Midweek Roundup: 151 Million Trips
by Nathan Dickey from Seattle Transit Blog on (#6VW1Z)
Countdown: 59 daysuntil theDowntown Redmond Link Extension opens.
Open House: Sound Transit is hosting another South Downtown Hub Open House on April 2 from 5-7pm at Union Station.
Light Rail Disruptions: Link 1 Line service in Downtown Seattle will be significantly disrupted from April 14 to April 23 according to a recent Passenger Impact Program presentation. More details to come.
Local Transit News:- Ridership among ORCA agencies (Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit and Sound Transit) topped 151 million trips in 2024 (Metro Matters), 17 million more than in 2023 (an increase of 12.6%).
- In regard to fleet electrification versus service improvements, County Executive Constantine says Metro can walk and chew gum at the same time" (The Urbanist)
- Sound Transit reviews the story behind Pinehurst Station, the agency's infill station nearing completion between Northgate and Shoreline South/148th (The Platform)
- Community Transit has published new How-To guides for riders (CT News)
- The WA State legislature is considering cutting highway expansion projects in the face of rising costs and declining revenues (The Urbanist)
- For SDOT's spring parking rate change, most rates will stay the same or decrease, indicating stable parking demand across much of the paid curb space in the city (SDOT Blog).
- Washington House Passes Mosquito Fleet Act, Queuing Potential Foot Ferry Expansion (The Urbanist)
- WA Gov. Ferguson delays conversion of ferries to electric power in order to put boats pending conversion back into service now; construction of new ferries is expected to begin in June (The Seattle Times, $). Relatedly, Full Washington State Ferries service to return this summer (Cascade PBS)
- A two-part piece describing a train engineer's prospective on what it's like to pass through the Cascade Tunnel (Trains Magazine): Part 1 and Part 2
- Jarrett Walker interrogates what's next for rural intercity transit in a two-part series: What's Next for Rural Intertown Bus Service in the US? and The County Line Problem.
- Late car payments hit their highest level in decades, alarming economists (Quartz)
- Tacoma Rezone Offers Housing Diversity and Path to Breaking Car Dependence (The Urbanist)
- The Urbanist reviewed how Seattle Social Housing Advocates Campaigned to Victory
- Seattle canceled tiny house village after backlash from neighbors (Real Change)
- Bill to allow more housing near bus stops and rail stations progresses in Olympia (KUOW)
- Seattle's growth plan update continues despite appeals (Capitol Hill Seattle Blog)
- Seattle and King County Grapple with Federal Disinvestment and Threats (The Urbanist)
- Andy Boenau says Private motorists should subsidize public transit (Urbanism Speakeasy)
- Streetsblog USA offers Four Easy Ways to Fight Back Against Trump's Transit Attacks Right Now
- Elon Musk is Wrong about the benefits" of privatizing Amtrak (Rail Passengers Association)
- A new report indicates 50 reasons why everyone should want more walkable streets, including statistics such as someone with a one-hour commute in a car needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work." (Fast Company)
This is an Open Thread.