Puget Sound Transportation Blog

My thoughts on transportation in the Puget Sound area and transportation issues in general.

Archive for the 'Politics' Category


Murray Morgan Bridge May Be Locked Open

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/396955.html
For those not in the area, this would create some problems. This bridge takes you from the tideflats directly into the heart of downtown. While there are other ways off of the tideflats, none are as fast or conveinent. Yes, the amount of (now pedestrian only) traffic isn’t much, but it is the only access […]

Seattle Sets Records in Commuter Ridership

http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_060308WAB_park_and_rides_LJ.58157b80.html
http://www.apta.com/media/releases/080602_ridership_report.cfm 
“The survey by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) said Seattle’s Sound Transit had the highest increase in commuter rail ridership, at 27.9 percent, and the fourth-highest increase in bus ridership, at 6.2 percent, over the same time period last year.”
Ben

Deal signed to start Snohomish- Bellevue commuter train runs

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/19325784.html
This is excellent news - if it pans out. Outside of some express buses and direct access HOV ramps, the Bellevue/Redmond area has been mostly bypassed in the buildout of transit infrastructure. Which is a problem as most of the new jobs and biggest companies are in the area. This could be the start of […]

Murray Morgan Bridge to be Added to Most Endangered Historic Properties List

http://www.historictacoma.net/
Presentation Tuesday, May 27th at 11 am on the bridge.
Ben

Port of Seattle Buys Woodinville Subdivision

http://www.portseattle.org/business/realestate/RailMOU.shtml
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/362734_trail13.html
Interesting. This leaves open the possibility that this line could be re-used for commuter rail to the Eastside, which is sorely needed. The original plan involved shutting down the line completely and turning it into a biking trail.
More: http://www.eastsiderailnow.org/
Update May 28th: Deal signed to start Snohomish- Bellevue commuter train runs
Ben

Murray Morgan Bridge is Salavageable

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/295433.html
“A preliminary report from David Evans and Associates concludes that the bridge can be rehabilitated for approximately $80 million. That’s far less than the $135 million estimate for replacing the bridge, and not far from a 2004 estimate of $80 million for rehabilitation.”
“The new consultant’s report is good news, because city officials had feared that […]

Sound Transit System Expansion Survey

http://future.soundtransit.org/default.aspx
Now until 3/9.
Ben

Murray Morgan Bridge May Come Back

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/275624.html
From the article:
“A hearing is scheduled today in the state House Committee on Transportation on a bill that would allow Tacoma to tap into sales tax revenue to raise money for fixing the bridge. The bill introduced last month by state Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma, would allow the City of Tacoma to create a transportation […]

No State Sales Tax on Mega Projects

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/273552.html
It looks like the state is going to pass a bill suspending collection of the state sales tax on mega projects, or projects that collect tolls. This would affect the following:

Narrows Bridge
520 bridge replacement
Columbia River bridge replacement
North Spokane Corridor

The idea seems very good. While we have to pay sales tax on most things here it […]

No Light Rail Between Tacoma and Sea-Tac?

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/270966.html
Basically, a more limited plan for Sound Transit 2 would extend light rail to Overlake on the Eastside, up to Northgate and down to Kent/Des Moines. However, Pierce County would gain more Sounder and bus service.
In exchange, Tacoma Link would be extended from downtown to  Tacoma General and TCC, and out to Fife.
Thoughts: This plan […]