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by Martin H. Duke on (#31TK2)
The Mayoral Primary inspired more discussion between growth advocates and renters’ advocates. Renters’ advocates wonder why market urbanists* didn’t rally to Nikkita Oliver. Market urbanists wonder why Oliver didn’t embrace developers who can address the affordability crisis. There are also some attempts to bridge this gap and form common cause against NIMBYs that oppose both […]
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Seattle Transit Blog
| Link | https://seattletransitblog.com/ |
| Feed | https://feeds.feedburner.com/seattletransitblog/rss |
| Updated | 2024-11-23 00:30 |
by Bruce Englehardt on (#31QT2)
Generated by Will Geary using an open-source data repository known as Transitland. Other cities available here. While it doesn’t seem to include Sounder, it hits just about every other regional bus system. This is an open thread.
by Lizz Giordano on (#31NDQ)
Automatic cameras have been approved by the state legislature to monitor speeds, discourage drivers from running red lights and penalize cars not yielding to stopped school buses. But so far, they are not authorized to keep cars out of transit-only lanes by consistently ticketing offending vehicles. (A previous STB post explored the path to using automatic […]
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by Frank Chiachiere on (#31JE2)
As Metro evaluates fare simplification, one thing is clear: getting more riders to use ORCA would be a win. ORCA speeds up boarding times and makes for more efficient bus service. Unlimited ORCA passes, such as PugetPass and the employer-provided Passport, make people more likely to use transit, by reducing the marginal cost of a […]
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by Lizz Giordano on (#31F5W)
Tuesday Metro presented a list of proposed services changes slated for next March to members of King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee. The proposal includes adding over 50,000 hours of service and eliminating bus Route 99. As the proposal added service to only one Eastside bus route, Councilmember Claudia Balducci criticized the proposed […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#31CK3)
SDOT finished its sidewalk survey. There’s a lot of work to do. West Seattle Transportation Coalition provides its ST3 input to Sound Transit. Most readers won’t like the conclusions: park and rides! driverless cars! tunnels everywhere! This 11-lane monster ($) in Bothell is an abomination. Uber discounts for Link riders. The trouble with bike helmet […]
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by Frank Chiachiere on (#31BVY)
WSDOT has posted some new information about the high speed rail study funded by the legislature this session to the tune of $300,000. The final report is due on December 15, just three months from now. Five “conceptual corridors†will be studied between Vancouver and Portland. The team of consultants is led by CH2M and includes […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#318SX)
After a long listening process, Metro settled on a flat $2.75 adult fare for all regular bus trips. Riders asked for a simpler system, and they got one. On Saturday Brent lamented the missed opportunity to accelerate ORCA adoption with a slightly more complicated fare system. But that’s only one example of how the fare […]
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by Lizz Giordano on (#315XV)
After hitting an all-time low in 2010, bicycle deaths have risen 12 percent nationwide, the largest increase in two decades and outpacing the overall rise all traffic fatalities, according to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association. But contrary to four decades ago, adults rather than children are more likely to die in […]
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by Brent White on (#313GH)
Opening Day for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit‘s new train was Friday, August 25. This is an open thread.
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by Brent White on (#3116W)
The $2.75 flat fare just proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine is a big step forward for the simplicity of King County Metro’s fare system. But consider if the cash fare were $3 instead, with the electronic fare left at $2.75. Paying $3 is simpler and faster than paying $2.75. You just pull out three […]
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by Frank Chiachiere on (#30YNH)
Lynnwood link costs (1:43) Monorail and Orca (16:55) Simplified bus fares (21:59) Federal Way Link Extension (36:05) http://traffic.libsyn.com/seattletransitblog/STB_podcast_045.mp3
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by Martin H. Duke on (#30VST)
Guemes Island getting an all-electric car ferry. Lots of new bikes could improve safety. Bike shares roll out ways for people without smartphones to ride. 17 units where a single house stood — more like this, please. Clallam Transit has a new GM. A profile of Dongho Chang. The cost of Kent’s 500 Sounder parking […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#30TVQ)
Last week Sound Transit released its 2nd Quarter ridership numbers. While agency ridership was up 6.8% overall over the same quarter last year, that masked a lot of variance. Link was up 14.5% (over a quarter that had U-Link stations but not Angle Lake), but ST Express actually dropped 0.6%, a setback ST blames on […]
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by Bruce Englehardt on (#30R6N)
Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension has moved into the design phase, two years after all but confirming a meandering alignment along Interstate 5 at the request of local jurisdictions. With construction slated to begin in 2019 and an opening date set for 2024, Sound Transit has compressed the entire station design review process into […]
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by Lizz Giordano on (#30Q90)
The Capital Committee is expected to discuss the proposed names for the six new stations in the Tacoma Link Expansion during its September 14 meeting. If approved by the Capital Committee the recommendations, which also includes the renaming of the existing Commerce Street Station, will then go before the full board. The proposed new station names […]
by Frank Chiachiere on (#30KRD)
Just two months in, stationless bike share is clearly resonating with Seattle riders. Ridership is far higher than previous efforts, bikes are making their way to underserved communities, and more companies are jumping into the fray with brightly colored rides. The city is on the one hand promoting it as a key part of urban mobility […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#30GVX)
The opening of three light rail stations in 2016 made for a busy year for Sound Transit. And with 58 more Link stations coming online by 2041, along with 21 new bus rapid transit stations, the transit agency is streamlining the project development process to expand the transit system quicker than initially proposed. To speed […]
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by Dan Ryan on (#30E8B)
As the rebuilt SR 520 bridge reaches Montlake tomorrow, a look back at the original SR 520 bridge on its opening day, where cars queue to drive across for the first time. A glimpse too at other Seattle freeways then under construction.
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by Martin H. Duke on (#30BVB)
In a press release absolutely buried by other news Thursday, Mayor Murray proposed that the Monorail start accepting ORCA. Back in 2014, STB readers pressured Seattle to study the feasibility of accepting ORCA cards. When that study finished, the city launched a ridership study which completed last April. The ridership study assumes that the monorail […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#308J9)
King County Metro Transit wants to simplify bus fares by establishing a flat rate of $2.75 for passengers — eliminating zones and peak-rate fares. Calling the current fare system one of the most “complicated†in the country,†Dow Constantine, King County Executive, announced a proposal to streamline fares at a press conference Thursday. The change […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#3072T)
Costs are rising for Lynnwood Link, due to both economic conditions and increasing scope. Sound Transit is choosing to delay its delivery by six months in an effort to limit those increases. Until today’s board meeting, the plan for the line between Northgate and Lynnwood Transit Center cost $2.4 billion, including vehicles and part of […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#305X3)
Rainier Avenue is one of the more dangerous roads in Seattle. SDOT says that the road has averaged one crash per day over the past 10 years. Phase 1 of Seattle’s approach to fixing it took it from four lanes to three between Kenny (near Orcas) and Alaska Streets, added some transit queue jumps, and reduced […]
by Oran Viriyincy on (#3036R)
The footprint of Seattle’s frequent transit network is expanding this September thanks to service investments funded by the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD). Routes 65 and 67 in northeast Seattle and Route 60 connecting Capitol Hill and First Hill with Beacon Hill, Georgetown, and West Seattle are getting a boost in weekday frequency. SDOT […]
by Martin H. Duke on (#302AB)
Pictures of what’s going in above Capitol Hill Station, but the design review board is not yet satisfied. New contracts for East Link and Northgate Link. Mountlake Terrace approves Link right-of-way, though they are concerned ST will cheap out on the station design. Sound Transit has a new system map including ST3 expansion. The current […]
by Martin H. Duke on (#2ZZT6)
The complexity of our bus system often presents power users with a dilemma. There are often multiple ways to get to a destination, and the bus to take often depends on which one comes first. Sometimes, it’s a choice whether to travel east-west or north-south at start. In other cases, extreme bus density downtown means routes […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#2ZZ1B)
To establish a north/south link in the heart of the county, Pierce Transit is weighing the potential of high-capacity transit (HCT). These systems, designed to carry a larger volume of riders with greater speed, reliability, and frequency than a standard fixed route bus system, can operate either on a dedicated track or lane, or on […]
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by Bruce Nourish on (#2ZVT1)
STB hasn’t written much in-depth about transit in Spokane since the passage of their scaled back STA Moving Forward initiative in November of last year, which followed the failure of the original package in 2015. To catch up on the Spokane Transit Authority’s progress in implementing Moving Forward, I reached out to Director of Planning […]
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by Brent White on (#2ZS81)
Oran provided technical support for this post.
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by Dan Ryan on (#2ZPZD)
Bellevue is nearing approval of a comprehensive update to downtown zoning. It could mean taller buildings up to 600’ in some areas of the downtown core. It’s the culmination of a multiyear process to improve downtown livability, improving the pedestrian realm and fostering a more distinctive skyline. Approval by the City Council is anticipated this Fall. Despite […]
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by Frank Chiachiere on (#2ZMTR)
Commute Seattle Executive Director Jonathan Hopkins joins us. Topics include: Lowering drive alone rates (2:55) Fixing 3rd Avenue (23:55) ST3 timelines (37:37) Bike share (42:15) http://traffic.libsyn.com/seattletransitblog/STB_podcast_044.mp3
by Bruce Englehardt on (#2ZM50)
Community Transit is proposing a small fare policy change for next year, as part of preparation for the next-generation ORCA system planned to launch in 2021. If approved at next month’s board meeting, the fare policy change would eliminate a lower-cost fare used on commuter routes by riders who only ride within one or two zones. […]
by David Lawson on (#2ZHNM)
For many years, SDOT has sought to build an overpass separating cars, trucks, and buses on Lander Street in Sodo from crossing train traffic. Last time we checked in, the project was included in the Move Seattle project list and had secured a $45 million federal grant, but was still $40 million short of full […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#2ZGXH)
The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 587 approved a three-year labor contract which includes a nine percent raise over three years and allows part-time drivers to work weekend shifts, King County Metro Transit announced Tuesday. The current contract prohibits part-time drivers from working weekends and past 8:30 pm during the week. According to Metro, this […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#2ZEMF)
It’s official: Jenny Durkan will face Cary Moon in general election for Mayor. A dive into the precinct maps. United will join Alaska Air ($) in flying from Paine Field. Confusion about legally binding limitations ($) on flights, beyond the number of gates present. Maybe “congestion free network†is the branding we need. Seattle Council […]
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by Frank Chiachiere on (#2ZDVP)
Amtrak Cascades, the Northwest’s intercity passenger rail service, will add two new trips between Seattle and Portland by year’s end, a spokesperson for WSDOT confirmed yesterday. WSDOT officials first unveiled the new timetable (PDF) at a rail advocacy picnic in Lacey on Saturday. The new trips are being added thanks to $800M in federal stimulus funds, […]
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by Brent White on (#2ZAYD)
Link Light Rail continues to knock down milestones rapidly as ridership grows. January-March was the first quarter in which Link had more boardings than all Washington State Ferries combined. However, WSF outpaced Link for the second quarter (April-June) with 6,470,781 boardings to Link’s 5,997,005 for the same period. May was the first month in which […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#2Z8K5)
Early numbers for the two private bikeshare companies in Seattle are promising, or at least better than the numbers that Pronto used to get. The stationless aspect certainly adds a new level of convenience for the travel, and the pricing is attractive. SDOT’s policy allows each company’s bike fleet to double in size each month, […]
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by Lizz Giordano on (#2Z7QA)
Across the country, as bus routes are increasingly overcrowded and delays have slowed commuters, private transit companies are providing another choice. Mark Hallenbeck, director of the Washington State Transportation Center, sees a market for private transit but says these companies will not replace the need public transit fulfills. Answers edited for length and clarity. STB: […]
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by Oran Viriyincy on (#2Z5FY)
Sound Transit is using the Sequential Excavation Mining technique instead of a tunnel boring machine for the short underground section of East Link in downtown Bellevue. Here is a timelapse showing how it’s done.
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by Martin H. Duke on (#2Z3KG)
Now that Mercer Island and Sound Transit have reached a settlement, the temperature on this dispute has gone down. Dan reported the key aspects: $4.5m-worth of new park-and-ride spaces (up to 200), plus 100 temporary spaces while South Bellevue is closed; an essentially status-quo level and pattern of bus traffic, aside from city-only buses; About […]
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by Bruce Englehardt on (#2Z1AY)
Everett Transit has been preparing for a major face-lift for one of the city’s main transit corridors, North Broadway, between Downtown Everett and the Everett Community College campus. Originally slated for this year, the project has been pushed back into 2018 while additional design work is completed. The North Broadway project will add 24 bus […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#2Z0GE)
Link Light Rail operators have been given orders to slow accelerations to reduce stress on the system after an electrical failure at the Tukwila International Boulevard Station substation Tuesday resulted in a power outage to the southern portion of the Link light rail system, according to Sound Transit. On Tuesday a “major electrical substation failure†[…]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#2YXPW)
Housing permit held up over unreliable transit, because “environmental†laws are used to ensure there’s lots of parking. There are operational and legislative solutions. More questions about whether jaywalking should be a crime. Edmonds planning an upzone. Both bikeshare companies to quadruple by September. A deep dive on how bikeshare has done so far, including […]
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by Alon Levy on (#2YT59)
Last week, I covered part 3 in the series about Seattle-Vancouver high-speed rail, covering the Bellingham-Vancouver segment; the first two parts, by Zach Shaner, covered Seattle-Everett and Everett-Bellingham. This piece, the last part, covers the possibilities for suburban stations. Is it better to build stations in Downtown Vancouver and Seattle, or in less constrained suburban […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#2YPYW)
Transportation is the second-largest monthly expenditure for many households. And for some, the cost of a bus or train ticket can limit access to parts of the city within walking distance. A pilot program conducted by Capitol Hill Housing, an affordable housing developer, subsidized fares for a group of residents and showed that a small […]
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by Martin H. Duke on (#2YKP6)
Last week, there were a couple of actions that added to the number of potential housing units in central Seattle. One was more straightforward than the other. First, the Council voted 8-0 to upzone large parts of the International District ($) by up to 30 feet. Utilizing these height bonuses will require construction of, or […]
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by Oran Viriyincy on (#2YHAC)
å“å·é§…(港å—å£)ã®ãªã‚“ã§ã‚‚ãªã„平日æœã®æ§˜åã‚’æ’®ã£ãŸã®ã§ã€ã“ã“ã«ç½®ã„ã¦ãŠãã¾ã™ pic.twitter.com/pk7AFAzW3J — ãªãªã— (@sigeyosiinoue) July 29, 2017 A time-lapse compressing 30 minutes of people during the morning rush hour in to one minute. Shinagawa, however, is not the busiest station in Tokyo. That distinction goes to Shinjuku Station.
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by Lizz Giordano on (#2YF29)
The SODO Track mural nears completions as 26 artists add to the 2-mile art experience this month. Last year eight murals were completed along the light rail track (also known as the SODO busway and trail), between the SODO and Stadium stations. This year the murals have expanded south to Spokane Street. “We want to […]
by David Lawson on (#2YC5A)
On Wednesday, Sound Transit quietly released a draft of its Annual Report and 2017-2022 Transit Development Plan. The TDP, which state law requires ST to complete each year, operates at a higher level than the Service Implementation Plans released in the fall. While the TDP offers less granular detail about the agency’s plans than the […]