State Budget Proposals Focus on Highway Expansion in Both Chambers
While the Washington State Senate budget includes additional taxes on e-bikes and fees for public transit, the House budget includes cuts to transit and climate work. Both budgets are in agreement on the need to double down on a number of highway megaprojects.
More 1 Line Disruptions Ahead for Sound Transit Riders Through May
Pinehurst Station construction and downtown tunnel track repairs are bringing disruptions to 1 Line light rail service from now until May 29. The downtown tunnel work will truncate service from April 14 to 23. Plan accordingly.
Sound Transit Picks Dow Constantine, Elevating Board Insider to CEO
The Sound Transit Board of Directors revealed today its CEO pick is King County Executive Dow Constantine, who has served on the board for 16 years. Constantine has been a controversial candidate, with some observers seeing a seasoned executive who helped build the agency and others a borderline case of nepotism.
Sound Transit Recommends Costly, Car-Oriented Infill Station in Northern Tukwila
A decades-long planned Link infill station in North Tukwila is set to move into environmental review with a single alternative recommended by Sound Transit staff. The recommended alternative forsakes a long standing objective to connect with Sounder and leaves the station relatively isolated.
Op-Ed: Legislature Should Advance Amtrak Planning in Central and Eastern Washington
If the Washington legislature is serious about setting tangible goals for Amtrak Cascades this year, now is the time to also restart the conversation on advancing east-west passenger rail service and connecting Spokane, the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Ellensburg, Auburn, and Seattle. All Aboard Washington is pushing for an amended version of HB 1837 setting eastward expansion goals.
Sunday Video: Portland’s ‘Weird’ Westside Express Commuter Rail Line
In this video, Climate and Transit dives into the history of Portland's Westside Express Service commuter rail line and what the future could hold for the "weird" and aging service.
Op-Ed: Optimize Sound Transit, Split System into Urban and Regional Lines
As Sound Transit builds the largest light rail expansion in the country, splitting the system into urban and suburban lines could unlock its full potential and queue up logical extensions.
Op-Ed: Vancouver Shows Carshare’s Success Depends on Great Transit
While Seattle has cycled through carshare startups, Vancouver's Evo carshare program has grown into a big success, aided by strong transit and less competition from ridehailing in British Columbia.