Hey Obama, LaHood, can I get a bus to a baseball game yet for chrissakes?

On a vaguely related note, I went to a game at Hiroshima’s brand-new Mazda Stadium. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp beat the Chunichi Dragons 2-0 (Kenta Maeda threw a shutout on his 21st birthday and went 3 for 4 from the plate). The stadium is beautiful, and what’s especially cool is that you can see Shinkansen, normal JR trains and Hiroshima’s streetcars all from the stadium, since it’s right next to Hiroshima station. Pretty cool! For some reason, in my mind at least, trains and baseball just go together.

What is Active Traffic Management?

Posted on by Adam Bejan Parast
I-5 NB ATMS
I-5 NB ATMS

Active Traffic Management (ATM) is cutting edge (at least in the US) implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). So then what is ITS? ITS is the application of technology (sensor, communication, processing, and dissemination) to the transportation field. It is an umbrella term that includes many specific technology such as Transit Signal Priority or Advanced Parking Management Systems.

Continue reading “What is Active Traffic Management?”

Guest Post Series: Counting Down to Link

Posted on by Guest Contributor

by GREG NICKELS, Mayor of Seattle and Chair of Sound Transit Board

bassett_lr_planning4

There are those who say the debate over light rail in Seattle began in November of 1851, with the landing of the Denny party at Alki. Most, however, point to the defeat of the 1968 and 1970 Forward Thrust mass transit bond issues (did you know Seattle’s federal match went to Atlanta to build MARTA?) as the time when political courage failed and mass transit first became political road-kill for a generation.

My involvement began in 1988, when two young County Councilmembers (Cynthia Sullivan and me) sponsored an advisory ballot asking King County voters whether we should plan for, finance and build a light rail system with construction to start in 1995 and the first stations to open in 2000. That November nearly 70% of the voters said yes and broke the political logjam created with the defeat of Forward Thrust in 1968 & 1970.

Following the 1988 election the Times ran a Brian Bassett cartoon showing a forlorn figure on a hand pump rail car with the name “Light Rail Planning”. The forlorn figure is saying “Well…It’s a start” – I purchased the original from Brian and have posted it here.

The long awaited (!!!) line that began with the 1988 Advisory Ballot opens this summer. Sound Transit opens Tukwila, Rainier Beach, New Holly, Columbia City, Mount Baker, Beacon Hill, SODO, Stadium District, ID, Pioneer Square and 2 Downtown Stations in fewer than 100 days!

To celebrate this history making milestone I will be posting frequently with facts, figures, a little history and a few photos (maybe even a map or two) as we count down to opening day.

House Funds R8A, Sets Stage for East Link Negotiations

Posted on by John Jensen

Earlier this month we asked readers to reach out to legislators to make sure that Link light rail to the Eastside was able to be delivered on schedule. The proposed budget had stripped funding work on two-way HOV lanes across I-90 (called R8A), work which is necessary to build East Link on schedule. It looks like your emails worked!

The House came through today and funded R8A by an amendment (pdf) offered by Rep. Clibborn (D-Mercer Island). Clibborn, chair of the Transportation Committee, had earlier shifted funding away from this budget but told Seattle Transit Blog that her change of heart came about when she “found out that we needed to do the engineering in this budget in order not to get behind on the R8A ramp.”

Also adopted was Rep. Simpson’s amendment clarifying the negotiating process (pdf) for light rail use of the I-90 center lanes. This amendment was offered in contrast to dramatic language in the proposed budget which excluded Sound Transit from the valuation of those lanes. Simpson’s (D-47th) amendment brings Sound Transit in the process, states that negotiations on these lanes must conclude this year, and doesn’t prevent WSDOT from signing the final EIS. A much better piece of legislation is the result. (We’ll have more on these lanes in the coming weeks.)

This blog has long made the case that Rep. Clibborn has long been opposed to Link crossing I-90, so we hope that this is the first sign of a House that is friendlier toward transit — perhaps due to advocacy pressure. One legislator described our outreach campaign as “a deluge of emails set off by bloggers,” but we think it’s important that transit advocates let the state know how important voter-approved light rail projects are to the region.

UW Commuting Costs May Increase

Posted on by Martin H. Duke
dailyuw.com
dailyuw.com

University of Washington Commuter Services is proposing a drastic increase in the cost of the ubiquitous U-PASS.

The monthly cost to students would nearly double from $16.67 to $33. For staff, cost would increase from $23.33 to $40/month.

As the U-PASS allows unlimited rides on Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, and Kitsap Transit, this is still a tremendous deal.  An equivalent PugetPass would cost $171 and not get you anything on Kitsap Transit.  Of course, in practice most students and staff don’t take the Sounder all the way from Tacoma (maximum fare of any non-ferry transit trip), and therefore would purchase a cheaper pass.  A peak-hour commuter within Seattle would pay $72 for his or her pass, and $80 after the scheduled February 2010 Metro fare increase.

SOV parking passes would also increase from $95 to $120 a month, and the daily maximum in the lots would climb from $12 to $15.

The proposed increase is a result of widespread fare increases, a higher payment to Metro based on ridership, city parking taxes, and an effort to manage demand due to the loss of some campus parking.

There will be a public hearing Wednesday, April 22, from 12:30-2:30pm in Room 310 of the HUB.  There is also a web comment form.

Seattle Times Gets The Water Taxi

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Seattle Water Taxi
Water Taxi, Photo by a_time2flk

The Seattle Times has picked up on the fact that the West Seattle Water Taxi (aka the Elliot Bay Water Taxi) is one of the best and cheapest travel/outdoors recreation activities in the city, by putting information about the taxi in the “Travel/Outdoors” section of the paper. The water taxi runs from Pier 55 to Seacrest Park in West Seattle, a couple hundred feet from Alki Beach. It’s $3 or free with a Metro Pass. It’s an awesome activity to do with out-of-town guests, and an event better one to send your out-of-town guests on when you are at work or just want them out of your hair for a day.

I’ve got a couple of out-of-town guest groups crashing with me this summer, and I am definitely sending them on a trip to West Seattle via the Taxi.

Signs of Coming Linkpocalypse

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Ticket Vending Machine in Westlake Station
Ticket Vending Machine, Westlake Center

Apparently, they have installed TVM’s at Westlake Station (I’m still in Japan so I cannot verify). Here’s photographic proof, via Brian Bundridge. The photo was taken with a cellphone, so apologies for the poor quality. Are you excited yet?

Michigan Central Terminal to Be Demolished?

Posted on by Andrew Smith
Michigan Central Station
Photo by ...Wes
P1060425
Photo by Wyliepoon

The Detroit City Council has voted to raze the along-abandoned Michigan Central Terminal in Detroit. Click here for more images of the beautiful Beaux-Arts building. King Street and Union Station – both beautiful – look like barns compared to MCT. Very sad. And people in Seattle get their knickers in a knot over a Denny’s.

Here’s a site full of photos of abandoned buildings, including glorious art-deco skyscrapers. Here’s a photo essay of 100 abandoned homes in Detroit (there are tens of thousands of them), including a couple of formerly lovely Edwardian townhomes.

Another great train station was destroyed in 1963, the Old Neo Classical Pennsylanvia Station in Midtown Manhattan (more photos here). That was under different circumstances, the train station was stilling being used, though ridership was down at the time. A New York Times Editorial lamented then:

Any city gets what it admires, will pay for, and, ultimately, deserves. Even when we had Penn Station, we couldn’t afford to keep it clean. We want and deserve tin-can architecture in a tinhorn culture. And we will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed.

I think this is one of those times for judgement.