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160 commentsCouncilmember Morales proposes +$150M to Seattle Transportation Levy, Totaling $1.7B
In response to the demands of community groups and a coalition of transportation and public safety advocates, Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales will formally propose an amendment to the 2024 Transportation Levy adding $150 million in spending on safe streets, maintenance and modernization, and expanding Seattle’s tree canopy.
The 2024 Transportation Levy, first proposed by the Mayor in April as a $1.35 billion package, then boosted to $1.45 billion in May, has been in the City Council’s court for the last several weeks as they determine how they want to replace the Move Seattle levy which expires at the end of this year.
Continue reading “Councilmember Morales proposes +$150M to Seattle Transportation Levy, Totaling $1.7B” | 35 commentsMidweek Roundup – Open Thread 55
Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30); RapidRide G (September 14)
Transit Updates:
Seattle Times ($): A Sound Transit bus crashed at 5th and Terrace on Saturday. 17 injured; 11 hospitalized. KING 5 notes that the driver told emergency responders the brakes failed. Also covered on Seattle Fire Line.
A new bridge connecting Eastrail across NE 8th Street to the 2 Line’s Wilburton Station opened on Sunday; coverage in The Urbanist and The Seattle Times ($).
You can now use ORCA cards through your Google Wallet on your Android phone; coverage in The Urbanist, the King County Metro Blog, and Community Transit Blog. The digital card replaces an existing card, preventing folks from double-dipping a pass between a digital and physical card.
The Urbanist: RapidRide K planning kicked into higher gear.
Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 55” | 168 commentsSunday Movie: How Seattle Rejected the Monorail
Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 54
Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30); RapidRide G (September 14)
Today is Juneteenth, a Federal holiday, but most transit operators are running normal weekday service.
Transit Updates:
Extension of the third avenue “transit mall” through Belltown to Dexter (specifically, road reconstruction) may be delayed until after the 2026 World Cup.
Metro is now officially considering hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses as part of its zero-emissions transition, like Community Transit. Meanwhile, the King County Auditor has highlighted issues with Metro’s transition implementation. Also discussed in the Seattle Times ($).
Amtrak is on-track to break its annual passenger ridership record.
New WA State Ferries head Steve Nevey says the ferry system has moved from crisis to recovery.
Continue reading “Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 54” | 161 commentsSDOT seeking feedback on WSLE station street concepts
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” | 22 commentsSunday Movie: Obscure Transit – SacRT Light Rail
First Month of the 2 Line
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” | 105 commentsIn Defense of West Seattle Link
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.
Midweek Roundup – Open Thread 53
Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30); RapidRide G (September 14)
Transit Updates:
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” | 41 comments