From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/08/22/1309934/engineers-for-roads-rarely-err.html Interesting article discussing engineering errors in state projects, and their relation to the major engineering error in the SR 16 Nalley Valley project. Ben
WSDOT Press Release: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2010/08/21_SR520BridgeTour.htm Several changes and projects coming to the SR 520 corridor in the next year: Smarter Highway signs Toll Collection Eastside construction All of these are necessary projects, but they will likely tie up an already overloaded corridor. Ben
WSDOT Press Release: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2010/08/08192010_2ndtrainanniversary.htm The second Amtrak Cascades train to Vancouver, BC has surpassed ridership estimates, with 25,000 riders in July 2010 alone. This is great news as use of this train takes vehicles off the overload I-5 corridor. Imagine what would happen with high speed rail in this corridor… Ben
(while not technically in the Puget Sound area, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass does serve as a major route across the Cascades between Puget Sound and the rest of the country) From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/08/19/1307056/crews-blasting-better-i-90-over.html Interesting coverage of the Interstate 90 widening project across the pass. Much of this stage of the project includes rock blasting. [...]
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2010/08/17_SR530SolarStuds.htm These solar powered reflectors will light up at night. This could be a great help for drivers as sometimes here it is almost impossible to see the lines in low light conditions. Ben
I have always wondered why I was seeing notices from Tri-Met about delays on the MAX rail system due to heat. Then I found this article from Oregon Live: http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/07/science_of_the_commute_why_max.html It appears that heat can cause the catenary powering the trains and the rails to expand. Theoretically this could cause a derailment or the trains [...]
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2010/08/08182010_Railfederalgrants.htm WSDOT applies for another $80 million in grants to expand high speed rail in the Interstate 5 corridor, known as the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor (PNWRC). This grant, if approved, will allow for more infrastructure improvements along the current rail line. This is good news. High speed rail would complement Interstate 5 [...]
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/08/18/1305362/federal-way-ceremony-to-mark-start.html At 10 am today there will be a groundbreaking for the SR 18 / I 5 interchange project. This project will fix a notoriously bad interchange. More: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/sr18sr161ic/ Ben
The 7:20 and 8 am Northbound Sounders out of Tacoma are now shut down due to an accident on the tracks this AM. Train 1510 (7:20 am) has been canceled and train 1512 is leaving from Puyallup. Riders can also take the 590 express bus. More: http://www.soundtransit.org/Riding-Sound-Transit/Rider-Alerts/Sounder-Disruption.xml Ben
From KING-5: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Smarter-Highway-signs-confusing-drivers-100588684.html It appears the variable speed limits, by lane, are confusing drivers in Downtown Seattle. This is understandable as speed limits can be different per lane. However, I feel there will be an adjustment period for drivers as well. Per WSDOT the signs are working. Ben