Open Thread 47

Link Extension Countdown: Lynnwood Link (August 30). What to expect (Sound Transit Blog).

Transit Updates:

In case you missed it, the 2 Line Starter Line started service on April 27, to much fanfare.

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), an infrastructure sustainability certification nonprofit started in 2010, gave awards to the RapidRide H Line (Metro blog) and the Federal Way Link Extension. The ISI Envision" awards appear to be similar to the LEED certifications given to buildings for efficiency and sustainability.

Sound Transit is seeking feedback on its study of the feasibility of additional alternative locations for the SLU stations of the Ballard Link Extension. Survey closes May 7.

Local News:

Seattle adopts 20-year transportation plan (Seattle Times [$]). P.S. The CCC streetcar is included.

On the Saturday before Earth Day, a coalition of affordable housing advocates, community organizations, urbanists, and others held a rally at Jimi Hendrix Park calling for changes to the proposed Transportation Levy and draft comprehensive plan update to allow for more public transit and more housing (Komo News).

The Seattle Planning Commission, a 16-member board made of Seattle residents, is looking to fill some vacancies (Seattle.gov). Applications are due May 20. Meanwhile, the Planning Commission says the draft comprehensive plan update does not do enough to change existing unaffordable, inequitable, and unsustainable patterns of development." (PubliCola)

King County was awarded $6 million to build over 400 electric-vehicle charging ports throughout the county (Cascade PBS [formerly Crosscut]). Approximately 10% of King County's vehicle fleet is electric. The charging ports will be publicly available at 55 locations, including nine King County charging sites, 13 apartment buildings, and 16 other locations like Metro bus bases and retail centers.

Opinion/Miscellaneous:

Troy Serad writes about the employment statistics along the two competing corridors under consideration for the next T-Link expansion in Tacoma.

Over the last year, rents dropped in Austin, Texas, more than any other city in the USA (rent.com), most likely due to the high volumes of new apartments built in the last couple of years (Austin Monitor).

Community Transit blogs about cinemas accessible via transit in Snohomish County.

Sound Transit blogs about some nice shots from wildlife cameras installed as part of Sound Transit project impact mitigation efforts.

Kevin Schofield (Seattle Paper Trail) writes about an essay titled What Makes Housing So Expensive?", with a focus on the costs of building new single-family housing and relates it to Seattle's housing construction market. (South Seattle Emerald)

Videos:

Sound Transit's 2 Line Grand Opening on the Eastside: Visiting All Eight New Stations Vlog (Best Side Cycling; 16:28)

East Link Starter Line Opening (Puget Sound Railfan; 18:09)

Sound Transit's 2 Line is open. Here's what passengers think of the new ride (KING 5 Seattle; 2:11)

Upcoming Events:

April 30, 4pm: Ballard Link Extension CID Information Session - Regional and Local Access. (Union Station, 401 S Jackson St, Seattle)

April 30, 6pm: One Seattle Plan Open House (McClure Middle School, Seattle)

May 2, 12pm: Ballard Link Extension South Lake Union Feasibility Study Webinar.

May 2, 6pm: One Seattle Plan Open House (final meeting, online only; link pending). The public comment period for the One Seattle Plan ends May 6.