Opinion

Op-Ed: Ban Bus Wraps and Spare Riders the Barrage of Advertisements

You don’t have to detest all advertising or be a wild-eyed radical to agree that windows are for seeing through. Metro should discontinue bus wraps that obscure windows.

Op-Ed: Cross-Lake Service Needs More Emphasis in East Link Bus Restructure

Ahead of the full opening of East Link light rail, King County Metro and Sound Transit have queued up a bus restructure for the Eastside, but they have planned insufficient cross-lake service to replace the deleted Route 271. Frequencies crater in the evening, which will leave riders in the lurch.

Op-Ed: Key Takeaways from Seattle Greenways’ Building Great Streets Event

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways hosted a Town Hall Seattle event on building great streets featuring two leading practitioners. Check out the video and synopsis.
The view of Aurora looking south toward the downtown skyline.

Op-Ed: Redesigning Aurora Avenue for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Rapid Buses

SDOT seems to assume Aurora Avenue cannot accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, cars, and freight simultaneously, but this design proposal that will do just that. In the process, it'd make the deadly corridor much safer for all users.
An airy train station with a glass ceiling held by steel latticework.

Torpedoing NYC Decongestion Tolls Would Be National Setback

New York had been all geared up to become the first American city to implement congestion pricing later this month until Governor Kathy Hochul announced a stunning reversal, saying she intended to shelve the program on Wednesday. Transit riders and climate advocates are fighting back and aiming to block the move.

Op-Ed: Sound Transit Stations Need an Audio Announcement Makeover

Sound Transit needs to act to improve the auditory experience of Link light rail stations. Presently, they are an unwelcoming cacophony of announcements that are too frequent, loud, and grating.
The Seattle skyline rises above the I-5 freeway trench in South Downtown.

Op-Ed: Seattle Transportation Levy Should Seek to Undo Harm from Highways

A citywide coalition has proposed a $40 million package to advance ongoing projects like designing I-5 lids in multiple neighborhoods (supporting new street connections, parks, and affordable housing), remaking Aurora Avenue for safer crossings, and reconnecting the Duwamish Valley community around SR 99.
McLaren has its butterfly doors up while a half dozen onlookers in yellow vests take picture or admire the car.

Policy Lab: Tax the Filthy, Stinking Rich

Seattle has a $258 million budget deficit to solve. Mayor Bruce Harrell said he rejects notions of austerity. Good for him! I’m here to help. Let’s chart a way out of this crisis that doesn’t involve slashing services and laying off city workers.