A 5-minute drone (sUAS) flyover of the Federal Way Link Extension construction progress in May, southward from Angle Lake to Federal Way. Some observations with timestamps:

0:02: The path of the SR-509 Completion Project, one of two highway expansion projects in the region, is visible as something that could be mistaken for a riverbed.

1:05: Kent-Des Moines Station

1:30: Midway Landfill, a former potential site for OMF-S that would have cost an extra ~$1B to build but would have had zero business or residential impacts. The current preferred location of OMF-S is the Christian Faith Center, south of Federal Way Downtown.

1:53: The last-minute long-span bridge which delayed FWLE over a year.

2:15: Star Lake Station

4:00: Federal Way Downtown Station, with a fun fly-around afterwards.

As Metro is struggling to meet their plans to build out their battery bus fleet and charging infrastructure, Reece Martin looks at the tradeoff between decarbonization efforts and transit expansion.

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King County Corridor 1052, a potential rapidride conversion of Route 181 currently travels from Federal Way via Auburn Station to Green River College. With the introduction of Federal Way Link extension as well as I-5 freeway access additions, Route 181 speed improvements as a RapidRide will connect Auburn and Green River College closer to Seattle and the rest of the region. In this post we’ll review the corridor, Metro’s planned improvements, expected ridership and estimated project costs.

Continue reading “RapidRide Corridor 1052 (Route 181)” | 32 comments

King County Metro Corridor 1056, a potential RapidRide conversion of Route 165 — traveling between Kent Des Moines Station, Downtown Kent, and Green River College — was set as Tier 3 priority corridor for future RapidRide expansion. In this post we’ll review the proposed route alignment, planned improvements, and expected ridership.

Continue reading “RapidRide Corridor 1056 (Route 165)” | 61 comments

Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (Aug. 30, 11am); RapidRide G & restructures (Sept. 14)

Transit Updates:

Get ready for your first light rail moment, Lynnwood. Sound Transit plans meet cute for transit newbies

Ride the bus to the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, Aug. 22-27 and Aug. 29 – Sept. 2.

Pierce Transit will change schedules on all 27 routes on Sept. 1, two weeks before Sound Transit, Metro, Community Transit, and other Fall service changes on Sept. 14.

Sound Transit to expedite work on the At-Grade Crossing Program (pdf)

King County Executive and Sheriff’s Office announce arrests as part of ‘Operation Safe Transit’ initiative

Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 63” | 94 comments

Sound Transit has approved a new elevator for SeaTac east of Tukwila International Boulevard in Motion No. M2024-43. In a presentation to the Board’s Rider and Operations Committee (pdf) on July 18, Sound Transit staff outlined how the existing elevator experienced frequent outages and requires bus bridges to accommodate passengers to and from Angle Lake station.

Continue reading “Sound Transit Elevator & Escalator Service Going Up” | 42 comments

The Transit Bandit rides all seven transit modes available in Seattle: water taxi, BRT (RapidRide), streetcar, bus (regular), monorail, light rail (Link), and heavy rail (Sounder). City Beautiful did the same in just over three hours back in 2021 – how fast can the Bandit do it?

This is an Open Thread.

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On July 18, the Seattle Design Commission met with Sound Transit to review its proposed design (pdf) for the West Seattle Link Extension‘s high bridge over the Duwamish and its landing at Pigeon Point. Although the cable-stayed bridge design had been spotted at a station planning open house event earlier this year, this meeting and design review provides the public its first real look into ST’s preferred design for what may end up becoming a new defining feature of Seattle’s southern skyline.

Continue reading “First Look at WSLE’s High Bridge” | 74 comments

Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (Aug. 30, 11am); RapidRide G & restructures (Sept. 14)

Transit Updates:

South Lake Union Streetcar service suspended while crews address power issues

Long-awaited Snoqualmie Valley weekend bus service to begin Saturday, Aug. 17

Transportation Alternatives:

Coming to Seattle streets: It’s not a bike, and it’s not a scooter (Seattle Times, $)

WEST SEATTLE SCENE: ‘Recreational aircraft’ in flight off Alki

Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 62” | 79 comments

And:

Is high-speed rail hitting the fast track in the near future? An audio interview by the 1A radio show.

We’ll have more podcasts in the future, as in our zeal for videos we’ve overlooked the growing number of audio-only episodes. I’m not sure yet whether they’ll be on Sunday or Wednesday or in a new column.

This is an open thread.

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