Seattle Transit Blog

Ballard-Interbay transit study. Low-carbon fuels standard passes the House again, but with one vote less than last time (!). Construction photos from Connect2020. Intercity Transit, now fare-free, sees ridership jump 13% early on. Drivers high on marijuana yet another reason to stay off the roads. Ambitious California housing bill dies ($). The Seattle Times has … Continue reading "News roundup: soggy"

The Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing yesterday on several bills relating to Sound Transit. The most significant is SB 6606, a bill from Senator Marko Liias to reset MVET valuations. That bill saw a substitute amendment that would somewhat offset the revenue reduction to Sound Transit. The offset would not be enough to satisfy … Continue reading "Legislature has hearing on Sound Transit bills"

Heidi Groover and Daniel Beekman with a good scoop in The Seattle Times: But the draft assessment focused on SDOT’s management makes the broader claim that the department is not yet prepared to manage a major FTA-funded construction project. PMA Consultants concluded that SDOT “does not yet have the management capacity and capability to implement an FTA-funded … Continue reading "More scrutiny for SDOT and Madison BRT"

Should Link accept paper transfers? The idea surfaced recently in Sound Transit’s ongoing examination of fare enforcement. Making it easier for riders to pay fares is one part of the response to concerns about the impacts of fare enforcement. Currently, Sound Transit can accept transfers from other agencies if riders are using an ORCA card, … Continue reading "Paper transfers on Link"

This is an open thread.

In the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in “preemption” laws, whereby conservative states try to clip the wings of their liberal cities. Examples in the Trump era include banning cities from increasing their minimum wage or acting as immigrant “sanctuary cities.” Of the national preemption laws tracked by the progressive Partnership for Working … Continue reading "The fight over bus lane enforcement is about cultural norms"

With the debate about full electrification timetables out of the way, Metro is moving ahead with its plans for ordering 120 battery buses this year: In 2017, Constantine and Metro General Manager Rob Gannon called on the industry to invest more in battery-electric options, including the creation of coaches that could travel farther and handle … Continue reading "Metro picks New Flyer for big electric bus purchase"

Senate Bill 6606, introduced last week by Senator Marko Liias, is the latest effort in the Legislature to resolve the three years old controversy over the MVET valuation schedule. The bill would potentially reduce Sound Transit tax revenues by just over $1 billion over the next 20 years. The MVET valuation schedule has been a … Continue reading "Liias bill would reset MVET valuations"

Alex Pedersen sits down with Seattle Bike Blog. Derailment Amtrak engineer now suing them ($). A report on RapidRide J (Eastlake) with bike lanes. Meetings underway! A new county mobility framework sounds like a snooze but could result in big changes down the road. The USS renaming kerfuffle is not very important, but also was … Continue reading "News roundup: not very important"

Shoulda hired these guys A few weeks into Connect2020, riders are enduring the result of some failures of foresight. Planning any train trip requires a 15-minute buffer that makes it nearly unusable for short-haul trips, where the train’s speed advantages matter less. Long-term failures The Central Link line is neither futureproof nor robust. The intention … Continue reading "Disappointments with the Connect2020 plan"

A year ago, we reported on future ridership maps that showed a 2040 ST3 system with ridership concentrated in and near Seattle. We subsequently got a closer look at the station (and segment) level detail behind those maps. The tables below are the high-end estimates for boardings 2040, organized by rail segment. These estimates are … Continue reading "Sound Transit’s station ridership in 2040"

Beginning Wednesday, most private vehicles will be prohibited on San Francisco’s Market Street from Van Ness Ave to the Embarcadero. It is expected to improve transit performance along the corridor and reduce pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at some of the city’s most hazardous intersections. This is an open thread.

Katherine Khashimova Long reports that badly needed housing projects are taking an average of 60% longer to permit than in 2014 ($), adding as much as seven months of pure bureaucracy. The word “emergency” is used a lot in public discourse. Different parts of the political spectrum say we have them for the global climate, … Continue reading "Seattle permitting is glacial"

2019 Washington State Ferries ridership down 3%. SDOT claims federal investigation will have no impact on RapidRide G. But originally supposed to open last year, now it’s supposed to be 2023. Rep. Nicole Macri (D – Capitol Hill) files legislation that would positively transform the region. It’s official: Union Street Symphony Station. USDOT sends $790m … Continue reading "News roundup: have no impact"

In 2021, Sound Transit’s Northgate Link Extension will add three new stations to the light rail line formerly known as Central Link: University District, Roosevelt, and Northgate. As with previous Link extensions, Metro plans to restructure bus service to improve connections to the new stations and reduce duplication with new light rail service. Given the … Continue reading "Metro proposes new network for North Link"

A striker amendment to be offered this afternoon sets a 2035 date for full electrification of the Metro bus fleet, but also responds to Metro’s concerns about the feasibility of this timeline. The revisions to the language means 2035 is set as a goal rather than a requirement in the ordinance. Metro will develop an … Continue reading "Battery bus amendment sets 2035 goal, not requirement"

Sound Transit is planning to rename the University Street Station to “Union Street Symphony” ahead of the opening of the Northgate Link extension. ST has correctly determined that having a station named “University Street” and another named “University District” (in addition to a third station named “University of Washington”) will cause confusion to riders. While … Continue reading "Station renames"

King County Council is considering an ordinance that would accelerate the planned transition to a fully electric bus fleet from 2040 to 2035. Staff have warned too a rapid transition would come at a steep cost, with large near term budget investments leading to service reductions. The cost worries take two forms. The upfront investments, … Continue reading "County considers fully electric bus fleet by 2035 despite warnings of service cuts"

The recurring message for Connect 2020 riders is that alternatives are your friend during the ten-week period. While many downtown-bound Sounder commuters have traditionally headed straight to the International District Link station (IDS) to reach their final destination, a smaller portion connects to buses at either the near-side or far-side stop at 4th and Jackson. … Continue reading "Connect 2020 is a reminder to improve 4th & Jackson"

Two friends took a trip on the longest journey on a single bus in America, Greyhound from NYC to LA, and documented the whole experience.

Connect 2020 airing of the grievances 130th St infill station (18:20) Protected bus lanes (32:23) Low-income fares (35:27) Bike and scooter share (50:19) Download link

Now that Redmond Link has officially broken ground, significant construction will be beginning in the Spring along the 3.4 mile extension from Redmond Technology Station to Downtown Redmond. Two new stations will be added in Downtown Redmond and just across the freeway at Southeast Redmond. The station designs are making their way through design review. … Continue reading "A look at the Redmond Link stations"

Ever since voters first had a look in 2016, the exact plan for South Sounder expansion in ST3 has been vague. Key elements are subject to negotiation with BNSF, who owns the track between Seattle and Tacoma. However, staff briefed the Sound Transit System Expansion Committee last Thursday on the recommendations they’ve been able to … Continue reading "The ST3 Sounder plan is still not very clear"

Legal motions in the I-976 lawsuit. People don’t like the new Link announcement voice, designed to get your attention during Connect2020. All that home construction we’ve seen in Washington? It’s not nearly enough. “Symphony” narrowly wins the “rename University Street Station” survey. Dow Constantine appoints 4 ST Boardmembers; only change is Renton Councilmember Ed Prince … Continue reading "News roundup: designed to get your attention"

Automated bus lane enforcement may have died in the state legislature, but that’s no reason the city can’t get creative when it comes to enforcing bus lanes. While true grade separation is the holy grail of reliable transit, an at-grade bus lanes can be protected much like a bike lane. Chicago’s regional planning … Continue reading "Protecting bus lanes"

At Thursday’s System Expansion Committee meeting, staff shared options for opening the NE 130th Link station ahead of the currently scheduled 2031 date. An early opening will be less expensive in capital dollars and avoid rider disruptions later. But the earlier expenditure has some modest impacts for Sound Transit’s indebtedness at an arguably sensitive time … Continue reading "Sound Transit previews NE 130th options"

Transit design goal: have a design that has endured for a century, becoming synonymous with the city it represents. This is an open thread.

With Link headways now around 15 minutes all day, real time data would allow Link’s quality of service to at least match that of a frequent bus route. Unfortunately, that’s not to be. ST’s David Jackson, answering when we could expect an accurate GTFS feed: Because of the lead time required for the GTFS data … Continue reading "No realtime data for Connect 2020"

Metro is considering a program of income-based fares that would fully subsidize fares for riders with very low incomes. A public launch is targeted for July 2020. The program would expand on the current ORCA Lift which offers 50% discounts across local agencies to those with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level. Currently, … Continue reading "Metro to expand low income fare subsidy"

Metro hiring for tons of different jobs. State hero Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon trying to remove regulatory barriers to housing construction. Link headways slide from 12 minutes to “13-15“. When do we get to start using the Columbia St pathway? Just keep the center platform at Pioneer Square. It saves money, time, and is better for … Continue reading "News roundup: not nearly enough"

Voters approved an ST3 plan that included a NE 130th Street “infill” station opening in 2031. Of course, the segment it is “infilling” has barely started construction and won’t open until 2024. In principle, completing all the work in one go would simplify the project and give riders 7 more years of high-quality service. On … Continue reading "NE 130th Station discussion tomorrow"

If you’ve gotten used to just waltzing up to the train station and waiting for the next train, the 12-minute headways during Connect 2020 may be something of a shock. Fortunately Sound Transit has published a Connect 2020 timetable, so you can plan ahead. You can view the PDF or just go to your favorite … Continue reading "Use the Link timetables during Connect 2020"

For the next ten weeks, Link riders will have to contend with infrequent trains, a forced transfer in Pioneer Square, and weekend closures to prepare for Northgate and East Link Expansions. These delays and closures could have been avoided by building for future expansion originally rather than planning and authorizing the system piecemeal. This time, … Continue reading "Seattle Subway: the danger of tunnel vision"

Connect 2020‘s first full closure of the downtown transit tunnel is behind us. Now, we settle in for 10 weeks of tighter, more crushloaded trains during peak periods, longer waiting time especially during peak, a mid-line forced transfer across a temporary center platform at Pioneer Square Station, and a ban on bikes on the train … Continue reading "Cyclists to bear brunt of light rail operational changes, starting this morning"

This is an open thread.

The ten-week period of construction work to install East Link track and switches in International-District/Chinatown Station, a project Sound Transit has dubbed “Connect 2020“, has arrived. Operational nuisances begin today and tomorrow with a full closure of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel. Just like happened a couple weekends last fall, shuttles will run every 7 … Continue reading "Link FREE this weekend for tunnel closure"

WSDOT looking at adding Spokane ($) to the HSR plan. USDOT is auditing SDOT’s usage of federal funds in several projects. It is a criminal inquiry. Bothell man arrested for joyriding in a stolen Sound Transit golf cart. Overlake TC bus stops have moved. Everett Transit facing a future of declining revenue, will consider merging … Continue reading "News roundup: not afraid"

With a decade full of dramatic changes to Seattle and the region as a whole behind us, it’s time to look ahead to what the 2020s has in store. Between completing the bulk of light rail expansion under ST2, starting work on ST3 projects, and figuring out the new region that springs forth from the … Continue reading "Looking forward to 2020 and beyond"

Happy New Year! Today, Thurston County Intercity Transit is embarking on a five-year pilot program to run without fares. That means both their fixed-route buses and paratransit (which, by federal law, cannot charge more than twice the fixed-route fare) will be free. This experiment is not a dive off the ideological deep end, but, rather, … Continue reading "Intercity Transit rolls out fare freedom, and schools King County on performance metrics"

On the eve of the new year, it’s time to review the old. In 2019, we dove deeper into ST3 planning. Transit advocates mused on ST4. As the year drew to a close, we also contended with a possible reduction in funding for already approved projects and current bus service in Seattle. In descending order, … Continue reading "Most read & commented STB posts of 2019"

Geekwire reports that the carshare company will shut down across North America in February. Cars will start disappearing well before then. This step is not surprising. Lime recently shut down their similar Limepod service. ShareNow itself is a merger from weakness of two previous competitors. Recent tinkering with the fee structure was a likely signal … Continue reading "ShareNow ceasing operations, Limebike pauses"

This is an open thread.

King County Metro and Seattle Streetcars will be allowing riders to ride for free from 7 pm on New Year’s Eve, 2019, to 4 am on New Year’s Day, 2020. This is just for King County Metro (including Via to Transit, Community Van, Community Ride, and Access) and the streetcars, not other agencies, nor for … Continue reading "Free Metro rides New Years Eve / Holiday service changes / long-term Link pain"

Metro has revealed their preferred alignment for RapidRide K in Kirkland. The service will operate between Downtown and Totem Lake via NE 85th and 124th Ave NE on Rose Hill. In South Kirkland, it will follow 6th St and 108th Ave. The decision has implications for several other routes which will be moved or shortened. … Continue reading "Metro selects a preferred alignment for RapidRide K"

Since it dropped right before Thanksgiving, I worry not everyone saw Alon Levy’s excellent piece in Streetsblog on fares and fare enforcement. The proximate reason for the piece is New York’s plan to spend a bunch of money on fare enforcement that’s disproportionate to the actual loss of revenue involved. As per usual, the piece … Continue reading "Fares, Faregates and Fare Enforcement"

Peter Rogoff gets an “excellent” (not “outstanding”) job evaluation ($). ECB checks in on Alex Pedersen’s first few weeks in office. Not great! Republicans want to gut the general fund to subsidize highways deferred by I-976. University Place Mayor Kent Keel is the new ST Board Chair. Dow Constantine vice-chair. Sound Transit open to cutting … Continue reading "News roundup: Merry Christmas"

by ALEX KVEN Some fixes to transit delays are expensive, or require taking on entrenched interests, but others do not. Here are two easy wins in the southern part of I-405. On SR-167 northbound, the HOV/toll lane on the left-hand side turns into a regular lane shortly after S. 180th street. This is quite early … Continue reading "Two easy ways to speed up I-405 buses"

OneBusAway is an integrated, open-source suite of software components that provides real-time and schedule information for public transit, supported by a nonprofit organization that is responsive to the needs of transit agencies and the riders. It is also an important alternative to the surveillance capitalism business model for providing such information. In this post, I will argue … Continue reading "Surveillance Capitalism, Transit Information, and OneBusAway"

This is an open thread.

SDOT’s spot improvements program strikes again. This time, it’s a re-channelization of one block of 3rd Avenue at the downtown-Belltown border to allow southbound buses to more easily enter the 3rd Avenue transitway. SDOT says the change “will benefit approximately 168,000 daily bus riders on 36 key routes.” The current configuration has two southbound GP … Continue reading "Bus lane / queue jump coming to 3rd and Virginia"