Seattle Transit Blog

Budget shortfalls and COVID-19 have hit Amtrak Cascades service hard, according to a post last week on the WSDOT blog. Only one train per day is currently running in either direction. Long-distance service like the Empire Builder and Coast Starlight have been reduced to three runs per week. Before COVID hit, WSDOT and Sound Transit … Continue reading "Amtrak Cascades faces a long road back"

As expected, the Seattle Council approved a November ballot measure to renew its Transportation Benefit District 9-0 and preserve existing Metro service. The real action was in the amendments. (The discussion begins at 1:11:00 in the video above). The expiring measure included a 0.1% sales tax and $60 vehicle license fee. As the latter may … Continue reading "TBD headed to the ballot"

Today at 2pm, the Seattle Council is voting to send renewal of the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) to the November ballot. As eight of nine council members are already on record in support, passage of something is inevitable. The uncertain parts are what amendments will go with it. The baseline legislation is a renewal of … Continue reading "Seattle TBD vote is today"

Osaka Metro shows you how to open the window for fresh air on their various train models.

A letter from King County Executive Dow Constantine and four Councilmembers (Balducci, Dembowski, Upthegrove, Kohl-Welles) expressed support for the Seattle Transportation District (TBD) effort, while pledging to pursue a countywide measure “at an appropriate time.” The letter is delicately balanced between applauding Seattle’s effort to maintain service, while stressing the need for a regional measure … Continue reading "King County letter cracks door for regional TBD"

Photo tour of Lynnwood Link. Amtrak Cascades pulls the Talgo trainsets. Yet another delay for the Missing Link. Metro operators to get their raises after all ($), after Council approves contract 8-1 [Dunn voting no], but layoffs likely. Seattle finally opening up streets to restaurants. Matt Baume tears up about Federal Way light rail. Lower … Continue reading "News roundup: traffic is back"

Correction: The Woodinville connector service is recommended to operate at 20 minute headways at peak and off-peak, not 15 minutes at peak as originally reported. Updated text in paragraph 7. A transit hub northwest of a rebuilt SR 522 and I-405 interchange will serve as the eastern terminus for Sound Transit’s planned SR 522 BRT. … Continue reading "Bothell transit hub will connect SR 522 & I-405 BRT"

Seattle TBD renewal Metro drivers (17:35) Maximizing ridership (22:57) HALA (35:50) Gig car share (50:40) Download

Federal Way Link, the last of the core ST2 light rail projects, has finally broken ground. In lieu of the traditional ceremony with elected and community leaders speaking from a podium and tossing dirt, Sound Transit has chosen a pandemic-friendly alternative: a virtual groundbreaking. Sound Transit’s virtual groundbreaking (linked above) has short videos from many … Continue reading "Federal Way Link breaks ground, virtually"

Last Friday, the Seattle City Council Transportation committee met and passed an initial round of amendments to a proposed Transportation Benefits District (TBD) on to full council. The last amendment, to increase the funding from 0.1% to 0.2% sales tax, was proposed by CM Tammy Morales and eventually withdrawn so that council could have more … Continue reading "Action Alert: Tell Council to Save Transit Funding"

A silent movie of various activities performed by the Seattle Department of Streets and Sewers in 1926. Skip to 1:14 for some footage of trolleys and automobiles at a familiar spot. This is an open thread.

If you are a (responsible, of course) user of public transportation, there’s a good chance that you’re eagerly awaiting the day that Link will once again run at frequent service levels. In the meantime, you might (perhaps after missing a train one day) have made sure to download the massive PDF Link schedule to your … Continue reading "Link coronavirus cheat sheet"

The most progressive change we can make to the proposed Seattle Transportation Benefit District (TBD) is to make it larger. Even if we focus on funding transit service as we urged last week, the initial proposal of a .1% sales tax with nothing to replace the current $60 Vehicle Licensing Fee will mean big transit … Continue reading "Action Alert: Save Transit, Fully Fund the TBD"

SDOT starting to form a plan for the West Seattle Bridge. The study will take about 18 months (!). The low bridge is cracked too, but it doesn’t have to close. After protest, Metro managers promise to “do better” on race. Metro GM Rob Gannon taking a promotion in Montana, longtime Metro leader Terry White … Continue reading "News roundup: do better"

Sound Transit and King County Metro, along with agencies in other major cities, are making a concerted effort for more federal assistance in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. Yesterday, the leaders of 27 major agencies joined in calling for up to $36 billion in aid for transit to cover COVID-related expenses and replacing depleted local … Continue reading "Sound Transit & other agencies in push for federal assistance"

There’s a certain thread of argument in transit advocacy that is frustrating because it is totally factually accurate, and yet completely misses the point. The latest example is this report on American light rail by the right-leaning Manhattan Institute, called The Economics of Urban Light Rail: A Guide for Planners and Citizens. America has way … Continue reading "Maximizing ridership is easy"

On the first day of summer, I complained that the City hadn’t opened more streets to pedestrians, specifically in high-density commercial districts, to allow for more outdoor social distancing and commercial activity. I figure I should follow up to note that the day after my post went live SDOT announced it was opening up several … Continue reading "SDOT making it easier for businesses set up shop outdoors"

A recent view of the East Link alignment through Bellevue, courtesy of Bellevue Transportation Department. Heavy civil construction is expected to be substantially complete in Bellevue this Fall, except on the central Bellevue segment where it will complete early in 2021. This is an open thread.

Mike Lindblom and Heidi Groover report ($) that King County Executive Dow Constantine wants to reopen February’s collective bargaining agreement that grants ATU-587 raises of 3% the next two years and 4% in 2022-23. The Union has good reason to consider it. With revenues collapsing and service cuts coming in September, layoffs appear inevitable. Lower … Continue reading "Metro asks to defer driver raises"

With a comprehensive realignment of capital projects delayed until July 2021, Sound Transit turned its attention yesterday to current projects where advances through project stage gates have been on hold since March. The Board must decide in coming months how to proceed on many of these projects in 2021 pending decisions on the broader program. … Continue reading "Decisions later this year on delayed projects"

This week, a new proposal for a Seattle Transit Benefit District (TBD) was released by the mayor’s office. As presented, it’s about half the size of the 2014’s wildly successful TBD that contributed to our US leading ridership growth. Putting aside our desire for a larger measure, we have major concerns about what was included … Continue reading "Use the Seattle TBD to fund transit service"

Five years ago this month city released the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda recommendations, a.k.a. the HALA report, aimed at making Seattle more affordable and, well, livable. Thanks to lots of work from the mayor(s) and council, many of the 65 recommendations have since become law, including marquee items like Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) and … Continue reading "HALA, zoning and racism five years later"

TCC’s reaction to the Seattle TBD proposal. Redlining and Single-Family Zoning. RIP Mike Winkler, Oral arguments on I-976 ($). CT CEO Emmett Heath retiring ($). Spokane moving up the bike rankings. Uber and Lyft drivers make $10 an hour — or $23. Apartment construction has gotten harder — since 2019. ($) SBB with a funny … Continue reading "News roundup: moving up"

Mayor Durkan and Seattle DOT today proposed a 6-year renewal for the Seattle Transportation Benefit District (TBD), which would go before the voter this fall. Councilmember Alex Pedersen, who chairs the transportation committee, will bring it before the City Council for approval, ending months of speculation about the fate of city bus service. The slimmed-down … Continue reading "Durkan, SDOT propose a smaller Transportation Benefit District for this fall’s ballot"

I rode several bus routes over the weekend to check out how well riders were taking to the new state edict to wear a face covering in public. As expected, close to half the riders did not have masks at all. A program to distribute free masks would help a lot, in that regard. Thank … Continue reading "WEAR YOUR DAMN MASK"

Sound Transit posted this cab video of a northbound train on the Sounder North Line. Enjoy with your own music. This is an open thread.

Last month’s Times story that rents are dropping in West Seattle ($) since the bridge closed spurs two thoughts. There’s something honorable about journalism that always tries to find the person who is hurt in any change to the status quo, so that readers can understand the human costs. But there’s also something perverse about … Continue reading "All news is bad news"

A reduced Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD), extending the existing 0.1% sales tax but not replacing the lost vehicle licence fee revenues, appears headed to the November ballot. If approved, it will fund youth ORCA and low income programs at existing levels. But Seattle will purchase much less bus service than in previous years, and … Continue reading "A smaller Seattle TBD for the November ballot"

East-west passenger rail Center city connector on pause (11:44) Jump bikes (15:16) Opening streets (24:46) Community Transit and Everett Transit (31:50) Metro cuts (37:35) Download link

Sounder and Link fares return today, but Link headways are still way down. A new computer game lets you fix Seattle’s streets. Four more miles of Stay Healthy Streets. West Seattle Bridge is reparable, SDOT thinks. Transit priority on the low bridge chipped away ($), now in the night. There’s a survey for which Stay … Continue reading "News roundup: TV star"

A state study of passenger rail service via Stampede Pass (report, slides) reveals options that are relatively inexpensive but also not ambitious enough to provide competitive options between cities. The most expansive option would run Spokane to Seattle with a running time of 8:35 (!). As with any indirect route, it mostly has to be … Continue reading "East-West Rail study: small project, small impact"

The Sound Transit Board has given up on earlier plans to decide a capital program realignment this year, and will extend the process into the middle of next year. The new “path forward” is a comprehensive realignment plan and schedule for future project delivery by July 2021. In the meantime, a more limited set of … Continue reading "Sound Transit realignment process will extend another year"

As of last Friday, wearing a cloth face covering (over your mouth and nose) in public, or staying at least six feet away from other human beings, is now the law in Washington State. This is an open thread.

Thanks to some unexpected free time these last few months, Pantograph is now available for three agencies in two new regions—our neighbors at TransLink of greater Vancouver, TriMet of Portland, and Lane Transit District of Eugene. Pantograph works in these new cities just as it does today in Puget Sound. Features include real-time mapping of … Continue reading "Pantograph transit tracker now available in Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR"

Months before the economic outlook turned gloomy amid the global COVID pandemic, Everett Transit was looking at financial trouble. Last year, the city-run system revealed that it forecast a $1.6 million budget shortfall that would continue due to Everett’s declining retail sales. While the agency has great plans to improve its network in coming years, … Continue reading "Everett Transit looks at future options, including merger"

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has paused work on the Center City Connector (CCC) and several other projects as the city wrangles a steep revenue deficit. The pause appears likely to further delay the start of service. But the recession also threatens the longer term future of the streetcar. Needed revenues from the rideshare … Continue reading "Center City Connector on hold again amid fresh funding gaps"

How race intersects ($) with transportation planning. Already, calls to chip away at bus priority on the low West Seattle Bridge. But the high bridge is reparable, at least for a while. Sound Transit audit ($) makes suggestions that could save hundreds of millions, but out of almost $100 billion in spending. Sam Zimbabwe goes … Continue reading "News roundup: already"

Monica Nickelsburg reports that the Jump bikes, now acquired by Lime but, confusingly, still painted red and using the Jump Uber app, are back on the streets this week. The Lime brand has largely pivoted to scooters worldwide, but here in Seattle they’re still waiting for the City to figure out how scooter permits will … Continue reading "The bikes are back"

The city’s Stay Healthy Streets are an innovative, low-cost way to increase people space by bootstrapping on the existing greenways network. Kudos to the Mayor and SDOT for a creative solution. But as businesses start to re-open, we’ll need a much more aggressive approach, one that goes beyond the low-density residential areas and into commercial … Continue reading "Time to open more streets"

Warning: Crude language and violent subject matter This is an open thread.

With Snohomish County well into Phase 2 of its pandemic recovery, Community Transit is set to begin restoring its bus service over the next few months. On July 6, CT will bring service levels back to 75% of pre-pandemic trips to accommodate an increased need on heavily-used routes. A 85% restoration will take place in … Continue reading "Community Transit plans phased reopening in July and September"

Somehow, with transit cuts coming everywhere, Via rideshares live for another day. $35m cost overrun ($) on Tacoma Link. Meet bus driver Clay McClure. Bus hits 3rd Avenue pole. The future of Pierce Transit ($). ST gets $2m from Feds for Everett TOD. ST Express returning to fares, more 550 runs July 1. Feds providing … Continue reading "News roundup: more"

Metro announced yesterday that it is largely restoring pre-pandemic service levels on Monday: The result is Metro will operate more than 11,000 weekday bus trips, or 85% of its pre-COVID service level. Saturday service will be 8,200 trips (99%) and Sunday service will be 7,000 trips (99%). Starting Monday, Metro’s will increase the number of … Continue reading "Metro recovery starts Monday"

The Sound Transit Executive Committee failed on Thursday to reach agreement on realignment criteria for ST3 projects. Board members sought a set of agreed criteria for a better-tuned realignment, but in the end voted only to send a framework of possible criteria to the full Board without recommendation. A “blunt instrument” delay of five years … Continue reading "Sound Transit Board argues realignment criteria"

Seattle Office of Housing (PDF): Three parcels totaling 3.79 acres of land and more than 179,000 square feet, opposite the Mount Baker Link light rail station. Transformative opportunity to develop affordable housing, ground floor early learning, and open space near high capacity transit. The laundry facility, next to Mt. Baker Station, was one factor in … Continue reading "Mt. Baker laundry site to become affordable housing"

With the September 2020 service change, Metro will restore service to about 85% of pre-COVID levels. However, that’s just a precursor to a series of service reductions Metro is preparing over the next two years, with a cumulative reduction of 20%-30% of service from previous levels rolling out through every service change in 2021 and … Continue reading "More cuts in Metro service in 2021 & 2022"

MASS Coalition is raising funds for three POC-led organizations that are doing vital work supporting and strengthening Seattle communities RapidRide H construction has started. “Online open house” about Mercer Island bus/rail interface. Mountlake Terrace Freeway Station closing for construction, July 6th till November. Everett Transit looking at revenue-boosting options ($). Oregon agencies want to keep … Continue reading "News roundup: no more"

Due to a dramatic ridership decline as a result of COVID-19, Metro has reduced bus service to match ridership demand. But with revenues cratering, yesterday it announced a permanent 15% service cut compared to pre-pandemic levels for its September service change. This includes a 50% drop in Seattle-funded service, allowing it to continue to the … Continue reading "Metro to come back in September with 15% less service"

King County Metro has some challenging times ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to lead to a recession, one which is forecast to be as bad or worse than the great recession of 2008. Funding from the CARES act can help offset losses in the short term, but Metro will almost certainly have to reduce … Continue reading "Metro’s 2015 restructures, revisited"