Open Thread 33: Link Meltdown

The Link 1 Line reduction continues through February 4th. At times the 13-to-26 minute headways continue to stretch 10 minutes longer, with crowded platforms and trains. There have been additional outages and single-tracking in Rainier Valley every couple days, sometimes making the 13-minute segments run at 30 minutes. Click the link for the weekday and weekend operational plan. There's also a list of bus alternatives. Sound Transit suggests traveling off-peak or taking an alternative if you can. We suggest taking an alternative. If your trip is long like to Snohomish County or the airport and the alternatives are too time-consuming, good luck with Link. The busiest times are 4-6 pm. Metro bus 70 has extra service between downtown and the U-District. Bus 49 has extra service and serves both those places and Capitol Hill.

The East Link Starter Line began operational testing on the 22nd. Expect trains every 10-15 minutes, including at level crossings in Bel-Red and south Redmond. Passenger service is expected to start in March.

Upcoming Link opening dates 2024-2026, as compiled by Al S from a capital progress report. These haven't been announced, so I'd view them as goals rather than certainties.

Costs soar again ($) for the City Center Connector streetcar segment.

The state is considering two bills to loosen zoning for housing, HB 2160 and SB 6024.

Malls are back. ($) Generation Z, who had a smartphone in grade school, prefers to shop in-person.

10 suburbs that have become more city-like in the past fourteen years. (CityNerd video)

This article is brought to you by the numbers 49 and 70. This is an open thread.