On Monday, Uber  joined the Seattle dockless bike share game, with Jump-branded red ebikes. The initial service will feature 300 bikes in a limited service area, “then incrementally ramp up the number of bikes over the coming weeks and months,” according to a release.

The rollout service area is limited to central Seattle, Ballard, Fremont, the University District, Capitol Hill, and parts of the Central District. The bikes will cost $1.00 to unlock, and $0.10 per minute during the ride. A launch promotion gives each user five 30 rides for free through December 12. A $5 per month, unlimited ride subscription model will also be available for low-income riders.

Continue reading “Uber launches new semi-dockless ebike share”

Sound Transit’s latest batch of options for Ballard and West Seattle kills off many variants, but controversies remain. The options are grouped into three concepts, although ST is free to choose bits from each alternative. All we have is maps, but that won’t stop us from having a detailed look.

The “representative alignment,” which voters approved in 2016, remains in play. It’s a pretty good alignment if you don’t mind elevated track, with stations on both ends in the sky. There are nits to pick. Alaska Junction station points west, which doesn’t help a future extension to Burien. Delridge is a bit far north, putting more industrial land in the walkshed and lengthening the bus ride for most people. Midtown is under 5th rather than 6th, reducing the combined system walkshed. The new Westlake is under 6th, worsening the transfer with the existing one.

Continue reading “ST3 Level 3 Alternatives”

At the Sound Transit board meeting on Thursday, the board voted to extend CEO Peter Rogoff’s contract and give him an 11 percent raise. Rogoff will earn $365,000 per year, until the contract ends in January 2022.

The vote was nearly unanimous. The lone vote against was by Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier, who aired out a number of objections to Sound Transit’s recent work.

“I am very concerned that our processes right now for West Seattle are going to add perhaps another $700 million to that project,” Dammier said. “I’m very concerned that the expectations in the Ballard area could add as much as another $500 million to it.”

Continue reading “Rogoff’s contract is renewed, but opposition to Seattle Link spending continues to form”

• 1.5 mile I-5 shoulder lane ($) opened Monday between Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.
• Bainbridge Island voters reject safer streets.
• Thurston County voters approve Proposition 1 for Intercity Transit.
• 23rd Avenue work moving along, though there’s no timeline for RapidRide.
• Kitsap Transit creates $4m rainy day fund, $5 day pass.
• Lime to enter the short-term car rental market.
• Sound Transit updates their website. The Stranger is a fan.
• Car tab hand-wringing seems not to have hurt suburban Dems.
• Seattle’s annual parking study underway.
• New bus lane at the Aurora/Denny onramp.
• New bus platforms in Bellevue.
• Tacoma in discussions with Lime about its scooters.
• Eyman’s going to try the $30 car tab thing, yet again.
• WSDOT switches vendors for its tolling projects.
• Uber and Lyft no longer fighting Seattle over competitive data, now fighting with Port ($).
• SDOT still working on employer shuttles.
• Island Transit names a new Executive Director.
• Don’t chase fancy apps and microtransit, just fund the bus and give it priority.
• DC decriminalizes fare evasion.
• Streetcars work way better when you kick out the cars.

This is an open thread.

The Snohomish County government has started early scoping for the seven stations on the Everett Link Extension, which is scheduled to open in 2036. An online open house and survey is open until the end of the month to collect feedback on potential station locations near the current Ash Way and Mariner park and rides in northern Lynnwood and southern Everett. The survey will inform the county’s recommendations to Sound Transit when it begins the official scoping process in 2020.

The open house follows an earlier survey that was conducted over the summer and gathered general suggestions on an interactive map, similar to those used recently for ST3 projects in Seattle and Tacoma. Of 114 map comments collected, the top-ranking answers wished to address affordable housing, at-grade crossings, public amenities, and alternate routes over I-5 for cyclists, pedestrians, and buses to and from the stations.

A set of three concepts for each station were generated by the county based on the suggestions and criteria accounting for design constraints, future connections to the Swift Green and Orange lines, bicycle and pedestrian accessibility, and TOD opportunities. The TOD scoring assumes that mixed-use development of buildings ranging from three to ten stories would be programmed within the half-mile walkshed of each potential station site.

Continue reading “Snohomish County Surveys Potential Sites For Mariner and Ash Way Stations”