If you look at the UW station plans, you’ll see that the station will have one exit facing North with a ramp toward main campus and another facing toward the hospital. It’s deep underground because it has to cross the cut, which means it needs to go under the water. I love the design, especially how the ramp faces the mountain as you walk to the station, but the one bad part of the design is it’s distance from Montlake bridge where the buses crossing 520 ride. Small problem. 
Bicycles, South Lake Union, plus others
A lot of noise has been made about how the Streetcar tracks in South Lake Union are bad for bikes. So I went down there yesterday on my bike and I have to say, I didn’t have that problem. I guess if you are riding along the same area where the streetcar is, it could be dangerous to be in the tracks, but why not go one block down? I only crossed the tracks at a 90-degree angle.
Oddly, there are a ton of other, old tracks in the street down there, and they don’t have this problem, I wonder why only the Streetcar tracks get the complaints.
On a completely unrelated note, I went to a Thunderbirds hockey game yesterday and learned that the team is moving to Kent and will play in a venue across the street from Kent Station. They play at Key Arena now, but it seems that next year you’ll be able to take sounder down to Kent for T-Birds games. Oddly, the T-Birds play in a division that has Everett in it, and Everett and Kent are both about the same distance from Seattle, so if the T-Birds move down to Kent, they ought to be called the Kent Thunderbirds, not the Seattle Thunderbirds. At least that’s my opinion.
UW Station Plans, 520, Eastside Rail
There’s an article here about the UW station plans which were on display yesterday. Look forward to a post from me with more on the station design.
Seattle Times ran this op-ed from Theodore Lane and Bill Mundy about how 520 is the right corridor for light rail rather than I-90. I agree a line on there makes sense, but it doesn’t make more sense than one on 520. First, it doesn’t go through Downtown Bellevue, which has nearly as many workers (about 100,000) by itself as the “SLU/University/Redmond” area which has 113,000. Plus, you still hit Redmond and you hit more residents along I-90. Plus, the ST2 plan goes through this, though I guess the 520 proposal could too if it were built right.
Lastly, Ron Sims has let the Port buy the BNSF line. He wanted the tracks torn up, mostly because the thinks they would need to be replaced, and also because it makes it worse for bicyclists. The value of the route for transit has been questioned because it goes pretty far from the major employment centers there.
Train to the Mountain
I’m finally getting around to posting information regarding this project. I was unable to attend the meeting but I did get some notes from it. It has hit some curve balls and there is concern on the train departing Tacoma after the demise of the Spirit of Washington Dinner train and the Golden Pacific Railroad both which suffered with lack of destination.
Upgrading the Rail from Tacoma to Elbe would cost around $11 million dollars and from Tacoma to Ashford would be around $24 million dollars. This would use the existing Tacoma Rail locomotives and 3 passenger cars they have.
Here are some key notes;
• The train is feasible as long as the one-way travel time to Paradise is three hours or less.
• In order to be successful, the train would need to capture just 1 percent of the roughly 1.5 million visitors the national park receives each year. Assuming this is around 15,000 passengers a year.
• Upgrading the track to Elbe would cost just $11 million, while extending it to Ashford would cost approximately $24 million. In either case, visitors would ride a shuttle bus to Paradise.
• Tacoma Rail should start looking for a third-party operator interested in running the train, and Tacoma officials should continue to seek federal funding to pay for track improvements.
• A tourist train would provide park visitors with an environmentally sensitive alternative to the automobile.
By upgrading the rail from Tacoma to Elbe/Park Jct. and the rail recently upgraded from Mineral to Morton would improve the timeliness of freight rail to Morton.
It was also made public that the Mountain Division has $4.55 million in outstanding loans from the city’s general fund, and is asking for an additional $1.7 million. In addition, it has $2 million of outside debt. This is not including the cost for repairing and/or rebuilding the Nisqually River Bridge which would restore freight service into Morton and the 3 lumber mills looking for rail service.
There is also talk of having Boeing getting rail service into Fredrickson for the Next Generation 737’s coming around in 2012.
On top of all of this, there is study out for a $72.5 million dollar trail from Freighthouse Square to Elbe. Who and why would somebody be crazy enough to ride this is beyond me but it would follow the rail corridor into Elbe.
Train to the Mountain Article
[url]http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/tacoma/story/221207.html[/url]
Trail to the Mountain Article
[url]http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/218562.html[/url]
City of Tacoma backs Elevated Sounder routing
http://www.thenewstribune.com/front/topstories/story/227321.html
The City of Tacoma has voted 8-0 on their support on the elevated railway crossing over Pacific Avenue in Downtown Tacoma. This will allow Amtrak and Sounder serve to use the Sound Transit corridor between Freighthouse Square and Nisqually (Lakewood for Sounder)
This link was supposed to open in 2001 but political and businesses have delayed the design along with seeking additional funding for the bridge.
Funding brings up a good question considering Sound Transit does not have the additional money for the rail link and over pass at least according to the Open House at Freighthouse Square.
The City of Tacoma also wants “air rights” by which would allow the City to build a “lid” similar to the Convention Center over I-5.
Check out the article for more information.
Gregoire plans to spend $100 million for 3 new ferries
There are positives and negatives to all of this but this will help the businesses and residences of Port Townsend greatly.
The Positives – Gregoire’s Plan
The Negatives – Seattle Times
Port Townsend – Seattle Ferry Holiday Ferry Schedule
Light Rail, Jim Ellis and the ST board
Streetcars and buses are great, but the we still need real rapid transit and in this region that means light rail. As we know, the Sound Transit Board is meeting today to discuss the future for light rail, the main question being whether to come back to the ballot in 2008 or later.
David Brewster at Crosscut seems sure it will only come back in 2010. I’m not so sure. I think if Dino Rossi moves into the governor’s mansion in 2009, there won’t be a Sound Transit in 2010 to go to the ballot. That Brewster piece about Jim Ellis is fascinating btw.
More No. 8 buses
According to this there will be more no. 8 service along with more no. 70 bus service. The 70 will run every ten minutes, and the 8, which I sometimes take from Denny and Stewart when it’s raining, will start running every 15 minutes from 6-7:30 up from 30 minutes.
What’s interesting is that $109,000 of the approx. $800,000 needed to fund the increased service comes from SLU business. Seems scary to me, like wealthy business can throw money at the city and the city will buy them more bus service. What do you think, should we worry about county bus service for hire?
Seattle Streetcar opening day photos
I have 33 photos on flickr. Check em out – http://www.flickr.com/photos/brian_macster
Air France to start codesharing with Alaska
Air France today announced it’ll begin codesharing on Alaska Airlines’ flights out of Seattle to 18 cities starting 05JAN08.
Flight numbers and bookings will be available starting 15DEC07.
Air France will place its “AF” code to the following destinations:
Alaska
Anchorage
Fairbanks
Juneau
Ketchikan
California
Sacramento
Idaho
Boise
Montana
Bozeman
Kalispell
Missoula
Nevada
Reno
Oregon
Eugene
Medford
Portland
Redmond
Washington
Bellingham
Pasco
Pullman
Spokane
Lake Union Water Taxi
Here is something I simply had no idea that existed.
The Lake Union Water Taxi which serves two route; The Westlake – Fremont, Westlake @ The Electric Boat Company, and the Center of Wooden Boats and the Eastlake – Marriott/Chandlers, E Newton, Ivars @ Wallingford, and UW/Agua Verde in Portage Bay.
The rate is cheap at $3 one way or $5 round trip for either route and the crossing with a stop takes about 30 minutes on the Eastlake Route and about 20 minutes for the Westlake Route with one stop. The schedule is limited to Rush Hour and both locations serve the Seattle Streetcar stations with a short walk to and from. The boats are all electric, heated, and enclosed
Their website says September 10 – November 23, 2007 Monday – Friday Only. I’m not sure how long they have been around but it is a start to the King County Passenger Ferry service.
For more information, check out their website!
If the Green Line was still going….
The Seattle Monorail Project would have opened this weekend from Ballard to West Seattle according to Metroblogging Seattle
Ball Bearings placed in Seattle Streetcar tracks
The only mishap was at 5 p.m., when a train was jolted by a ball bearing, a bit bigger than a golf ball, that was found wedged in the track along Terry Avenue North. Police located a few more, and the train was delayed 10 minutes, Daniels said.
Sad that someone would try to “derail” the train like this….
Thanks to the Seattle Times for this.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004068617_streetcar13m.html
Update:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004069374_webstreetcar13m.html
Expanded bus service coming to South Lake Union
In addition to the Seattle Streetcar, expanded Metro Transit service is coming to South Lake Union beginning Feb. 11, 2008
- Route 70 buses, which now run from the University District, past South Lake Union and then downtown every 15 minutes will arrive every 10 minutes between 3 and 6 p.m. on weekdays.
- The Route 8 bus, which runs east and west on Denny Way, between Capitol Hill — past South Lake Union– and Queen Anne will come every 15 minutes between 6 and 7:30 p.m., instead of every half-hour.
- South Lake Union businesses and the city of Seattle are contributing $109,000 toward the $817,000 needed to expand bus service on two routes.
While this is an improvement, the Route 8 runs on the heavily congested Denny Way, simply adding to the traffic mess on the road. While this is welcomed, more needs to be done besides adding more service. The Route 70 is plagued with traffic on Eastlake Avenue. Both of these roads needs to be expanded before improved bus service will be noticeable.
More from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Streetcar in the Sunset
A brief look at the Seattle Streetcar before it departs Fred Hutch’ in South Lake Union with the Space Needle looming overhead. To the right of this photo is one of the possible locations for the Kirkland/Bothell to Seattle Water Taxi
Viaduct Meeting Tomorrow
It’s not a public comment meeting, but you could submit a written comment and listen to the latest thinking:
The State, King County and the City of Seattle are working together to create a solution for the central waterfront section that can be broadly supported and implemented. Our intention is to develop a recommended approach in December 2008 for consideration by the legislature in 2009.
A key part of this effort is the creation of the new Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which was formed by Governor Chris Gregoire, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Mayor Greg Nickels. The committee will be made up of 30 individuals representing various constituencies and community groups throughout King County. WSDOT, KCDOT and SDOT will lead the committee to engage key stakeholders, listen to ideas, and conduct a transparent public involvement process over the next year.
The first committee meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 13, 4 to 7 p.m. at Town Hall in Seattle. The meeting is open to the public, but it will not be a forum for open comment. The public is invited to submit written comments at the meeting or through viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov. Comments can also be submitted at any time on our hotline, 1-888-AWV-LINE. For more information, please visit the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program Web site.
Anyone who attends is encouraged to report about it in this post’s comments.
Snohomish County BRT (Swift)
I’d like to expand on Daimajin’s short comments about Snohomish BRT. First of all, you can find a lot more info than the Times article here. It’s a big improvement over King County’s plans, although of course the geographic scope is smaller.
Kudos to Snohomish County leaders for getting this done with an electorate that is generally less transit-friendly than King County. Bonus points for getting it done without a tax or fare increase, and not taking it through a laborious public vote.
The project should be done in 2009. King County’s version, RapidRide, won’t have its earliest portion done before 2010 despite being launched over a year earlier. It will mesh quite nicely with RapidRide’s Aurora Service, terminating at Aurora Village. People living along this corridor can access jobs in places like Fremont far faster than the current best option of going downtown, and then back north.
Swift would appear to have the same features as RapidRide, except:
- The 10-minute headways will be 20 hours a day (instead of peak-only).
- It has on-board bike racks served by their own door(!)
- Ticket machines are at the stations, while RapidRide envisions that passengers will still fumble for change on board.
- Seven miles of the route will actually be bus-only instead of HOV. Anyone who’s ridden 405 Northbound in the afternoon can tell you the difference, although Swift will still have to deal with the usual idiots trying to turn right.
I really wish the people responsible for this were running the BRT shop at Metro. They seem to be doing a lot more with a lot less, at least in this narrow case.
But in spite of all the things they’ve done right, it’s still not light rail. An 80-passenger bus every 10 minutes is nothing like an 800-passenger train every six in terms of capacity, and therefore has dramatically lower potential for high-density development along the line. It also will not be truly separated from traffic. At the same time, what they’ve done here is about as much as you can do with buses before you start to approach the cost of rail.
In the long run, light rail can be run with four or two-minute headways. Buses can’t, because the timing is unreliable and they end up bunched up (See: Metro Route 48). Bigger trains, shorter headways: Light Rail moves a lot more people than BRT, even when BRT is done right.
But BRT is a good option for a corridor that won’t see rail for a long, long time.
UPDATE: Reading between the lines more carefully, I should point out one weakness in the plan: apparently, the ten miles of the line that are not bus-only lanes are general purpose lanes. Given the rather tight constraints they were under, I still think they did a really good job. It’s just not quite as much of a slam dunk over RapidRide.
Street Car photos
Here are some photos from the streetcar event:
It’s a beautiful train.
Joke’s run it’s course guys.
These are from Ryan, thanks! Nickels said “I don’t care what you call it, as long as you ride it!”
Viaduct Idea
Via Slog, the Governor says the viaduct surface option is an “open question”. The state has $2.8 billion lined up for a viaduct replacement, with a rebuild costing about $4 billion, and a surface option something like $2 billion.
So I have an idea. You want Seattle to be an “international city” in the future, let’s do what hundreds of other “international cities” have done and spend the $2billion difference between the surface and the rebuild on light rail. $2 billion should be able to a buy LRT subway from West Seattle to lower Queen Anne and possibly even Interbay, especially with a bit of federal funding thrown in.
What do you say?
Street Car Openning, other transit
Here’s a bit of a streetcar opening round-up:
- The PI has a summary for those who haven’t been paying attention, they also talk about development and how the streetcar is good for business.
- Not everyone is so excited. Apparently Bicycles are protesting the streetcar because it hurts them.
- Please journalists, I emplore you, stop using the Streetcar named desire joke. Oh and the SLUT joke is tired, too, bloggers.
- Apparently, the monorail would have opened Saturday if magic, Santa Claus, GI Joe and unicorns got together, solved the inheritent technological, financial and organizational problems, and the bozos in charge could have actually got it out on time.
In other transit news:
Community Transit and Everett Transit are jumping on the BRT bandwagon with a “trainlike” (rofl) bus-service on 99 from Aurora Station in Shoreline to Everett. They have a nice map and describe BRT as this region thinks of it:
Sleek new, articulated buses will operate on a 17-mile corridor along Highway 99 — which in Everett becomes Evergreen Way and then Rucker Avenue — using automated ticketing, special lanes and signal priority at busy intersections to streamline trips. Buses are to arrive at stations every 10 minutes.
Yup, sounds like normal buses. Though I do laud Snohomish for increasing transit service up there. The program should be in affect by 2009.