From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/29/1764083/with-no-pierce-transit-parking.html With the removal of Pierce Transit’s special event service due to cuts, it is expected that parking and traffic congestion will increase around the Puyallup Fair this year. Yes, they are going to run their own shuttle, but it will be at limited times and locations, and be much less [...]
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/07/28_BNSFAgreement.htm BNSF and WSDOT have signed an agreement that allows for rail projects to improve and expand Amtrak Cascades service and create jobs. This means Washington can begin to use their high speed rail money to improve service. This is great news. Amtrak Cascades ridership continues to grow and is a great alternative [...]
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/29/1764154/about-25-gravestones-no-bodies.html Sound Transit contractors working on the Sounder Extension in Downtown Tacoma have turned up 25 gravestones but no graves. Speculation is that they were fill material, but some commentors wonder if they could have been some kind of memorial to victims of a trolley crash in the 1900′s. Ben
From Sound Transit: http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/S-200th-light-rail-extention-expedited.xml The schedule will be accelerated so that the Link extension to South 200th Street (just South of the airport) can be completed by 2016, the same time as the University Link extension will open. This is great news as this extension, besides moving the line further South, will add much-needed parking. [...]
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/07/TransCommission_071511.htm The Washington State Ferry Commission proposes changes to fares. These include an increase, surcharges and a reclassification of vehicle groups. While it is never good to see costs going up, this will hopefully go far to increase revenue and keep the system running. Ben
From KING-5 via MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43799222/ns/local_news-seattle_wa/ Initiative 101, which would have prohibited the City of Seattle from using city streets in tunnel construction, was removed from the ballot by a judge. The ruling was that the decision is directly delegated to the mayor and City Council. Let’s just get the thing built ok? Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/07/18_tbm-contractor.htm Hitachi Zosen will design and build the tunnel boring machine for the Sr 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct project. They have built machines for several large diameter tunnels in the past and are working on the machines for part of the University Link project. Ben
From The News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/19/1750683/new-toll-glitch-affects-1100-tacoma.html About 1100 customers were overcharged when their online accounts were refreshed. We can’t find a local company, or a technology WSDOT could run themselves? This vendor just can’t seem to get it right. Ben
From KIRO-TV: http://www.kirotv.com/news/28583590/detail.html A project about to begin between Everett and Marysville will install cameras and traffic monitoring loops, thus extending the coverage map further North. Ben
From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/07/18_MinorTNBTollGlitch.htm Another minor issue was found with ETC’s tolling system, mischarging rates. Hopefully this whole issue will be solved soon. Ben