News Roundup – Open Thread 51

Countdowns: Lynnwood Link (August 30).

Transit Updates:

This weekend (June 1-2) has several Link reductions. Columbia City station will be single-tracked. Every other train will terminate at Stadium and not go further south, giving 10-minute frequency north of Stadium and 20-minute frequency south. Link will be closed between SeaTac and Angle Lake stations; passengers can use RapidRide A as an alternative. Additional work at SeaTac is ongoing through June 25. This all is to connect the East Link and Federal Way Link segments to the mainline, and to repair tiles at Columbia City station. The James Street Pioneer Square station entrance is closed through June 7 to install a display sign, although the elevator is open.

Discovery Park bus shuttle. A free shuttle bus runs within the park on Saturdays through September 7th. It connects the North, East, and Beach parking lots. Buses run every 30 minutes between 11am and 5:30pm, with the last run from the beach at 5:15pm. Metro route 33 terminates near the east lot. Route 24 terminates at the south entrance, which is not on the shuttle.

Sound Transit will start checking fares on Link platforms ($) on June 3, in addition to checking on trains.

Sound Transit declines to move SLU Station ($) from 7th to 5th.

Free youth fares extend to Amtrak Cascades ($). People 18 and under can ride free within Washington state. You must get a ticket in advance, not at a kiosk, and people under 16 must ride with an adult.

Local News

A Dutch-style bicycle-friendly intersection ($) at Dexter & Thomas, a first in Seattle.

KUOW's Week in Review panel is negative on Julie Timm's post-CEO consulting position. (Episode May 24, starting at the -3:42 mark (counting from the end, the only timestamp available).)

Spokane allows tiny house subdivisions ($).

Miscellaneous

Crowdfunding affordable housing. ($) Groups of people around the country are turning to self-funding to build affordable apartments in their community. Some buildings also accommodate various other uses (short-term rentals, hotel, restaurant, performing arts, coworking, offices, school).

Several robotaxi companies are under federal investigation over flaws leading to crashes ($).

Portland TV on the MAX downtown tunnel proposal. (video, 11 minutes)

This is an open thread.