All posts by Nathan Dickey

Transit & Streets

• Kettle Proposes Slashing Seattle Transit Measure, Halting City-Funded Bus Service Growth (The Urbanist)
• Bellevue’s Grand Connection gets a little help from its neighbors (The Seattle Times, $)
• Op-Ed: Why Spokane Needs to Keep Its Transit Momentum (The Urbanist)
• US Subways Build Too Many Cross Passages (Construction Physics)
• Sound Transit’s Bespoke Wayfinding System Is Unnecessarily Baffling (PubliCola).
• Can Seattle move Highway 99 out of [South Park]? (KUOW)
• ‘So be it! See to it!’ Bus shelter mural honors acclaimed author Octavia Butler (Metro Matters)
• How a maintenance crew turned their commutes into a multimodal adventure (WSDOT Blog)
• Seattle’s FIFA construction pause ends, WSDOT’s Revive I-5 resumes this weekend (SDOT Blog)
• Do you visit West Seattle or Queen Anne? Take SDOT’s parking surveys (SDOT Blog)
• Rant and Rave: Couple appreciate help at light rail station (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• High demand, low turnover: SDOT study reveals parking crunch in West Seattle Junction (Westside Seattle)

Land Use & Housing

• Misinformation Runs Rampant as Seattle Council Considers SEPA Appeal Changes (The Urbanist)
• Seattle council considers limit to ability to challenge density plan (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• As downtown Seattle offices empty, city facing years of ‘zombie’ towers (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• I’m homeless in Seattle. Here’s what will get more of us housed (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)

This is an Open Thread.

Reminder: most transit agencies will be running Sunday/holiday service this Friday, July 3, in observation of Independence Day. Check your local agency’s service alerts.

Reminder: To ensure there is enough space on trains, bikes and scooters are not allowed on trains on World Cup match days. There are matches today (July 1) and next Monday (July 6).

Transit & Streets:

• Sound Transit Board Advances West Seattle Link Into Final Design (The Urbanist)
• As Everett weighs transit merger, paratransit riders want same service (Everett Herald)
• Op-Ed: How the Seattle Transit Measure Can Benefit All (The Urbanist)
• Op-Ed: Seattle Needs Car-Free Streets (The Urbanist)
• New Report Outlines Clear Case for Removing SR 99 Through South Park (The Urbanist)
• How Do We Get Transit Champions on Transit Boards? (PubliCola)
• Sound Transit refunds debt for ~$23 million in savings (The Platform)
• Temporary Street Closures Along Aurora Ave N to improve public safety (SDOT Blog)

Land Use & Housing:

• Court of Appeals Ruling Pushes Out Next Phase of Seattle’s Growth Plan ‘Significantly’ (The Urbanist)
• The Good, the Bad, and the UGA-ly as WA Growth Management Act Turns 35 (The Urbanist)
• KCRHA Spins the News that Homelessness Is Growing (PubliCola). Also in The Stranger.

This is an Open Thread.

Reminders: To ensure there is enough space on trains, bikes and scooters are not allowed on trains on World Cup match days.

Local:

• What to expect during RapidRide I construction (Metro Matters)
• Everett Transit Annexation Would Level Up City’s Transit System, Mayor Says (The Urbanist)
• A Seattle Times reader wishes buses were quieter (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• 50 years later, one of Community Transit’s original buses hits the road again (CT News)
• Olympic College in Bremerton is piloting free transit passes for students (KT Headways)
• Data Backs Up Supportive ‘Housing First’ Model in Spite of Federal Attacks (The Urbanist).
• DESC’s Susan Byrnes opines Homelessness is a complex problem. Stop looking for a simple solution (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• Tacoma Sees 62% More Homes Enter Pipeline Following 2025 Zoning Overhaul (The Urbanist)
• Op-Ed: ‘Seattle Atlas’ Can Demystify Zoning, Build Case for More Housing (The Urbanist)
• A review of the impacts of the World Cup on Seattle and the region (CascadePBS)

Borrowing a phrase from Kirk Hovenkotter (Executive Director of Transportation Choices Coalition), today’s Roundtable is about tourist use of Seattle’s mass transit system.

On Monday, Seattle held its first FIFA Men’s World Cup match at “Seattle Stadium” (Lumen Field). Sound Transit, King County Metro, Community Transit, and Pierce Transit each boosted transit service to get tourists and match attendees in, out, and around Seattle as smoothly as possible with the massive influx of international football fans. Sound Transit was the first to announce almost record-setting ridership, estimating that June 15, 2026, was the third-highest ridership day in Link light rail history with 210,000 combined boardings on the Link 1 and 2 Lines, representing an over 37% boost from Link’s quickly-growing rider count.

Reminders: Seattle is hosting 5 more FIFA World Cup games over coming weeks. Keep an eye on your transit agency’s service alerts and be aware there may be crowds at unusual times. Bikes and scooters are banned from Link trains on game days.

This Friday, June 19, is Juneteenth, and Seattle hosting a match between the USA and Australia at noon. Despite the federal holiday, most transit services will operate on normal weekday schedules. Sound Transit offers ways to celebrate freedom, resilience, and the beautiful game.

Transit & Streets:

• Seattle World Cup’s biggest win: Pioneer Square pedestrian zone (KUOW).
• Meet the artist behind the limited-edition World Cup ORCA transit card (The Seattle Times, $)
• Sound Transit launches several upgrades as ‘Summer of Soccer’ begins (The Platform)
• Zahilay Rolls Out Updated Transit Plan, as Budget Woes Cloud Metro’s Future (The Urbanist). Also on Metro Matters.
• Op-Ed: Help Seattle Get the Frequent Transit Network We Deserve (The Urbanist; MASS Coalition op-ed cosigned by STB).
• Amtrak Cascades Speeds Up Trips from Vancouver, BC with Preclearance (The Urbanist).
• Sound Transit Says Reports of Ballard Link’s Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated (The Urbanist).
• King County Transportation District approves new sales tax in close vote (The Kent Reporter, soft $).
• Sound Transit is setting up a pop-up merch shop at International District Station Plaza during World Cup game days (The Platform).
• Tell SDOT what you think about the Pike Place Market vehicle barriers (SDOT Blog). Survey open until June 30.

Reminder: The FIFA World Cup starts tomorrow and the first match in Seattle is Monday, June 15, at noon. Plan for busy buses, trains, roadways, and lots of tourists. SDOT has travel tips. Metro has an SEA26 transit guide. Community Transit offers ways to Ride to Summer Fun. Pierce Transit is running a “Fan Zone Express” shuttle to Puyallup Tribe events.

Local Transit:

• The Gig Harbor Waterfront Connector will run from June 12 to August 23 (Pierce Transit)
• Bus Network Boost from Wilson’s Seattle Transit Measure Comes Into Focus (The Urbanist)
• Op-Ed: It’s Time to Reform Sound Transit (The Urbanist)
• SDOT offering free e-cargo bike permits for Seattle businesses through 2026 to reduce truck traffic (SDOT Blog)
• WA ferries ups service for World Cup in Seattle (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• King County Metro’s public bathroom pilot has started at the Aurora Village and Burien Transit Centers (Mass Transit Magazine). Also on Metro Matters.
• Sound Transit study suggests fare gates at 14 busy stations by 2030 (The Seattle Times, $); additional coverage by The Urbanist.
• Community Transit wants your input on its 6-year Transit Development Plan by July 2.
• King County Metro’s Behavioral Health Support Program supports riders in crisis and helps create a safer transit environment (Metro Matters).
• Join Sound Transit’s Community Oversight Panel (The Platform)
• Sound Transit Loses Megaproject Head in Wake of Major ST3 Update (The Urbanist)

Local News:

• Wilson Proposes Doubling Transit Measure to Beef Up Seattle’s Frequent Network (The Urbanist). Also on the SDOT Blog.
• Tap into Seattle summer: ORCA releases limited-time promotional 3-day pass (Metro Matters). This pass has been in the works since last year.
• Kitsap Transit is piloting a new fare-free shuttle in downtown Bainbridge starting June 13 (KT Headways).
• Behind the Scenes of the Limited-Edition SEA26 ORCA Card (Metro Matters).
• Sound Transit Board OKs Major ST3 Update, Casting Ballard into Limbo (The Urbanist); also on PubliCola.
• Supporting an electric future: University Bridge Trolley Pole Replacement Project (Metro Matters).
• Bellevue Set to Expand ‘Supercharger’ Building Incentive Program to More Neighborhoods (The Urbanist).
• U District event canceled, but some businesses deny having been opposed to the two-day “block party” scheduled for last weekend despite signing a petition to cancel it (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL).
• Coal Creek Trail reveals hidden history of Eastside’s mining towns (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL).
• What’s next for Federal Way theme park Wild Waves? (The Seattle Times, $).

Service Alerts:

• Sound Transit’s Monthly Maintenance program comes to South King County this week, with Link 1 Line service between Angle Lake and Federal Way being replaced by buses from around 9pm to end of service the nights of May 25 to May 27.
• Dual disruption coming to Link this weekend, May 30-31: buses replace all trains between Capitol Hill and Stadium, and replace the 2 Line between South Bellevue and CID.

Local Headlines:

• Community Transit is retiring its last Seattle route, Route 424, on June 13 (CT News)
• Bellevue Poised to Stop Giving Away Curbside Parking for Free (The Urbanist)
• Seattle Times opinion piece on Vision Zero is dangerously misleading (Seattle Bike Blog)
• Hundreds of happy people ride with Mayor Wilson to open Bicycle Weekends (Seattle Bike Blog). Additional coverage by The Urbanist.
• Op-Ed: South King County Deserves the Light Rail Stations It Was Promised (The Urbanist)
• Dan Strauss Restarts Downtown Tunnel Debate on Eve of ST3 Plan Update (The Urbanist)
• West Coast Cities Turn to Vacancy Taxes to Grapple with Housing Crisis (The Urbanist)
• “City Erased” exhibit at UW’s Gould Hall highlights the buildings destroyed by I-5 (Seattle Now & Then)
• Seattle Advances Zoning Package Spurring Towers, Mass Timber, and Passive House (The Urbanist)
• Seattle Social Housing Developer Acquires First Building (The Urbanist)
• Seattle has the No. 1 big city school district. We should act like it (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• Seattle is giving out 100 free Seasonal Café permits for Seattle businesses (SDOT Blog)
• $8.4M in Federal funding to enhance transit service during the FIFA World Cup (PSRC)

Local News:

• With a fresh new name, the Seattle Streets Alliance plans street party to celebrate 15 years (Seattle Bike Blog)
• Reversing Harrell cuts, Parks is now installing the remaining Lake Washington Blvd safety compromise plan (Seattle Bike Blog)
• Op-Ed: Trailhead Direct Transit Is Great. It Can Be Even Better. (The Urbanist)
• New County Transportation Funding Measure Could Shortchange Seattle (The Urbanist)
• Deaths on Washington roads drop again (KUOW)
• Amid light rail money crunch, what now for West Seattle, Ballard, Everett? (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• After TDLE: How Pierce Can Pivot to Harness the Benefits (Transportation Matters)
• Op-Ed: Renton needs commitment from Sound Transit (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• Join SDOT’s Transportation Funding Task Force (SDOT)
• Sound Transit officials chase more money to close $35B funding gap (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)
• RapidRide I Construction Update (Metro Matters)
• The Not-So-New Kids on the Block: Sound Transit’s staff ambassadors are here to help you ride (The Platform)
• First Amtrak Cascades ‘Airos’ Arrive in Seattle for Testing (The Urbanist)
• UW and Challenge Seattle released “Gridlock 2050: A Call to Action” and created new interactive transportation visualization platform (UW Mobility Innovation Center)
• Wilson Rolls Out Four New Public Bathrooms in Pioneer Square (The Urbanist). Also on the SDOT Blog.
• Katie Wilson’s ‘Taller Denser Faster’ Plan Starts to Get Fleshed Out (The Urbanist)
• An elected Sound Transit board would ensure accountability (The Seattle Times, $; free via SPL)

This is an Open Thread. Uncivil comments will be moderated.