News roundup – Page 2 – Seattle Transit Blog

News Roundup: 82% of U.S. Wants More Transit

March 31, 2010March 31, 2010 by John Jensen

New deep-bore tunnel video, above.
Transportation for America has done a poll that shows a vast majority of Americans want more transportation funding, including for rail, and 59% think that public transit is a better solution to congestion than building more roads (38%).
Beacon Hill density challenge mostly thrown out.
Seattle City Council puts off setting VMT limits for a year, probably a wise decision since local VMT reduction hasn’t studied by the city at all.
Citizens for Responsible Transit (CRT) formed in Bellevue, basically agrees with us.
TOD on Mercer Island (parts 1 and 2)
Sound Transit bus hits pedestrian in Sodo, injuries apparently serious.
Bus bulbs to speed up Route 44.
King County Ferry District will not accept U-Pass, UW to blame.
TCC to hold a legislative session post-mortem April 9th.
Kitsap Transit riders complains about abolished transfers (H/T: Mike Fisher).
Who is funding the campaigns for and against the Whatcom Transit tax increase?
Factoring transportation costs into housing affordability.
The perfect commuter bike?
The Rail~Volution conference will be in Portland this October.
Highways reduce the population of cities.
David Brooks: “The daily activities most associated with happiness are sex, socializing after work and having dinner with others. The daily activity most injurious to happiness is commuting.”
Are we going to get a new federal transportation bill this year?

This is an open thread.

News Roundup: $19.5 Billion from the General Fund

March 24, 2010March 24, 2010 by John Jensen

4283642775_f6a017f8fe — "Coming up to the Station," by flickr user natfoot.

Highways get $19.5 billion from the federal general fund with the recently-signed H.I.R.E. act.
Seattle councilmember Tom Rasmussen fights for trolley buses.
Seattle’s now-repealed head tax raised the same amount of revenue as SDOT’s current funding shortfall. Hmm.
Slog has an update on the neighborhood plan “controversy” we covered last month.
Publicola hosted a debate on the 520 bridge replacement.
A driver crosses the current 520 bridge at 135 miles per hour.
It’s against the law to “embrace” and drive. Perfectly legal to hug on transit, though.
Huge Ass City argues for building the street grid through Seattle Center.
Group (PDF) of pro-B3 Bellevue residents forms to advocate for responsible transit.
One Bus Away website adds new features.
Sound Transit bus ridership up ridership up 3%, in contrast to other local bus agencies who have lost riders. Sounder ridership down 11%.
Sound Transit 2010 Service Implementation Plan published. Projects 26,600 Link boardings in a matter of months, but apparently ST doubts its own estimates because of the recession and Link’s headway and fare policies. No word on if the projected boardings taking these factors into account are available.
Highways destroy cities, or at least decrease their population.

This is an open thread.

News Roundup: Bike Edition

March 17, 2010March 26, 2010 by Adam Bejan Parast

This was a very big news week for bikes. This is an open thread.

Seattle Bike Expo had lots of fun things to see.
People for Bikes kicks off national campaign at the National Bike Summit in DC.
LaHood stands on a table to give impromptu speech. States that this is “the end of favoring motorized transportation”.
This is how to respectfully and safely share the road.
Sightline muses about the future of electric bicycle (part 1 of 5).
Lots of different takes on Google Map’s new “bike there” feature.
Securitas to patrol the DSTT, as they already do for Link; they are authorized and trained to intervene in incidents.
Governor Gregoire loves big expensive freeways.
Less congestion in Seattle 2007 vs. 1997; most other cities get worse. Guess what we didn’t do? Build lots of new roads.
The stronger Senate version of the cell phone legislation passes in the House, goes to Gregoire to sign.
The Stranger wants dirtier buses.
Sound Transit issues North Link RFP.
The “fundamental attribution error” in relation to transit.
Curtis vs. Jonny
Alleys are the place to be. Even Knute Berger jumps on the bandwagon.

Ferry News Roundup

March 12, 2010March 12, 2010 by Brian Bundridge

Bremerton ferry was once again down to one boat due to the M/V Kitsap having a cracked hull, discovered during a maintenance inspection. The route is back on a two-boat schedule with the 90-car M/V Sealth on the Bremerton run and the 34-car M/V Hiyu on the Pt. Defiance – Tahlequah route.

Return of the Port Townsend passenger-only ferry? Not if Commissioner Phil Johnson has his way.

Progress on the M/V Chetzemoka – Placed in water for the first time last week! Wiring work continues.

Keller ferry update – Replacement coming soon?

Progress on the 144-car ferry program

Another name the ferry contest for the second Kwa-di Tabil Class 64-car ferry. Deadline is April 30, 2010

A new version of vessel watch now available.

Kalakala may be moving yet again to become part of a museum (H/T; Jason Hill)

No more free rides for ferry workers.

State is still trying to reduce the costs of WSF.

Ferries still dependant on fuel costs

Wasteful spending on ferry system has outraged leaders and the public. One lucky deckhand made nearly $73,000 in travel reimbursements….

News Roundup: City Government Ethics

March 10, 2010March 10, 2010 by Martin H. Duke

Some laws may have been broken in crafting Bellevue’s letter endorsing option B7.
Legislature passes a bill limiting contributions in local races, which would have come in handy during last year’s Bellevue City Council race.
Sound Transit tax shortfall now $3.1 billion through 2023; thanks to conservative planning, still no cuts imminent.
Should I walk or take the bus? Now on the iPhone; Google Maps to add cycling directions today.
County will not reopen discussion on the routing of RapidRide C; major reroutes for West Seattle buses when the 1st Ave S onramp closes.
Project management on the U-Link tunnels.
Seattle’s traffic ninth worst in US. The methodology for these studies is always shaky, and of course the solution can always be spun as more roads, more transit, or better land use. Or, we could just destroy local jobs and raise gas prices.
Teen in White Center unconscious after an altercation on the bus.
Julie Muhlstein of the Herald laments the loss of Sunday service and throws up her hands, rather than pointing the finger where it belongs.
Tacoma Streetcar initiative may be dead due to legal technicalities, but a streetcar movement is born in Lake City.
WSDOT to install earthquake warning systems on the viaduct; just tear the thing down already.
More ads on light rail please!
Intercity Transit turning a landfill into a park-and-ride.
Closed bus stops on Capitol Hill.
The health benefits of moving away from car dependence aren’t emphasized enough.
New Sound Transit Board committees.
During the Olympics, Vancouver’s transit moves 1.6m per day. Photos here.

This is an open thread.

News Roundup: SR-520 and Life Between Buildings

March 1, 2010March 1, 2010 by Adam Bejan Parast

Microsoft buys full page ad supporting SR-520 A+. McGinn’s gotcha comeback and overused town halls.
Transit on SR-520 finally being comprehensively studied.
First results from Seattle’s Public Life Study done by Gehl Architects. Video above, presentation here.
Only one year around Cafe stand left in Seattle.
Green Alleys competition submissions already due.
Help bring the First Hill Streetcar to Pioneer Square. Newish blog about Pioneer Square.
Bellevue Mayor Don Davidson’s shows a shocking lack of understanding about East Link.
Seattle City Council, Mayor disagree about priorities.
STITA successfully gets a temporary injunction from appeals court for SeaTac taxi concession.
Search for real estate by subway line.
Shooting under Mt. Baker station.
Capitol Hill Station TOD. Great presentations here.
City of Seattle carbon neutral?
The Portland Wall, bad transfers at their best.
Sixty city of Seattle datasets are now accessible online, more to come.

News Roundup: Suburban Density

February 22, 2010February 22, 2010 by Martin H. Duke

More details (and haggling) over RapidRide C.
Metro’s new vans apparently unsafe, pulled out of service until modifications complete.
Seattle’s bike plan heavily underfunded. McGinn hoarding taxing authority to fund bike and ped projects.
Ballard mulls light rail.
The New York Times has a concise roundup of the tunnel beating story; security at the Renton Transit Center.
Beacon Hill station closed for hours Saturday, apparently due to a communications system problem. Communications with the media and the public were atrocious, as the link indicates. At least shuttle buses were up and running.
Smoke in the BNSF tunnel spills into Sounder cars.
The Senate bill to limit local power to fight highway projects is dead.
Redmond to discuss growth in the Overlake area on Wednesday.
Sammamish City Council says no to density.
A 45-story condo in Federal Way?
More Sounder parking in Puyallup.
Probation and a fine for selling defective steel to ST.
WSDOT Stadium monstrosity almost complete.
How Washington’s gas taxes compare (text here).
Detroit’s Light Rail looking at private funding.
Pictures of HSR in China (1,2,3, H/T: John Bailo)

News Roundup: Safety Incidents

February 12, 2010February 12, 2010 by Martin H. Duke

Not much decided at the big Bellevue alignment summit.
Early Link trips now officially announced. More on this later.
We’re getting real cops in the DSTT for the time being.
Optimism about Eastside Commuter Rail. I don’t understand simultaneous support for B7 and ECR; do people really think diesels and light rail will operate on the same track?
Women face bigger safety issues on transit.
Update on Rapid Ride C.
SB 6345, on phoning while driving, passes the Senate, on to the House. Most of the local delegation voted yes.
Route 560 hits pedestrian, driver doesn’t notice (H/T: Mickymse). A Mercedes on the losing end of a different collision.
Still no money for Aloha St. streetcar extension.
Capitol Hill noise variance meeting a big yawn.
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw says nice things about BRT over light rail, doesn’t prioritize trolleybus expansion. Money quote: “we need to have our cars… we have to be able to get around.”
Amtrak giving priority to Seattle riders over those from Bellingham.
Upzones in SLU?
Update on the Bell Street makeover.
Vancouver BC’s Olympic Streetcar doing quite well – 15,000 boardings on a recent Saturday.
A lawsuit against the Whatcom Transit revenue vote on April 27th.
Matt Yglesias agrees with me on VMT taxes.
China’s HSR projects hurting air travel, Boeing.

News Roundup: New Bus Lines

February 5, 2010February 5, 2010 by Martin H. Duke

Bus mockup at the Seattle Children's Museum (photo by joshuadf)

New route, PT 446, serves South Hill Mall area.
Federal money for RapidRide C (West Seattle). I believe this was already factored into the budget and shouldn’t impact Metro’s budget crisis.
Arguing over the C Line’s route.
County Council finalizes the guidelines for the Regional Transit Task Force.
Eastside HOT Lane study is complete.
Bellevue just beginning to think about redesigning the I-90 corridor around Eastgate.
Suspicious package at the Burien Transit Center.
Dow Constantine sticking with A+ on the 520 bridge, not taking Seattle’s bait.
Neighborhoods always regret keeping light rail away.
Goldy rips in to Kemper Freeman.
FTA now looking at local financial commitment more, cost-effectiveness less. I think this once again is good news for Sound Transit, and probably not so good for crisis-ridden Metro.
Amtrak to the Olympics is filling up fast.
Chicago Transit Authority authorizes mobile gardens.

SR-520 News Roundup

February 1, 2010February 1, 2010 by Adam Bejan Parast

Well none of us were able to make it to the press conference this morning but here are some news clippings. [Update from Sherwin 5:34pm: The Seattle Channel has full video coverage of the event here.]

From what I have gathered it was an interesting showing of elected officials from all level of government, something very unusual. It appears that there are divergent opinions among those advocating for something besides the A+, i.e. better transit connections for some, narrower footprint for others, less traffic for others, but the fact that House Speaker Chopp, Senator Murray, Rep. Pedersen, Mayor McGinn and City Council members Licata and O’Brien were all in attendance is interesting never-the-less. Stay tuned.

Coverage from those that actually get paid to report below the jump.

Continue reading “SR-520 News Roundup”