Transit

A 2 Line train at Downtown Bellevue Station on a sunny day

Rivera Proposal Would Slow Down Seattle Light Rail Permitting

Councilmember Maritza Rivera's last-minute proposal would require additional public outreach and documentation for light rail permit applications. The underlying bill had been intended to cut red rape. After pushback from Councilmembers Rinck and Strauss, the vote was delayed a week.

Sound Transit Greenlights Bothell Stride Bus Base Construction Contract

The impending start of construction of the 12.5-acre bus base in Canyon Park marks a significant milestone for the Sound Transit Stride bus rapid transit network, expected to open in phases between 2028 and 2029.
Aurora Ave N from a pedestrian bridge near Fremont on a clear day, looking north

Aurora Avenue Bus Lanes to Turn 24/7 to Aid RapidRide E Riders

Peak-only bus lanes will be converted to all-day operation between Fremont and N 115th Street as soon as next week. The move was initially planned in response to major construction work on I-5, which has mostly been delayed to 2026 and 2027.

Sound Transit Starts I-90 Testing, Full 2-Line Opening Slips to 2026

The unpowered tow across the I-90 floating bridge Wednesday marks a big milestone for the beleaguered East Link project. A grand opening of the 2 Line in early 2026 is highly dependent on how the next few months of testing go.

Special Summer Transit Options Increase Multimodal Access Across Puget Sound

Summer in Puget Sound means the return of Trailhead Direct, Bicycle Weekends, Seattle's free Waterfront Shuttle, and the Hurricane Ridge Shuttle.
King Street Station with the downtown Seattle skyline in the background on a clear sunny day.

Washington Legislature Greenlights Framework for Amtrak Improvements

One bill to make it out of the Washington State Legislature this session was House Bill 1837, which sets targets to boost Amtrak Cascades frequencies, reliability, and speed. Meanwhile, Amtrak’s soon-to-be upgraded SoDo rail yard will host new and improved Amtrak Airo trains to one day accommodate that vision.

Crowds Come Out to Celebrate Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension

Eastside leaders speechified and cut the ribbon on the Downtown Redmond Link light rail extension on Saturday. Thousands thronged the 2 Line to get their first look at the two new stations that opened, bringing the full line to ten stations.

Sunday Video: In Praise of Trams

Trams get a lot of praise and criticism among urbanists and urban transportation advocates. Opinions vary wildly on their utility in cities, but Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes makes an in-depth case for why he thinks trams help create better streets, mobility, and land use environments than buses and other forms of urban rail systems at the local scale.