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Intercity Transit is looking to make the rare jump to zero-fare service beginning January 1, 2020, pending a board of directors vote next week. Last year, voters in the urbanized portion of Thurston County approved a 0.4 percent sales tax increase to fund more transit service. Riders on Intercity Transit buses currently pay $1.25 for … Continue reading "Intercity Transit looks to go fare-free"

Author’s Note: SEPTA’s 50-cent electronic fare discount has been added since the original post, thanks to an observant commenter. King County Metro is at the mercy of cities for giving right-of-way and signal priority to buses, at the mercy of the State (and Tim Eyman) for being allowed to ask for local tax revenue, at … Continue reading "How the County could reduce downtown gridlock and preserve more service"

Frank and I will tape the next podcast this evening. Leave your questions for us in the comments. The usual question guidelines apply.

Yes, this is an actual commercial by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and this is an open thread.

Paxtyn Merten, Puget Sound Business Journal [$]: Since moving entirely into downtown Seattle’s F5 Tower in August, workers have capitalized on those benefits. Phillips said drive-alone rates among employees are just under 25 percent, down from 55 percent at the former headquarters. … About 29 percent drive and park vehicles, which F5 partially subsidizes within … Continue reading "Policy choices matter"

The Sound Transit Board had its first opportunity to review the results of I-976 at Thursday’s meeting. While expressing confidence they would not be forced to reduce the MVET, and also outlining the litigation strategy they intend to pursue, the Board also heard how an immediate stop to MVET revenues would result in a five … Continue reading "Sound Transit maps next steps after I-976"

Thomas Street Greenway and a “protected intersection” coming to South Lake Union area I-976 could be blocked as soon as next week. Which is good, because I-976 will be very bad for people with mobility-limiting disabilities, especially those in more rural areas. OR and WA are re-starting the Columbia River Crossing. But do they need … Continue reading "News Roundup: Protected"

In October, WSDOT awarded the contract for the widening of I-405 between Bellevue and Renton. With significant construction beginning in the Spring, that kicks off construction on the first capital elements of I-405 BRT South. Meanwhile, WSDOT and Sound Transit have been making complementary investments along the corridor that continue to raise expectations for the … Continue reading "I-405 BRT South moves forward"

Yesterday, we covered the first part of the Cascadia Rail Summit. The next sessions were more technical and covered lessons learned from high speed rail systems around the world and also an overview of rail equipment. Below are only the highlights. Andy Kunz, President & CEO, USHSR Andy Kunz spoke about what circumstances make high … Continue reading "Cascadia Rail Summit recap: part 2"

The Cascadia Rail Summit was held from Nov 6-8. Hosted at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond and organized by the US High Speed Rail Association, the conference brought together some key decision makers from government, consulting, and rail operators and train manufacturers from around the world. Even for a rail skeptic, it is hard to dismiss … Continue reading "Cascadia Rail Summit recap: part 1"

Amsterdam was not always a cycling paradise and London is trying to get there. This is an open thread.

Several improvements to Link station signage are in development. Numbered exit signs will be piloted at downtown Seattle stations next week, and other enhancements will be rolled out with system expansions in future years. The changes were introduced at a meeting of the System Expansion Committee on Thursday as the Committee approved a contract for … Continue reading "Signage changes for Link"

Sound Transit is considering reworking both ST and Community Transit buses that come down I-5 from Snohomish County when Northgate Station opens in 2021. Sound Transit buses 510, 511, 512, and 513 would all turn around at Northgate, allowing them to run more frequently. 800-series Community Transit routes would also turn around at Northgate instead … Continue reading "ST considers stopping some buses at Northgate"

KUOW interviews Pierce County Executive and ST Board dissident Bruce Dammeier on why he voted for I-976 — but he’s wrong on the vote totals and a bunch of other facts. Flixbus is the newest intercity bus company. Serious talks about an Everett Transit-Community Transit merger ($). Sound Transit holding public meetings on the South … Continue reading "News roundup: go it alone"

Last week’s apparent passage of I-976 has given rise to a fair amount of commentary affirming that voters were sending a message, and disagreeing about what they are saying. One could focus on the statewide rejection of taxes on cars, narrow support for car tabs in the three counties served by Sound Transit, a probable … Continue reading "The political economy of the spine after I-976"

Tolling in the new Highway 99 tunnel has finally started. Today is the first regular weekday commute to feel the impacts (as yesterday was Veterans Day). WSDOT is encouraging tunnel users to avail themselves of the Good-to-Go Pass, by giving pass users a $2 discount. (If only someone could explain this principle to King County … Continue reading "First regular weekday of tolling in the Highway 99 tunnel"

New city council I-976 impacts on Sound Transit and Metro (12:49) RapidRide K and a possible small victory in Eastgate (44:56) Sammamish (50:58) Download link

This is an open thread.

Katherine Khashimova Long recently published a fine piece of reporting ($) on how many “luxury” condos have unclear ownership, potentially mere financial assets that are left “empty as the city grows less affordable for its middle- and lower-class residents.” That may very well be the outcome thanks to our many arbitrary restrictions on building enough … Continue reading "Vacant luxury condos are only a problem if you have crappy zoning"

A bus lane and queue jump coming to… Olympia? Seattle car ownership ($) dropping. RapidRide G passes through another gate on the way to opening. If Seattle can’t afford sidewalks maybe just slow down the cars. Public meetings coming for Link extensions to Federal Way and Tacoma. Lawsuits against I-976 from both Seattle and King … Continue reading "News roundup: dropping"

Yesterday Dan laid out the impacts of I-976 on Sound Transit. Now let’s talk about Metro and Seattle. Unlike with ST, the situation is both simpler and more dire. KC Exec Constantine has already pledged a lawsuit, and Mayor Durkan is expected to follow today on behalf of the city. Metro calculates it will lose … Continue reading "I-976’s impacts on bus service"

Last night’s returns indicate I-976 is likely to pass. The next step is likely a court challenge, or several. What if the initiative is sustained? Let’s look ahead at the implications for Sound Transit. If Sound Transit is forced to stop collecting the MVET, that reduces 2021-2041 revenues by $6.9 billion, or 12.3% of what … Continue reading "What next after I-976?"

One can get election results at virtually any local outlet, but since you rightly eschew all news sources besides Seattle Transit Blog, here’s the stuff you won’t get anywhere else. Candidates we endorsed in bold. I-976: Yes (55%) leads No (45%) statewide. King County District 2: Zahilay leads Gossett 62-37 King County District 4: Kohl-Welles … Continue reading "Election results"

Last we heard, just a few weeks ago, Sound Transit’s draft service plan was to discontinue ST 541 (Overlake – University District), along with ST 540 (Kirkland – University District). This week, the Rider Experience Committee is set to reconsider that plan. Up to ten one-way trips will remain on ST 541. That’s significantly less … Continue reading "ST 541 not dead yet"

Tomorrow is election day. If you haven’t mailed your ballot (making use of the free return postage) or a ballot drop box, do so right now. The deadline to drop ballots at the drop boxes is 8 pm Tuesday. Mailed ballots must be post-marked Tuesday. If you don’t mail it tonight, get thee to a … Continue reading "Last call to mail or drop off ballots"

This is an open thread.

Seattle Times has a deep dive on the impact of I-976. You never like to see “hunger games” used as a metaphor in a headline. CM Pacheco comes out for scooters. Seattle Bike Blog has some ideas for the rollout. The city of LA wants to know every move you make on a scooter, in … Continue reading "News roundup: the future"

UPDATE: 11/2/19: Sound Transit’s final (not draft) Service Implementation Plan recommends “temporarily” keeping up to 10 one-way trips of the 541. The analysis still stands. Because it replaces the Overlake-UW 541, the proposed Sound Transit Route 544 at first glance seem designed for Redmond/Overlake users, albeit one that serves them awkwardly. But I think a … Continue reading "ST544: for Kirkland, Redmond, or both?"

King County Metro has begun preliminary design for RapidRide K connecting Totem Lake, Kirkland, Bellevue and Eastgate. Some details emerged in a pair of recent briefings in Kirkland and Bellevue. The line is anticipated to open in 2025. As mapped in Metro Connects, the long range plan for expanding Metro service, the K Line would … Continue reading "Planning RapidRide K in Bellevue & Kirkland"

Just in time for you to vote on gutting it via I-976, the Seattle Transportation Benefit District issued its fourth Annual Report on what it’s doing with your $60 vehicle license fee and 0.1% sales tax. It’s long but there are lots of pretty graphs. Some takeaways: More bus service The percentage of households within … Continue reading "Seattle TBD Annual Report"

As the first stage of the project to connect the East Link track to the existing line, Sound Transit planned three weekend closures to build a temporary center platform at Pioneer Square. ST needs it to continue operations during a 10-week project to actually build the track switch, from January to March 2020. The second … Continue reading "We get a weekend of Link back"

The Micromobility Coalition: On average, workers living in the City of Seattle have access to 382,000 jobs within a 45-minute walk, e-bike/e-scooter, or transit commute, versus 283,000 jobs within a 45-minute commute from home by walk or transit only. This increase is equivalent to making 35 percent more jobs reachable without lengthening commutes or adding … Continue reading "Report shows how e-bikes and scooters can complement transit"

Did you know that Baltimore has a third-rail powered subway line? This is an open thread.

SDOT wants to complete 90 blocks of red bus lanes by the end of 2020. It’s done 32 blocks so far. Beacon Hill mass elevator failure still a “mystery.” ($) An update on some transportation projects in Bellevue. More public restrooms coming to the Sound Transit system. Link to Downtown Redmond breaks ground. Mercer Island … Continue reading "News roundup: a mystery"

Yesterday, the Sound Transit Board adopted a final set of options for the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Link extensions to Ballard and West Seattle. After a contentious discussion that frequently focused on cost challenges, the Board voted down a Pigeon Point tunnel in West Seattle. Options for a central Ballard station at 20th … Continue reading "Sound Transit Board resists adding Seattle rail options over cost concerns"

This afternoon, the Sound Transit Board will finalize the list of options to be examined in the Link Extensions Draft EIS for West Seattle and Ballard. A motion on the agenda adds just one more option in West Seattle to a initial list of alternatives adopted in May. Several other alternatives that were recently studied … Continue reading "Sound Transit set to finalize West Seattle & Ballard EIS alternatives"

Seattle civic icon Jim Ellis passed away yesterday. Here’s a brief summary of his legacy, from a 2013 Seattle Times profile by Thanh Tan: Ellis has played a vital role in shaping our region’s heritage, from the cleanup of Lake Washington in the 1950s to the formation of Metro and founding of “Forward Thrust,” a … Continue reading "The legacy of Jim Ellis"

In a metropolitan area, or in a very large city that encompasses a wide range of economic activity, a high median income is a badge of honor. It usually involves some combination of an educated populace, vibrant research institutions, policies that help entrepreneurs, and high quality of life. For a city, like Sammamish ($), that … Continue reading "For “rich cities”, read “exclusionary zoning”"

These are STB’s endorsements for the November 2019 general election. The sections are listed in rough order of importance. As always, we base these endorsements solely on our assessment of their ability to improve transit and land use. NO on I-976. The latest Tim Eyman initiative would dramatically reduce the amount of money available for … Continue reading "STB General Election Endorsements"

Click on the “pic” link next to the television icon above to view the video. This is an open thread.

Sound Transit is in the process of reviewing its fare enforcement policies, per a presentation last Thursday. However, the single most impactful element of that process is still not on their radar. Sound Transit fare enforcement officers are directed to warn, and then fine (after repeat infractions) passengers who possess passes that cover the highest … Continue reading "Sound Transit still not tracking how many passengers with clear-and-obvious proof of payment are getting warnings and citations"

Since 2014, the City of Seattle’s Transportation Benefit District (STBD) has consistently funded transportation improvements across the city, such as more frequent Metro buses, subsidized ORCA cards for income-qualifying residents, and pre-paid ORCA cards for Seattle Public School high schoolers. Seattle voters approved the STBD through a 0.1% sales tax increase and a $60 annual … Continue reading "Seattle Transit Advisory Board Members: No on I-976"

We are hours from finishing up our general election endorsements. If there are races other than I-976, King County, and Seattle Council with strongly pro-transit candidates we should be paying attention to, please mention it in the comments.

Weekend link disruptions Second Montlake bridge? or not (6:41) 520 bus restructures (15:12) RapidRide J (25:05) King County’s new electrification initiative (38:05)

With Lynnwood Link construction underway, Community Transit has less than five years to prepare for major changes to Snohomish County’s transit landscape. The draft of their latest six-year transit development plan is out for public comment and describes some of the upcoming challenges and priorities for the agency up to the 2024 restructure. Last year, … Continue reading "Community Transit’s near-term plans prioritize frequency and connections"

Stats show black riders receive every level of ST fare enforcement action ($) out of proportion to their fraction of ridership. See our previous coverage. Open house coming on Kent Station parking improvements. 130th St community meeting pushes for 2024 opening, considers upzones. Microsoft puts more money into the HSR study. Council formally approves ($) … Continue reading "News roundup: bonfire of the Limebikes"

Sound Transit: Trains will run as usual between SODO-Angle Lake and Capitol Hill-UW, with three-car trains every 10 minutes during most hours of the day. Free bus shuttles will run every 7 minutes in groups of two buses at a time, serving SODO, Stadium, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, University Street, Westlake and Capitol Hill. Plan … Continue reading "First of several weekend Link closures start this weekend"

Weather permitting, this weekend SDOT will install a full-time bus lane on Olive Way between 4th Avenue and 8th Avenue. This will help 39 major regional bus routes from Metro, Sound Transit and Community Transit. SDOT estimates these routes combine for 33,000 daily riders. You may recall that this stretch of downtown was where bus … Continue reading "Red paint coming to Olive Way"