Cross-platform interchanges allow much easier transfers between two lines heading in the same direction. Implementing a cross-platform interchange station at SODO station could help connect Line 1 and 3 much better. Though there are some complications to building a cross-platform interchange.
Continue reading “Improving SODO Station with Cross Platform Transfers”The end of 2024 culminated in many King County Metro Bus projects such as new bus cameras, Lynnwood Link restructures, and RapidRide G. This article will briefly explore Metro’s 2025 and near future projects.
From the recent RapidRide prioritization reports, Metro plans to build the RapidRide I line (Renton via Kent to Auburn) by 2027 and the RapidRide J line (Downtown Seattle to U District) by 2027. Notably on January 15, 2025 the RapidRide I line received a $79.7 million dollar federal grant.
| RapidRide | 2023-2024 | 2025-2026 | 2027-2028 | Beyond |
| G Line | Completed | |||
| H Line | Completed | |||
| I Line | Design | Construction | 2027 Completion | |
| J Line | Project Planning and Design | Construction | 2027 Completion | |
| K Line | Project Planning and Design | Design and Construction | Construction | 2030 Completion |
| R Line | Project Planning | Project Planning and Design | Construction | 2031 Completion |
The Denny Way Paving project will repave 12 blocks of Denny Way as well as add curb bulbs, no-turn-on-red signs, 8 new curb ramps, and bus stop changes. The project predominantly focuses on pedestrian safety.
Continue reading “Denny Way Repaving and Future Route 8”Let’s talk about density maps.
The concept of a population density map seems easy: take the population and divide it by the area to retrieve the density. Unfortunately a major problem stands out: what exactly is the area to divide by and how to easily count the population? Traditional density maps suffer from unevenly-sized census blocks that can inflate or deflate the density. Newer density maps created using satellite imagery can be much more accurate with evenly-sized areas calculated throughout the world. They’re much better at highlighting both the density clusters and where transit should go throughout the Seattle metro area.
Continue reading “Exploring Better Density Maps and Link Station Areas”Incremental upgrades to Amtrak Cascades would have a lot of benefits, including for Sounder, the Coast Starlight, and the Empire Builder. It could be done faster and cheaper than ultra high-speed rail, as Reece Martin (RMTransit) argues in a Pacific Northwest video:
Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia have been looking at a new ultra high-speed rail corridor. The Biden administration just provided funding to plan it in more detail as the Urbanist reported. But it will take far more funding and time to build it.
As reported earlier (The Future of Amtrak Cascades), WSDOT published last June the latest version of the Amtrak Cascades Service Development Plan (2024) providing a detailed analysis of service options, needed capital improvements, costs, and a phased implementation plan. The possibilities for expanding Amtrak service both in frequency and speed are exciting.
Continue reading “Amtrak Cascades’ Potential”
Link 1 Line winter reductions start today through February 27 for a variety of maintenance tasks, as outlined in the December 5 Passenger Impact report and covered in the Urbanist, and the Seattle Times ($).
King County Metro (KCM) prepares to update their bus routes for the upcoming Federal Way Link Extension (estimated opening 2026 Spring). View their website www.southlinkconnections.com and take the survey by February 2025.
Continue reading “South Link Connections”
The Chinatown 5th Avenue Shallow Diagonal (labeled CID-2a) station has returned as a potential implementation. Most notably it appears to be the only CID station alternative remaining that is both constructible at a reasonable cost and has all three Link lines at one convenient place for transfers. The other 5th Avenue shallow alternatives had community objections due to construction impacts, 4th Avenue shallow alternative faced construction challenges next to BNSF tracks, and finally the currently Sound Transit Board ‘preferred’ CID N/S alternative forces one to transfer at Pioneer Square.
There was relatively little discussion on the 5th Avenue Shallow Diagonal alternative when all the 5th Avenue alternatives were sidelined by community concerns in 2022-2023. It’s been quite some time since the diagrams were released in 2022 and many of the diagrams were in a 100+ page pdf so below is a brief recap with more details from the WSBLE Appendix J Ballard drawings. Additionally how easy or hard to transfer between the two lines will be discussed as well.
Continue reading “Chinatown 5th Avenue Shallow Diagonal Station”
Bellevue City Council met late November and were shown a presentation for the locally preferred alternative by King County Metro for RapidRide K route. Previous alternatives for RapidRide K around Bellevue were discussed in July 2024, while the alignments in Kirkland were mostly already decided.
Continue reading “RapidRide K Winter Updates”The November 14 system committee largest topic was about the CID station selection. However, there were plenty of other news regarding Redmond Link Extension, East Link Extension, Tacoma Link Extension, Stride BRT and at-grade crossing improvements
The full meeting video is on YouTube note it is 2 hours long, but the main updates are in the first 10 minutes. Minutes are included in the header.
Continue reading “Sound Transit Updates November 14 and Dec 6”