From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/23/1596040/legislators-cant-agree-on-extension.html Legislators are debating about extending the HOT Lane experiment on SR 167. Since the tolls haven’t covered 100% of the cost, some legislators feel the experiment should be canceled. But it isn’t fully about the money. It is about keeping people moving and in that sense the lanes have been [...]
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/22/1594787/longshore-union-to-mark-125-years.html The Longshore Union in Tacoma celebrates 125 years this month. They are a critical part of the Port of Tacoma. Ben
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/22/1594766/bill-would-speed-work-on-puyallup.html The new state transportation budget could provide funds accelerating the replacement of the Northbound SR 167 bridge in Puyallup. Restrictions were recently added to the bridge due to its deteriorating condition. This is great news, as this bridge has required replacement for some time. Ben
From KOMO-TV: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/118382624.html A bill proposed by the Washington State House would implement a smaller budget cut and rate hike to the state ferry system. While it is currently popular to bash the ferries, especially in light of recent problems found with the system, this should be subsidized to some level…as is every other type [...]
From the Eastlake Avenue Blog: http://www.eastlakeave.com/2011/03/20/latest-i-5-noise-reduction-readings-no-change-from-first-round WSDOT’s test of noise-absorbing panels on the Ship Canal bridge shows that they don’t really lower the noise level of traffic. This makes the problem even more interesting to try to solve. Results from WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/ShipCanalBridge/resultsmap.htm Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i5/expresslaneautomation/ This is a planned project to automate the openings and closings of the Interstate 5 Express Lanes in Downtown Seattle. This would cut the time needed to reverse the lanes in half. Other areas have managed to implement automated reversible lanes. This has been needed here for a very long time. Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/03/17_SR520EastsideConstructionOpenHouse.htm A open house will be held Thursday, March 23rd for the SR 520 Eastside Transit and HOV project. When: 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 23 Where: Chinook Middle School, 2001 98th Ave. N.E., Bellevue Ben
From The News Tribune: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2011/03/16/new-transponders-dont-work-on-tacoma-narrows-bridge/ Changes to the state’s contract with TransCore and upgraded transponder technology is conflicting with the older toll readers on the Narrows Bridge. They cannot read the new transponders; however you still will be billed properly as they can match up your license plate with your account. On a good note, [...]
Commentary from The Seattle P-I: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2014505670_danny16.html After the 2011 Japanese earthquake, Seattle mayor Mike McGinn suggested closing the Alaskan Way Viaduct in 2012, even though its replacement won’t be ready for several years. This commentator thinks it might be worth a try.
From The Seattle P-I: http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/437155_mudslides15.html Numerous mudslides have shut down freight and passenger traffic North of Seattle this winter. The State is seeking federal funds to find ways to prevent these slides. Besides blocking freight traffic the slides shut down passenger traffic for 48 hours. Hopefully a solution can be found. More: http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/frustrated-with-mudslides-along-amtrak.html Ben