The Seattle Department of Transportation is asking for feedback on draft design concepts it’s created for West Seattle Link Extension stations, seemingly based on the assumed alignment of an aerial station at Delridge, a retained-cut station at Avalon, and an underground station at Alaska Junction.
The designs and notable concepts featured in the survey are summarized below.
Continue reading “SDOT seeking feedback on WSLE station street concepts”This is an open thread.
On April 27, the “starter” segment of the 2 Line opened on the Eastside, connecting South Bellevue to the Microsoft campus in southwest Redmond. Prior to its opening, the line was expected to attract somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 riders ($). As Sherwin Lee noted in September, ridership forecasting is for the line is complicated by the fact it serves a mix of existing commuter destination and new markets undergoing changes in land use and density. The following week, Sherwin rode after the celebratory ridership had ended, observing marked increased in use of the South Bellevue garage but relatively light use otherwise.
Continue reading “First Month of the 2 Line”Ever since the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure was being assembled, the West Seattle Link Extension has been a contentious project. Frank Chiachiere wrote in 2016: “not since the days of the Monorail has a rapid transit extension stirred up so much debate amongst the armchair planners.” Transit advocates have long known the project would be expensive and difficult, but for an extension that was strongly demanded by Seattle leaders and definitively approved by ST3 voters, why is it still so controversial? Let’s look at how we got here, starting with a brief history of how the current project came to be, and think about where we should be going.
Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30); RapidRide G (September 14)
WA State Ferries holding public meetings regarding the entire ferry system, via Zoom at noon on Monday, June 17, and at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18
RapidRide G passes 90% completion milestone. Service is scheduled to start with Metro’s Fall service change on September 14, 2024.
Sound Transit’s monthly Capital Programs report for April is out.
Sound Transit’s Board officially lowers farebox recovery goals and opens the door to fare capping.
SDOT wants your input on street concept planning around future West Seattle Link Extension stations.
Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 53”This is an Open Thread.
Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30). Video of testing at Shoreline North.
It’s Ride Transit Month (and Pride Month). Join the Transit Riders Union, Seattle Subway, and the Transportation Choices Coalition tonight at 5:30pm for the Ride Transit Month Social, located at Olmstead in Capitol Hill.
Sound Transit’s Fare Ambassadors begin platform payment checks.
Pierce Transit invites public comment on its proposed 2024-2029 Transit Development Plan. See our series last week for comment inspiration.
Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 52”From 7:00 to 8:30pm this evening (June 3), at the Haller Lake United Methodist Church (13055 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125), Colleen Echohawk will facilitate an election forum featuring Position 8 candidates Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Saunatina Sanchez, and interim incumbent Tanya Woo.
The forum will focus on both highly localized issues related to the 130th Street station, a new Lake City Community Center and safety on the Aurora Avenue, to citywide concerns like affordable housing, public safety, homelessness, and climate change.
The forum can be viewed in person or on Zoom. You can submit questions here, and see questions asked by others in the community, here.
The organizers (a group of North Seattle resident volunteers) recommend wearing masks to protect vulnerable members of the community. The church is accessible via Metro Routes 345 and 346, with stops 0.5 to 0.3 miles away, respectively, along Meridian Ave N.
As formally announced on Friday, previewed by The Urbanist on Thursday, and briefly reviewed on PubliCola on Saturday, Seattle City Council Transportation Committee Chair Rob Saka (District 1) is proposing an amendment to the 2024 Transportation Levy adding $100 million across several categories for a total levy amount of $1.55 billion over eight years, and adding more oversight processes. Tomorrow, the Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on the 2024 Transportation Levy will meet twice to discuss the proposed levy and this amendment: first at 9:30am, and then again at 4:30pm for a Public Hearing of the proposed Levy.
At its 9:30am meeting, the Committee will receive an overview of the City’s property taxing authority, (“Property Taxes 101”), hear a proposal from SDOT for a “Transportation Funding Task Force” which would spend 2025-2026 working on recommendations for improving stability and efficacy of transportation funding, and review the Transportation Levy including the proposed amendment. The 4:30pm meeting is tagged as a “Public Hearing” although public comment will be taken at both meetings.
The proposal adds funds for sidewalks, a “freight program”, EV charging, and reportedly includes language to increase oversight of Levy projects by not only the Levy Oversight Committee, but the City Council itself.
Continue reading “More Money and Oversight for Transportation Levy”This is an Open Thread.