Puget Sound Transportation Projects

http://trimet.org/max/25years.htm Tri-Met’s MAX Blue Line to Gresham opened in 1986, kicking off a nationwide renaissance in light rail and dramatically improving transportation in the Portland area. Ben

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/21_USDOTAnnouncesAmtrakCascadesFunding.htm  Washington is getting $31 million to improve passenger rail. This money will be used on numerous projects along the line from Canada to Oregon, and access routes to the Port of Vancouver. This is great news, as high speed passenger rail, and local commuter rail, are great transportation options. More: http://wsdot.wa.gov/passengerrail  http://www.pugetsoundtransportation.com/hsrail  [...]

From Sound Transit: http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/Sounder-station-open-houses-920.xml  Come join discussions to expand service and access at these Sounder stations: Tacoma – Thursday, Sept. 22 Tacoma Dome Station 424 E. 25th St. Kent – Tuesday, Sept. 27 Kent Station 301 Railroad Ave. N. Auburn – Tuesday, Oct. 11 Auburn Station 23 A St. S.W. Sumner – Wednesday, Oct. 12 [...]

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/20_NineDayViaductClosure.htm The South end of the viaduct will be torn down starting October 21st in preparation for its replacement. Drivers are warned to planned ahead. While this will make traffic horrible for a few weeks, it will end up replacing a road that has desperately needed replacement for many years. Ben

Note: This has been canceled: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/23_I-405ClosureCanceled.htm  Original post: From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/19_I-405WeekendClosure.htm  I-405 will close this weekend in Downtown Bellevue to finish the new connection to SR 520 as part of the Bellevue Braids project. Having driven this route many times, the exit from I-405 North to SR 520 East has always been a nightmare. Hopefully [...]

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/16_steelbridgesreviewed.htm  WSDOT is reviewing inspection reports of 10 bridges built with the same kind of steel as the Sherman Minton bridge in Indiana. This bridge was recently found to have cracks. It is good to see WSDOT being proactive in cases like this. We don’t want to see another Silver Bridge disaster here. [...]

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/i405/ne8thtosr520/ The Bellevue Braids project, making a separated interchange between NE 8th and SR 520 in downtown Bellevue, will open on September 26th. This should dramatically help with the extreme congestion on Northbound I-405 in the area. Ben  

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/15_tnbequipmentreadingnewpasses.htm  The electronic toll lanes on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge have now been upgraded to support the new Good to Go! passes. This is great news, as the new passes are becoming the standard for toll projects in Washington. Ben  

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/09/Fall_091411.htm It’s that time of year again when the ferries go to the Fall rates and schedules. This year also includes some fare increases as well. Ben

From MSNBC: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/09/7690575-new-initiatives-put-amtrak-on-the-fast-track Along with programs to build true high-speed passenger rail in the United States, Amtrak is initiating programs to add iPhone apps and replace its ticket punches. Ben