Seattle Transit Blog

April 30th is the deadline for the public to comment on Sound Transit’s various options to make up for the current mismatch in projected costs and revenues for ST3. Here’s where we stand: There is no effect on the Sound Transit 2 projects (Link to Lynnwood, Redmond, and Federal Way) and these are expected to … Continue reading "Public input on ST3 realignment this week"

You have until April 30th to tell ST what to prioritize during “realignment” A long and nuanced look at the MHA program Stephen Fesler says to cut Paine Field from Link and run BRT instead Artists will design limited-edition ORCA cards Amtrak restoring local trips next month Wayfinding updates at ST Legislature passes ban on … Continue reading "News roundup: limited edition"

Seattle could have a complete Seattle Subway network, but only if the City of Seattle has a plan to champion that future. Currently, Seattle is marching into the future without a plan for a fully connected city. Even when ST3 is complete, nearly 60% of Seattle’s built-up areas will still not be served by light … Continue reading "Please Tell Council: Don’t Leave Us Behind!"

This is an open thread.

Since Sound Transit has announced that Northgate Link will open on October 2nd, which is a few weeks behind a widely anticipated September 2021 opening, King County Metro has also changed the Northgate bus service restructure to occur on October 2nd as well. When we reported on Metro’s scaled back plans for restructuring service for … Continue reading "Metro service change moves to October 2nd, STBD changes unveiled"

West Seattle bridge privileges are slowly expanding WSDOT restriping northbound I-5 chokepoint through downtown Federal Way track construction underway I’ve always wanted the gondola people to get traction but am sad it took rail skepticism to get them there Oregon congressman to insist on light rail across the Columbia This is an open thread.

On Friday, Sound Transit announced that Northgate, Roosevelt, and U-District stations will open for service on Saturday, October 2nd. There is no word about any celebration for what, with luck, will be a nice symbol of our emergence from the pandemic. We might not get one, with ST having endured bad-faith critiques about marketing expenses … Continue reading "Northgate Link opens Oct. 2nd"

My idiosyncratic habit of scanning the Daily Journal of Commerce headlines paid off this week when I noticed a piece by Brian Miller about plans to replace The Rainier Valley Lowe’s with an Amazon warehouse and shared it on Twitter. It caught my eye as I’ve been a frequent shopper at that Lowe’s since before … Continue reading "On (ware)housing in Mt. Baker"

Metro: King County Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) have been working in partnership on the Route 40 Transit-Plus Multimodal Corridor Project. The goal of the project is to reduce bus travel times by 5-10% during peak periods, improve transit service reliability, and make it safer and easier to access transit. Lots of … Continue reading "Route 40 online open house"

Feds send $60m for RapidRide G — in theory they can finally start construction in 2021 and open in 2024 $37m for the Swift Orange Line, too Legislature about to remove obstacles to ST implementation of a less punitive fare enforcement system Metro gets fresher air Monorail gets updates ($) before they release the Kraken … Continue reading "News roundup: fresher air"

As Sound Transit grapples with escalating costs for ST3, one emerging option focuses on delaying parking construction to prioritize transit. In the past month and a half, we have: WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar’s most righteous February 25th letter demolishing the importance of parking to a transit system The Sound Transit Board reviewing a “Delay Parking … Continue reading "Delay ST3 parking to save the rest?"

If you live in or near the Skyway neighborhood, King County Metro is seeking feedback on the future of transit in the area. Some of the services Metro is considering in the area include “van services, on-demand programs, greater access to reduced fares, or infrastructure improvements that will make it safer and easier to travel … Continue reading "Metro wants feedback on transit in Skyway"

Comment on the equity aspects of Northgate Link Alon Levy explains why Pacific Northwest HSR is marginal based on the return on investment BLM buses Longer pedestrian signals ($) ST contractor was defrauding its workers Here’s a good primer on there is no substitute for building more units Shoreline apartments popping up everywhere Metro’s survey … Continue reading "News roundup: return on investment"

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington), along with six other senate Democrats, introduced a bill Thursday that would boost funding for Sound Transit as reported by The Seattle Times. The bill would partially offset the financial effect of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing an additional 30% of the cost of the Federal Way and Lynnwood Link … Continue reading "Patty Murray is seeking $1.9 billion for Sound Transit"

House Bill 1304 for grade-separated transit is now unlikely to pass this year and its last hope is a long shot: inclusion in a larger transportation package. As a reminder, the bill updates the antiquated language in the CTA law so it can be used for rail expansion now. Though we’re disappointed that HB 1304 … Continue reading "A true Seattle Subway requires a citywide plan for the future"

SDOT has prioritized its spending plan for the new $20 Vehicle License fee; comment by 3/30 Maybe the feds will bail us out on the West Seattle Bridge New startup will let you lease an e-scooter Surprise: anti-rail Washington Policy Center doesn’t like bus improvements either PT service ($) starting to recover Hilltop Tacoma Link … Continue reading "News roundup: access"

Seattle’s Clean Transportation Electrification Blueprint (via the Seattle Times): Seattle will lead the transition to an electrified economy, supplying residents with clean electricity via a reliable, carbon free electric grid. In this fossil-fuel free future, the air is clean. People will take electric buses, ferries, or light rail to work, shopping and other destinations. A … Continue reading "Seattle’ ambitious electrification goals"

Southworth Ferry starts March 29th Transit workers vaccine-eligible on March 17th Speed limits falling on Seattle’s state routes Feds will send $800m ($) to Puget Sound transit agencies Link to your vaccine appointment is free Seaway TC receives green award Mercer Island still suing ST over getting too many buses Land use bills advancing to … Continue reading "News roundup: vaccine-eligible"

In the final twice-a-year planned service change before the Northgate Link restructure transforms north Seattle bus service this fall, King County Metro is keeping it simple and not making many substantial changes to the bus network. Certain routes are gaining or losing a handful of trips, and bus bay assignments at Auburn Station are changing. … Continue reading "Metro’s March 2021 service change makes minor adjustments"

Speed limits dropping to 25mph Cascades Talgos off to the scrap heap “Suspicious device” closes TIBS for a while Safe access to Judkins Park Station Finally, the highway-industrial complex steers towards maintenance ($) Comment on OMF South — should ST pay to clean up a toxic site, or focus on transit? Here’s a writeup of … Continue reading "News roundup: to the scrap heap"

East Link might open in as little as 18 months. Like any rail opening of that magnitude, there are many opportunities to reorganize bus service to reduce redundancy, improve access, and serve new priorities. Metro and Sound Transit are creating a citizen sounding board for these changes, and they’re paying $50 per hour: “Are you … Continue reading "Join the East Link Connections Mobility Board"

This weekend, there is a full closure of the SR 520 bridge over Lake Washington. Closures of the bridge in at least one direction is going to be a somewhat common occurrence for the next few years as WSDOT works on their Montlake lid project, which will ultimately improve bus service from the eastside to … Continue reading "SR 520 bus service when the bridge is closed"

With Seattle and King County Metro renewing their partnership in the Transportation Benefit District, it’s interesting to track how the cost of service escalates over the years. Metro bills SDOT based on actual expenses; SDOT pays an estimated cost and the the agencies reconcile the difference at the end of each year. There are three … Continue reading "How Metro bills SDOT for service"

Volunteer for ST’s Citizen Oversight Panel Sound Transit appealing Mercer Island permitting decision Sharrows as a “compromise” between bike lanes and doing nothing Kitsap Transit buys a used foot ferry as a Southworth backup Here comes the Northgate Pedestrian bridge Virtual tours of this year’s new Link stations Everett considers an “offensive” to bump itself … Continue reading "News roundup: why transit is expensive"

The Sound Transit Board on Thursday received several illustrative scenarios for prioritizing ST3 projects through the realignment required this summer because of tax shortfalls and cost overruns. The scenarios bookend the range of possibilities with delays on individual projects ranging from 1 to 14 years. Among the scenarios is a phasing approach which would keep … Continue reading "Sound Transit eyes phasing of ST3 projects"

After an eventful 2020, Metro has been taking a look at how it prioritizes routes. As first reported by Stephen Fesler, On January 27th it briefed King County’s Mobility and Environment committee on its progress and revealed a bit about the staff’s thinking. It appears Metro’s top two investment priorities will remain reducing crowding and … Continue reading "Metro unveils new service criteria"

Sound Transit has kicked off a new online open house for its future BRT service along SR 522 and NE 145th street, known as the Stride S3 line. The service, which was funded by the 2016 Sound Transit 3 ballot measure, will run from Bothell to the Seattle-Shoreline border along SR 522 and NE 145th … Continue reading "Sound Transit wants your feedback on the Stride S3 line"

Apply for the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board Seattle’s car population plateaued ($) at about 460,000 2017-2019 Paid parking rates adjust Metro hiring a new finance person, no public agency experience required More towers coming to the U-District; as always, it’s not nearly enough Republican transportation proposal ($) has new taxes on bikes and transit to … Continue reading "News roundup: not nearly enough"

CC BY-SA 3.0, Link [UPDATE: Sources say HB1157 will be ruled “necessary to implement the budget,” which gives it some more time to live. But it still needs your help!] Two companion bills, HB 1157 and SB 5390, would create incentives for local government to allow more housing, but at least one of them must … Continue reading "Bill would increase housing supply, needs your help"

MedCram, a series produced by Kyle Allred, has done over 120 updates on COVID-19, featuring Dr. Roger Seheult, including comparing the Pfizer, Moderna, and AstroZeneca-Oxford vaccines, and their outcomes, along with advice on what to do if you test positive for the virus.

From the SDOT blog: The 3rd Ave and Denny Way Signal Improvements Project will be modifying signals, updating existing trolley poles, and reconstruct the triangular block of 3rd Ave, Broad St, and Denny Way to improve transit operation and reliability in this part of downtown. Thus the beginning of the end for one of the … Continue reading "Denny Way & 3rd Ave bus improvements…finally"

There’s nothing that quite matches this community’s interests like open software in the service of transit. In a recent blog post, OneBusAway for Apple iOS maintainer Aaron Brethorst says that a complete rewrite of the software is ready for beta testing. For most of you, know that beta testing will expose you to some bugs … Continue reading "New OneBusAway for iOS"

Prepping parking rules for Climate Pledge Arena There has not been enough attention to the bad behavior by Renton and others in burden-shifting the homeless See also Mercer Island Federal Way Link 25% complete Train cafe cars are dumb Transit managers matter This is an open thread.

HB1304, which would allow existing monorail taxing authority to be used for light rail, happened to show signs of life at just about the time that ST3 projects sank into serious financial trouble. Inevitably, these two subjects have merged in the discourse. That’s unfortunate, because the bill is best thought of as solving a long-term … Continue reading "HB 1304: the solution to the next problem"

As the snow continues to blanket the region, it is high time we finally discuss a rather heated issue. Long-time transportation reporter Mike Lindblom at The Seattle Times offered this twish last winter: Should the transit agencies follow the sage advice of Mr. Lindblom, or continue past practice? Choose your side. And, no, you can’t … Continue reading "Weekend Snowpen thread: To heat or not to heat"

The Sound Transit System Expansion Committee received an update yesterday on the availability of new Siemens vehicles to support the beginning of service to Northgate this Fall. Significant risks remain, but progress has been made since a previous report in November. CEO Peter Rogoff expressed confidence that Northgate Link will open on the intended schedule. … Continue reading "Northgate LRVs on schedule, but risks remain"

Just end design review altogether Senate transpo package not as progressive as the House one Kenmore may speed up housing permits All Metro buses getting mask dispensers Stay Healthy Streets may run out of money West Seattle Bridge enforcement cameras are working 4th Avenue PBL to be extended SDOT completes its Covid-19 impact assessment for … Continue reading "News roundup: not as progressive"

On February 4, the ST Rider Experience Committee took up the longstanding issue of public restrooms on Link. Way back in 1998, a Board resolution mandated public restrooms at Union Station, Northgate TC, Everett, Tacoma Dome, Bellevue TC, and of course Sounder trains themselves. Since then, ST has added them at Seatac, Tukwila Link, Federal … Continue reading "ST to add public restrooms"

Over the last few years, Sound Transit has eased the region into the idea of paying for scarce parking spots at Transit Centers. Before the pandemic, it was possible to guarantee yourself a spot by paying a monthly fee, less if a carpool or a low-income driver. ST had issued 1,100 permits at 14 facilities, … Continue reading "Sound Transit to expand paid parking"

The first hearing for House Bill 1304 for grade-separated transportation was moved to Tuesday, February 9th, at 10 am. Register now for Seattle Subway’s pre-testimony seminar scheduled for Monday, February 8th, at 6 pm. As we noted last week, this bill will give Seattle the tools we need to solve a lot of problems. The … Continue reading "ACTION ALERT: Traffic is over… if you TESTIFY for it"

Last fall Sound Transit thought East Link construction would require three weekend closures in the 2nd Quarter of 2021 and two later in 2021 for testing. In last month’s East Link Extension update (pdf), which has nice photographs of progress at each station, next quarter will now see five closures, two of which are for … Continue reading "Two more Link closures next quarter; float still intact"