Midweek Roundup: humble bus

Service Announcements:

• Holiday Service: Transit services will be on special schedules or closed for Christmas tomorrow. Check agency websites for more information. Several agencies in the region will be fare-free on New Year's Eve.
• Sat., Dec. 27: Link service between Stadium and Capitol Hill stations will end at 11pm and restart at 10am on Sunday as ST works on upgrading the DSTT's signals system. Shuttle buses will run in the meantime.
• Fri., Jan. 2 to Mon., Jan. 5: Link service between Stadium and Capitol Hill stations will end early on Friday and restart Monday morning as ST continues DSTT signal upgrades. Shuttle buses will run instead.
• Evenings Jan. 13-15: Link service between Tukwila Intl. Blvd and Mount Baker stations will end early (around 10pm) each night as part of ST's monthly extended overnight work program. Shuttle buses will run instead.

News:

• Ferguson proposes $3 billion WA transportation budget, $1B of which would go toward buying 3 new ferries (The Seattle Times, $). Additional coverage by The Urbanist.
• After rivers flood, King County Water Taxis use infrared goggles to dodge logs (KUOW)
• Seattle OKs New Growth Plan, but Biggest Zoning Battles Lie Ahead (The Urbanist). Additional coverage from PubliCola.
• Transit-oriented development moves forward at new South King County Link stations (The Platform)
• SDOT finished repainting the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge ahead of schedule (SDOT Blog). This maintenance project included stripping layers of decades-old lead-based paint from the structure and repainting with an eco-friendly coat of green.
• Crosslake Update: Work on the 2 Line connection enters a new phase (The Platform)
• if it feels like Sea-Tac is always under construction, it's because it is" (The Seattle Times, $). For those worried SEA might run out of room for more flights, the Port of Seattle's long-term master plan includes a new terminal north of the current set.

Commentary:

• Mayor-elect Wilson shakes up SDOT leadership + City needs to get back on pace to keep up with the transportation levy's demands (Seattle Bike Blog)
• Transit Riders Union Charts New Course After Katie Wilson's Election (Hacks & Wonks Podcast)
• With Mamdani, the Humble Bus Gets Its Due (Bloomberg CityLab)
• How Kansas City Quietly Built One of the Best Streetcars in America (Thoughts About Cities)

This is an Open Thread.