The RapidRide C line, connecting West Seattle with Downtown, has broken ground.
I have ridden the A line from Federal Way to Tukwila and it is definitely faster than the regular buses, although not as fast as a train or monorail. Let’s see if this line helps out our West Seattle friends.
Ben
http://www.acerail.com/ridingace/acegetaways.aspx
OK, that’s pretty darn cool when you market your commuter rail system for casual travel.
Sound Transit, you watching this?
Ben
From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/02/10_I5ClosureFedWayWeekend.htm
Lanes will be closing every evening so that girders can be placed for flyover ramps. This is part of the Highway 18 Triangle Project.
Should be interesting to watch.
Ben
http://trimet.org/choices/why-is-there-a-budget-shortfall.htm
Unfortunately Portland’s Tri-Met is also facing budget problems like all of us right now. This site explains the problem and the options.
Ben
From WSDOT:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2012/01/08_I5NewCamerasOnline.htm
Cameras and traffic flow meters have now been added between Everett and Arlington on the Seattle Traffic Flow Map.
Ben
From The News Tribune:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/07/2015214/sumner-puts-weight-restrictions.html
The City of Sumner has banned vehicles over 12 tons from the Bridge Street, or Stuck River, bridge. This move was made to extend the life of the bridge until money for a replacement can be found.
Like in most of the United States, infrastructure in the West is old. Furthermore, most of the bridges in the Puyallup Valley were never designed for the heavy truck traffic they now take, driven by the explosion of warehouses constructed recently.
Ben
From The News Tribune:
http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2012/02/06/environmental-study-sought-for-federal-way-light-rail/
Plans are underway to perform an environmental study to extend Link Light Rail from its planned South 200th Street terminus as far as the Federal Way Transit Center. Performing this study would make the project “shovel ready”, making it eligible for potential grants.
This would be great if things work out. The more we can extend Link North and South, and push out to the Eastside, the better.
More, from KOMO-TV:
http://federalway.komonews.com/news/politics/716997-county-sound-transit-asks-federal-way-join-renewed-efforts-light-rail
Ben
From Sound Transit:
http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/DSTT-travel-time-test.xml
Sound and Metro Transit will be testing travel times on buses that will no longer be free later this year.
While I understand the need, eliminating the ride free zone in the tunnel is a BAD idea. Already there are delays at rush hour. What is going to happen when all 75 of those UW kids have to pay to get on the bus? It’s gonna move the Link headways from 7 minutes to 15 or worse.
Why not do like Portland and make a ride free zone in the tunnel? Raise fares if you have to.
Ben
From The Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017335741_mercerstreet26m.html
The next phase of the project to rebuild the “Mercer Mess” is beginning. Expect delays and detours, but an improved road when complete.
More: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_mercer_construction.htm
Ben