Open House: Northgate Pedestrian Bridge
On August 3rd, SDOT is hosting an open house for the Northgate Pedestrian/Bike bridge project:
At the open house:
- See the latest Northgate Ped/Bike Bridge design and get a sense of what it will be like to use the bridge.
- Learn about the route for the Northgate Neighborhood Greenway.
- Get information on other transportation projects and programs in the Northgate area.
- Talk with project staff and share feedback.
Join us
Thursday, August 3
5:30 — 7:30 PM (drop in any time)
Hampton Inn & Suites
9550 1st Ave NE, Seattle
This project is a culmination of years work by transit and walkability advocates, elected officials around the region, and people who live in the neighborhood. It will directly connect the region’s transit spine to an a college, a park, a business district oriented around medical services, and a still-relatively-affordable neighborhood with lots of multifamily housing. If you live nearby, or will use this bridge, show up to show your support, and to make sure the design will work for you.
Verdict on Platform Decals: Meh
Beginning last winter, you may have noticed platform decals in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel attempting nudge new-ish Seattle rail riders to follow the universal etiquette of not blocking the door as people exit. That experiment is over. ST spokesperson Kimberly Reason:
The decals at Westlake were temporarily installed on a six-month trial period to see if they would help separate the bus riders from the Link riders, as we were experiencing crowding and delays at the DSTT platforms from riders gathering at the forward ends of the platforms. Our goal was to create efficiencies around boarding/alighting to ultimately improve performance. Additionally, riders with low vision noted that the high contrast signs at the door openings may be beneficial. The trial period ended last week.
Here’s what we found:
· No real performance efficiencies in dispersing riders across the length of the platform from using the decals were observed.
· Instead, with the roll-out of three-car Link trains, we observed riders naturally moving away from the forward platform and toward the rear for the opportunity to ride on the third car.
· We anticipate any remaining crowding issues will be resolved when buses are removed from the DSTT and between-car Barriers are applied across all DSTT stations next year or two.
Although it’s easy to exaggerate how perfect the etiquette is in other cities, the battle to help riders speed up their own ride continues.
Podcast #42: Splitting the Vote
- Eyman returns (00:35)
- Analyzing our endorsements (08:40)
- Bike share is back (40:35)
- Transit wins in Olympia (47:25)
News Roundup: New Volunteers
- Angle Lake is LEED Gold.
- 216 badly needed housing units in Tacoma, falling apart due to a squabble over parking. It’s a hot real estate market down there.
- Sound Transit needs new volunteers for the Citizen Oversight Panel.
- 300 units coming to Downtown Kent.
- Bikeshare is up and running again.
- Push-to-walk buttons often don’t do anything ($).
- Now Tacoma wants to look at a fast ferry.
- Here is an incredibly useful list of open public comment periods right now.
- Freighthouse Square “90% done.”
- How is Seattle doing on its climate goals?
- Pros and cons of developer impact fees.
- Some calling for Amazon to pay for Metro buses that their workers fill.
- Oregon may start tolling highways.
- Checking in on the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE).
- Seattle commits to $300 million over 18 years in curb cuts work ($) (settlement document). The settlement does not appear to specify a funding source.
- The GHIG (giant hole in ground) next to City Hall might finally develop.
This is an open thread.
The Path to Transit Lane Enforcement
State Legislators have already approved the use of automated traffic cameras to monitor speeds and discourage drivers from running red lights. Why not also use this technology to ticket cars using transit-only lanes?
The efficiency of transit-only lanes hinges on keeping cars out. All it takes is a one impatient car blocking a bus to delay hundreds of commuters. Today, keeping the city’s transit-only lanes car free is contingent on the communal cooperation of drivers. This doesn’t always work too well, especially during rush hour when any inch gained is a win.
“The only way you get consistent enforcement of either bus-only lanes or block the box is automatic enforcement,” Scott Kubly, director of SDOT, told the Seattle Transit Blog during a podcast interview. “If you can build a driverless car I’m pretty sure we can figure out automatic enforcement of any type.”
Currently, police officers have to actually see the violation occur before a ticket can be written. Periodically the city conducts transit-only lane enforcement events, ticketing drivers using bus only lanes or blocking the box at intersections. But manual enforcement, not always practical nor constant, is time intensive, often requiring 6 to 8 police officers plus an area for vehicles to park that doesn’t block traffic while tickets are being written.
Roosevelt RapidRide goes before Council
Last week SDOT released new designs and introduced legislation seeking funding for Roosevelt RapidRide. A culmination of two years of process, the Locally Preferred Alternative SDOT is taking to Seattle City Council, and soon thereafter the FTA, represents some wins and losses for transit riders compared to the design shown at last year’s open houses.
The most exciting news is that Roosevelt BRT, now officially called Roosevelt RapidRide, gets a lot closer to rapid, especially through SLU and the Denny Regrade. In addition to using the existing Stewart BAT Lanes southbound as previously proposed, SDOT intends to invest in new Transit Only Lanes on Virginia St northbound, creating a transit couplet between the 3rd Ave Transit Spine and SLU. Unfortunately, it appears that the transition in the Denny Triangle between the couplet and SLU, such as the short southbound segment on Boren Ave, will have the route go through mixed traffic.
In SLU, the plan is for BAT Lanes in both directions along Fairview Ave, from Valley St to Denny Way. This shared bus/bike lane is a huge improvement compared to last year’s concept that had the BRT route fight through mixed traffic by the Mercer Mess. Continuing the good news into Eastlake, the line is now slated to travel on Transit Only street/car lanes on Fairview Ave between Valley St and Yale Ave.
North of Yale Ave N, the line continues in mixed traffic as previously proposed through the rest of Eastlake and into North Seattle, splitting into a couplet, with queue jumps at unspecified intersections, though presumably similar to the ones explicitly mentioned last year. Importantly, the funding proposal sets the terminus by the future Roosevelt Light Rail station, with no extension from Roosevelt to Northgate in the near future, and SDOT still intends to electrify the route. For bicyclists, the project invests in protected bike lanes throughout Eastlake through Roosevelt, such as along 11th/12th Ave, Eastlake Ave, and parts of Fairview Ave.
The legislation will be heard by the Transportation Committee on July 18th at 2pm. Should the Full Council adopt the Locally Preferred Alternative and accompanying funding measure (this is separate from Move Seattle funds which is already secured), the City can go to the FTA this fall to seek additional grants, with an outcome next summer. If federal funding cannot be secured, the Roosevelt-Downtown HCT project will have to go back to the drawing board for revision. In the mean time, now is the chance to learn more about the project and engage elected officials as they formally consider Roosevelt BRT.
Sound Transit Proposes Station Names For Lynnwood Link
On Thursday, the Sound Transit Capital Committee passed its recommended names for Lynnwood Link’s four stations, until now known as NE 145th, NE 185th, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. The recommendation will be up for final board approval later this month, giving the public a chance to comment one last time on the names.
The proposed names are as follows:
| Temporary Name | Public Suggestion | Recommended Name |
| NE 145th | Jackson Park | Shoreline South/145th |
| NE 185th | Shoreline | Shoreline North/185th |
| Mountlake Terrace Transit Center | Mountlake Terrace | Mountlake Terrace |
| Lynnwood Transit Center | Lynnwood Transit Center | Lynnwood City Center |
Continue reading “Sound Transit Proposes Station Names For Lynnwood Link”
Have You Used Your Democracy Vouchers?
This is the first year of the City of Seattle’s new Democracy Voucher program, created by the City and passed in a 2015 referendum.
You should have received in the mail four vouchers, each worth $25 to a recipient candidate.
You can give as many of your vouchers as you want to each eligible candidate, including giving all four to one candidate, which may make a lot of sense this year.
Only city council candidates and city attorney candidates are eligible to receive democracy vouchers this year. The mayor’s race will be covered by the program starting in 2021. There are two council races on the ballot, in which STB has endorsed Teresa Mosqueda and Lorena González. González is widely expected to win easily. Mosqueda is in a very competitive contest.
Mosqueda’s website gives an address to which you can mail your democracy vouchers.
Answers to questions such as how to request replacement vouchers are available at the City’s website.
You are still free to donate money directly to candidate campaigns, up to $250, if the candidate is partipating in the program, or $500 if the candidate is not.
The primary election is Tuesday, August 1. You should have received your ballot by now. Drop boxes are open 24/7 until 8 pm on election day at many locations. If you send your ballot through the US Postal Service, be sure to affix first-class postage worth at least 49 cents. Accessible voting centers (open to all voters) are open at various locations during limited hours.
STB has also endorsed Jessyn Farrell for Mayor and made endorsements in various other races.