 |
by Frank Chiachiere on (#38645)
Election results (0:30) Ferry service to Renton (11:15) Seattle Transportation Benefit District Year 2 (24:05) Citywide rezoning gets underway (45:00) http://traffic.libsyn.com/seattletransitblog/STB_podcast_050.mp3
|
Seattle Transit Blog
| Link | https://seattletransitblog.com/ |
| Feed | https://feeds.feedburner.com/seattletransitblog/rss |
| Updated | 2025-06-08 03:02 |
by Lizz Giordano on (#385A3)
Sound Transit is finally moving forward with improvements to two Sounder stations promised in the 2008 ST2 ballot measure. Postponed by the recession, the projects will add a new parking garage to both the Auburn and Kent Station, each containing roughly 500 stalls and not yet-defined non-motorized improvements. ST predicts ridership on Sounder will double […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#382R5)
With the current ORCA system “near end of life,†upgrading the ORCA card system is estimated to cost roughly $125m, according to Scott Gutierrez, a King County Metro Transit spokesperson. The ORCA agencies are predicted to share the entire cost, with $95m predicted to be the region-wide cost with the other $30m related to agency-specific […]
by Oran Viriyincy on (#3821H)
The concept and design for Next Generation ORCA (ngORCA) has not changed from when it was announced as ORCA2 in 2015 but we now know in greater detail how it will work. Specifications for Next Gen ORCA have been published on the project’s website for people who want to dive deep into the system. As […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#37ZBC)
On Monday, the King County Council unanimously approved a fare simplification proposal for King County Metro Transit which eliminates higher zone and peak fares — establishing a flat rate of $2.75. In August at a press conference Dow Constantine, King County Executive, announced the agency’s intention to streamline fares. Constantine said this change would speed […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#37YM8)
Beyond 2018, Sound Transit plans to stop expanding ST Express and Sounder services to focus on light rail expansion and bus route restructures, according to the recently released 2018 Sound Transit’s Service Implementation Plan (SIP) draft. “The extensions will be the catalyst for changes in the bus network around the light rail extension and its […]
 |
by Martin H. Duke on (#37VAY)
In 2014, Seattle voters approved a $60 annual vehicle license fee and 0.1% sales tax increase to fund bus service in the city, using the framework of a “Seattle Transportation Benefit District†(STBD). Originally intended to avoid deep service cuts, by election day the revenue picture had improved enough that the package instead improved service […]
|
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#37RF4)
Concise explainer of what parking minimums do, via City of Ottawa.
|
by Martin H. Duke on (#37P9E)
Last week, Geekwire broke the story that the developers of Renton’s Southport office project will fund a foot ferry pilot program from its Lake Washington location to South Lake Union. Estimated to take 45 minutes, this would be competitive with driving (30-60 minutes) and considerably faster than current transit options (about 1:15). The service would […]
by David Lawson on (#37K8K)
Yesterday, the City of Seattle published the final Environmental Impact Statement for its citywide Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) rezone proposal. Citywide MHA is the key to the “Grand Bargain†at the center of the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA). In a nutshell, Citywide MHA would upzone many of the more urban parts of […]
|
by Martin H. Duke on (#37GQ0)
There are openings for the design review board in Seattle. My thoughts on this from 2011 are still relevant. In Fauntleroy, 5 stories and 32 units constitute a “monster.†Design for buildings on top of CHS now final. Not enough height, way too much open space. Mike Lindblom thoroughly investigates where Lynnwood Link’s cost overrun […]
|
by Brent White on (#37G0J)
King County Spokesperson Scott Gutierrez has provided some additional information relevant to the fare restructure and card fee proposals working their way through the county council process. One of those pieces of information is the revenue for the county from charging $5 for the youth ORCA card: Our total card fee revenue for youth cards […]
|
by Frank Chiachiere on (#37CR1)
And the next mayor of Seattle will be 🥠🥠🥠Jenny Durkan #seamayor #waleg #waelex A post shared by Crosscut Public Media (@crosscut_news) on Nov 7, 2017 at 8:39pm PST With the first batch of ballots counted, Jenny Durkan has a commanding 61-39% lead over Cary Moon in the race for Seattle Mayor. Teresa […]
|
|
by Bruce Englehardt on (#37B1F)
It’s that time of the year, again. We here at STB will be posting results for races in which we endorsed (or have a general interest in) in this thread and on Twitter. Make sure to get your ballot in a box or postmarked by 8 p.m. Races to Watch (STB endorsed candidates listed with bold […]
|
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#379ER)
Since the 1990s, Regional Growth Centers (RGCs) have played a central role in the growth strategy of the Puget Sound region. There are now 29, along with nine manufacturing/industrial centers (MICs) and other local or county- designated centers. Centers are a mechanism to focus growth and prioritize transportation investments. But the performance of centers is […]
|
 |
by Martin H. Duke on (#376MM)
Two weeks ago, I criticized Seattle Times Olympia reporter Joseph O’Sullivan for reporting irrelevant spin about Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund’s position on climate change, while entirely ignoring the actual impact of an Englund win on state climate policy. So it’s only fair to point out that he did a much better job in a followup […]
|
 |
by Frank Chiachiere on (#375TD)
Tuesday is the deadline for sending in your ballot. A brief recap of our endorsements: Cary Moon for Mayor Teresa Mosqueda, Lorena González for City Council Endorsements beyond Seattle For more on voting: King County Elections Pierce County Elections Snohomish County Elections
|
|
by Martin H. Duke on (#3730W)
These three LA Metro etiquette ads are… something.
|
 |
by Brent White on (#370RF)
. . . . . . . . . King County Metro Route 60 has received at least two large investments from 2014 Seattle Proposition 1 funds that extend span of 30-minute-or-better headway all the way to 7 am to 11 pm seven days a week and, as of this September, now provide 15-minute headway […]
|
by Lizz Giordano on (#36Y0D)
Unveiling the $2.2 billion 2018 proposed budget, Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff told the board the potential elimination of federal grants, specifically a $1.17 billion grant for the Lynnwood Link extension, is one “key challenge†to Sound Transit’s future financial plan. Other funding in peril includes $3.3 $3.7 billion in grant money for various Full Funding Grant […]
 |
by Bruce Englehardt on (#36V6Q)
Country music star Garth Brooks will be in Tacoma for three nights—Friday through Sunday—for concerts expected to draw over 100,000 fans. To accommodate the influx of fans, who have sold out all three days at the Tacoma Dome, Sound Transit will run special Sounder service on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4. In addition to […]
|
|
by Bruce Nourish on (#36THK)
Denver RTD cuts weekend frequency on two suburban lines to 30 minutes. Examples like this should, but probably won’t, preclude the argument that rail services are uniquely immune to cuts, in the face of low ridership and fiscal constraints. car2go replaces ($) its Smart Cars with Benz sedans. They’ll be harder to park on Capitol […]
|
 |
by Lizz Giordano on (#36QSJ)
King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee quickly approved Metro’s fare simplification proposal that would eliminate zones and peak-rates — establishing a flat rate of $2.75. But the committee hesitated on a proposal to reduce card fees for adult and youth passengers from $5 to $3, delaying action until the next meeting. Metro already […]
|
by Lizz Giordano on (#36Q06)
With no plans to add any new service in 2018, it’s back to maintenance mode for Sound Transit. Instead, the agency will concentrate on two large-scale Eastside bus restructures to be implemented in 2018 and 2019, according to the recently released draft of 2018 Sound Transit’s Service Implementation Plan. The plan combines five-year service planning […]
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#36MFS)
Last evening, the Chair of the Seattle Council Budget Committee, CM Lisa Herbold, released her initial package of budget changes. This is a set of proposed amendments to the budget the Mayor proposed last month. The initial package reflects updated revenue assumptions and council member requests. For transit advocates, the most notable elements are (a) the […]
|
by Martin H. Duke on (#36KSN)
In January, Metro rolled out free carpool parking permits at 6 park-and-rides around the County. Like the 9 park-and-rides under a similar Sound Transit program, the permits reserved spaces for permit holders until 8:30am. The program is meant to increase parking predictability and increase the yield of riders per parking space by encouraging carpools. In […]
by Brent White on (#36GA2)
Distance-based fares have a lot of fans among transit nerds, for a number of reasons, from practical – raising more revenue when the train lines become really long – to the patently absurd, such as that they will incentivize people to live closer to their jobs or incentivize Sound Transit not to build really long […]
 |
by Oran Viriyincy on (#36DGP)
When Seoul removed an elevated expressway and restored the stream that was buried for decades. How is it faring over ten years later?
|
by Lizz Giordano on (#36B2G)
In a tight workspace with barely enough room to turn around, light rail operators enjoy some of the most unusual views of Seattle from their cabs as they traverse the city. Like all Link operators, Kevin Gumke started out driving for King County Metro Transit, before transferring over to the light rail side in 2010. […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#368H5)
This week Seattle kicked off planning for the North Downtown Mobility Action Plan to identify and prioritize transportation improvements in the Uptown, Belltown, and South Lake Union neighborhoods. Potential changes are coming to the area, including the redevelopment of Seattle Center Arena and a new downtown public school on the Memorial Stadium site. SDOT is […]
by Martin H. Duke on (#36579)
It’s a routine pastime among local pundits to trash opinion in The Seattle Times for being banal, internally inconsistent, factually inaccurate, disingenuous, morally repugnant, or all five at once. That’s easy, and at this point no longer news. It’s still news, however, when some of these afflictions reach the newsroom. For the latest example, see […]
|
by Bruce Nourish on (#362G7)
The MV Suquamish, photo by SounderBruce 23rd Ave corridor Vision Zero work to continue in 2018. SeaSub goes in to bat for the CCC. Next City summarizes the debate. Mercer Island and Sound Transit finalize settlement agreement ($). Paraphrasing slightly, the settlement “does not address access to I-90 for single occupant vehicles at the Island […]
|
|
by Frank Chiachiere on (#361JR)
Cary Moon for Mayor Other endorsements (32:20) Center City Connector threatened (38:50) http://traffic.libsyn.com/seattletransitblog/STB_podcast_049.mp3
|
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#35Z84)
Last week, the Seattle City Council Budget Committee reviewed SDOT funding for 2018, and some members appeared ready to reconsider city funding for the Center City Connector. The Mayor’s budget proposal would finance $50 million of the projects $177 million capital cost via bond sales backed by Commercial Parking Tax revenues. Another $14 million is funded […]
|
by Lizz Giordano on (#35YM9)
As ride-hailing services grow in popularity and transit use declines in many cities, a new study reports Uber and Lyft are luring bus and light rail riders from the public transportation system. The study collected data from 7 major U.S. cities, including Seattle. Previous studies suggested shared mobility services were complementing public transit, but researchers […]
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#35V6J)
WSDOT’s express toll lanes on I-405 opened in September 2015. Having recently passed the two-year mark, the Legislature may consider next year whether they should continue. At stake is not only the improved efficiencies of the managed lanes. As Peter Rogoff highlighted last week, an end to tolling would force a rethink of the Sound […]
|
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#35RKS)
Dublin’s Luas is a light rail tram system with two lines in service. Luas Cross City is an extension through the core of the city that will also connect the existing lines. It is anticipated to open for revenue service in December.
|
by Martin H. Duke on (#35P98)
Last month, Sound Transit announced an ambitious plan to wrap up alternatives analysis in 18 months for the Ballard-to-West Seattle ST3 plan. They’re not promising that this will actually bring delivery forward from 2030 for West Seattle and 2035 for Ballard, but it should reduce risk of further slippage. We have a pretty good idea […]
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#35JKV)
Metro will no longer operate shuttle service from several park-and-rides to Seahawks games at CenturyLink Field. The news came in an email from the Seahawks to season ticket holders: The Federal Transit Administration has ruled that Metro Transit is no longer permitted to operate its game day bus service from the Eastgate, South Kirkland and […]
|
|
by Bruce Nourish on (#35H2Q)
Portland for Everyone has an in-depth piece on an “anti-McMansion compromise†rezoning currently before their city council. It’s thoughtful and well written, and it makes me sad that our political leaders ran headlong away from a much more timid duplex proposal, at the first sign of NIMBY homeowner backlash. Portland sets priorities for how to […]
|
by Lizz Giordano on (#35GFG)
Building transit doesn’t automatically bring growth and development. Just look at the Rainier Beach Station: eight years after opening, there are still are no multi-story apartment buildings towering over the track or mixed-use retail lining Martin Luther King Drive. Instead, there is little new development aside from a series of townhomes to the northwest. In […]
 |
by STB Editorial Board on (#35DSP)
These are Seattle Transit Blog’s endorsements for the November 7, 2017 elections outside Seattle. In Seattle, we endorsed Cary Moon for Mayor; and Teresa Mosqueda and Lorena González for City Council. As always, we choose candidates entirely based on their positions and record on transit and land use. . 45th Legislative District, Senate: Manka Dhingra […]
|
 |
by Bruce Englehardt on (#35D6M)
Everett Transit’s ongoing work on a 20-year Long Range Plan has reached its halfway milestone, marked by the presentation of service options for the public to discuss. The service options will be up for public feedback until the end of the month, either in person or via an online open house. A draft Long Range Plan […]
|
 |
by STB Editorial Board on (#35ACW)
Although the stated transit and land use policy differences in the Seattle mayor’s race are small, we believe that urban planner Cary Moon has the stronger commitment to transit priority, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and adding all types of housing stock to serve all who would like to live in Seattle. Much more than allied […]
|
 |
by Dan Ryan on (#359W5)
The Seattle City Council is considering the city’s 2018 budget this week, and may consider an amendment to remove funding for the Center City Connector streetcar. A key procedural deadline is on Thursday. At a Select Budget Committee meeting Monday, several members voiced skepticism about the project. The CCC connects the South Lake Union and […]
|
by STB Editorial Board on (#3578G)
STB endorsements for Seattle Mayor and other races will be out this week. If there is a campaign somewhere in the region that you think merits STB’s endorsement, this post is a chance to make your plug. As always, STB endorses solely on the basis of candidates’ records and positions on transit and land use. […]
by Lizz Giordano on (#356MF)
As high-capacity transit expands across the region, new data shows transit communities are growing at double the rate of the region as a whole, according to the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). The PSRC defines “transit communities†as areas one-quarter to one-half mile away from current or future (by 2041) high-capacity transit such as light […]
|
by Martin H. Duke on (#353K5)
|
by Brent White on (#351DZ)
In September, King County Metro route 169, which serves a major business corridor on Kent East Hill, got a serious investment, going from half-hourly all day to running every 15 minutes from 7 am to 6 pm on weekdays. Its north terminus is Renton Transit Center, from which riders have to transfer to route 101 […]
 |
by Martin H. Duke on (#34YDS)
[post updated with additional information about publicly accessible data feeds]. Out on the Pacific Coast, Grays Harbor Transit (serving the county around Aberdeen) is rolling out two major information technology projects: one for real-time information and one for mobile phone payment. In both cases, they’re contracting with companies that market to small transit agencies. Real-time information […]
|