Transit

A long-planned RapidRide line on Rainier Avenue has been delayed to 2031, as Metro starts the process of identifying the next round of RapidRide lines to implement. Slow timelines are leaving a daily ridership boost of 19,000 on the table.

Sound Transit is rolling out new system diagrams on trains that show the next round of light rail extensions including Lynnwood Link. The diagrams implement a station numbering system and a name change for Symphony Station.

The transportation levy on Seattle ballots this fall won't grow beyond $1.55 billion, despite a push by transportation advocacy groups to go bigger. A Morales-backed amendment to increase the levy's size failed Tuesday.

The Washington State Legislature should exempt Sound Transit from local permitting processes to avoid snags and make it easier to build light rail in public streets. This would expedite transit projects that voters have approved.

Councilmember Tammy Morales offered a new proposal Thursday for a $1.7 billion transportation levy that increases spending across a broad array of programs. None of her colleagues have yet backed the proposal.

A proposed amendment to the next Seattle transportation levy pushes the city to build 500 blocks of new sidewalks in five years. However, SDOT says that goal likely isn't achievable without more funding and broader changes.

Forget your ORCA card? No problem. A new Google Wallet feature allows Puget Sound riders to buy transit fares on their Android or Wear OS devices.

The Eastside's next RapidRide isn't set to open until 2030. Pivotal decisions around how much the line will benefit riders are being made now.