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 […]
Here are some videos and photos my friend and I took on the opening day of the Seattle Link Light Rail Line, July 18th, 2009:
Videos:
End to End Ride:
http://www.vimeo.com/5740706
Shots Around the Line:
http://www.vimeo.com/5740587
Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benagain_photo/collections/72157621901484560/
Ben
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/741217.html
“(Gregoires) first budget “delayed to death” many key highway projects in Pierce County. The final one not only speeds up $130 million of car-pool lane construction on Interstate 5, but also lays out a 16-year funding plan to nearly finish the project.
For many other state projects, funding will run out by […]
From KOMO 4:
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/44098532.html
Portland, Oregon gets money to extend the Portland Streetcar on the East side of the Willamette River. This will definitely help transit connections in Portland, where the Southeast side of the city doesn’t have much in the way of either trolleys or light rail.
More:
http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=13800
Ben
From The Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009118084_webtranspobudget24m.html
It is necessary to add carpool lanes to the I-90 bridges to allow for the closing of the express lanes for Eastside Link. This is good news as delays would push the project out indefinitely.
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/04/20/vancouver_clark_county_would_get_its_own
Basically, Vancouver, WA could form their own taxing district to invest in transit and transportation. This could include new I-5 bridges across the Coulmbia and light rail.
As others have noted however, it is very easy to cross the river to Portland, OR, and not pay any sales tax…
From Sound Transit:
http://www.soundtransit.org/x10920.xml
Fares will start at $1.75 and go up to $2.50 for adults. It adds $.05 per mile past the base fare.
What I don’t see is an all-day discount card similar to what is used by Portland MAX or Vancouver’s SkyTrain. That would be nice although I know there are other discount programs […]
From the TNB Politics Blog:
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/03/24/smart_card_to_debut_in_april_after_11_ye
This is the ORCA Smart Card that will be used by all transportation systems in the Puget Sound area.
Ben
From our friends over at the News Tribune:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstory/story/686148.html
The system appears similar to the Smart Bus system used by TriMet and discussed by Metro Transit. It allows for tracking of the buses, automatic announcement of stops along the route and emergency contact.
Ben
Uh oh…
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41510092.html
Turns out the contractor used the wrong grade steel…and lied about it.
From Sound Transit:
http://www.soundtransit.org/x10853.xml
Good. 3 seperate analyses say everything should be OK.
Ben