Puget Sound Transportation Blog

From The News Tribune:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/1047052.html

Money will be used to fix issues with the line, allowing speeds of up to 100 mph for the Cascades Talgo trainsets. This will cut up to an hour off the travel time between Seattle and Portland

While many people say that projects like this are a waste of money, having traveled by high speed rail in Europe, it is definitely a good alternative to flying for certain intermediate distances, and beats driving by a long shot. Portland isn’t that far from Seattle, below 200 miles, which makes it almost unreasonable to fly there. As to driving, it is possible but given the heavy congestion along the corridor, this does make more sense.

More: Washington High Speed Rail Projects

Ben

From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr99/viaductclosuresystem/

This project will build gates at all on ramps to the viaduct that will automatically close in the event of an earthquake. Since currently it can take up to 2 hours to close the viaduct (in a minor event), this is very important. There is a definite risk of collapse until the viaduct has been replaced. Keeping traffic off the viaduct in an earthquake event will be very important.

Ben

From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr99/its/

This project will add Intelligent Transportation Systems equipment to the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct and corridor. This equipment will include cameras, VMS signs and light timing equipment.

The purpose for this equipment is twofold: First, it will be used to notify and reroute users in the event of accidents or a catastrophic incident such as an earthquake. Second, it will be used for the same purpose during the ongoing reconstruction of the viaduct.

Ben

From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/vulnerability.htm

Interesting information from WSDOT about their plans in the event of a catastrophic collapse of the SR 520 floating bridge.

Ben

From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr520/pontoons/

This is a very interesting project, that now serves two purposes. The 520 bridge needs to be replaced and a plan is in the works for this replacement. However, in the interim the region is at great risk if the current bridge fails, for example in a major windstorm.

The problem is this: due to the geography of the region, expensive real estate and underplanning, there are few if any alternate routes. And while advances are being made with public transportation, there is still no train to the Eastside and limited direct access for buses. Furthermore, many major employers, including one of the biggest in the country, are located on the Eastside.

What this means is that, while 520 is neither a big nor a long highway, it is very critical to the region and its continued function, even as congested as the area is.

Losing 520 would be catastrophic. Whatever alternates that exist are already packed and they would be overloaded in this event. While there are plans to increase public transportation, they would involve buses, which have to travel on the same congested roads. The best hope would be for employees to telecommute, very possible with all the tech employers, but that does generate costs and policy issues.

That is why this project is so innovative. The longest part of building a floating bridge is making the pontoons. By having the pontoons staged the bridge could potentially be reopened within a month or 2, versus the several years it would otherwise take. However, the pontoons can also be used for the new bridge, therefore not wasting them.

Ben

From The News Tribune:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/990900.html

While there will be some costs involved, the bridge is an important link to the Port of Tacoma and an icon of the city itself. If the state hadn’t abandoned it, the work being done now wouldn’t have had to take place at all.

Ben

http://olympichostcity.vancouver.ca/gettingaround/publictransit/olympic-line/

This free demonstration trolley line will run between Granville Island and the Olympic Village Canada Line station. If this works, plans are to expand the line throughout the city.

Given the resurgence of trolleys in Tacoma, WA, Seattle, WA and many other cities this is a great idea, especially in conjunction with Vancouver’s extensive light rail network.

NOTE: these trolleys were shipped in via the Port of Tacoma and then were truck-shipped North to Vancouver, BC. WSDOT has some photos of the trolleys at the port: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157622929264204/

Ben

Along with the opening of the Canada Line from downtown to the airport and Richmond, BC, BCDOT has improved highway 99, the Sea to Sky highway, which leads from downtown Vancouver, BC to Whistler, site of most of the Olympic events:

http://www.seatoskyimprovements.ca/

I was on this road about 10 years ago headed to Whistler and I could see how it could have problems in the winter. It was very narrow, with rocky cliffs, and was often closed for rock and snow slides. Hopefully the work performed will eliminate these problems for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Ben

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr509/puyallupriverbridge/

A very large fire in 2002 in a rail car under the bridge damaged the span. While it has been open, it has been restricted. Repairs now will allow the span to be opened back to full capacity.

From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/greenriver/

With the potential for major flooding in the Green River valley this winter, WSDOT provides informations on their preparations here.