Puget Sound Transportation Projects

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 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/News/2011/08/25_website_outage.htm  The WSDOT Website will be upgraded on Saturday, August 27th and will be unavailable that evening. Ben

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/08/2011BikePedCount.htm  On September 27, 28 and 29th WSDOT is looking for volunteers to count users of bikes and pedestrians. It is all for National Documentation Project. Ben  

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/2011/07/09/1738482/voters-likely-to-decide-about.html  Tim Eyeman’s latest initiative,  I-1125, would end tolls on projects once they are completed. They would also eliminate variable toll rates. It also puts in some other limits and changes who sets the tolling rates. The initiative has enough signatures to go on the ballot in November. While there are some [...]

From Seattle Pulp: http://www.komonews.com/seattlepulp/home-garden/staff-picks/124626739.html Interesting list of bridges to cross in Washington. Ben

From KOMO-TV: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/123957349.html Security patrols will increase on local rail lines and platforms due to terrorism concerns. This is good since the rails have been mostly unprotected and are being used more and more. Hopefully it won’t eliminate sites such as this one however. You too can join the effort here: http://www.citizensforrailsecurity.com/ Ben

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/06/GrayNotebook10thAnniversary.htm WSDOT is celebrating ten years of transparency in transportation. The grey notebook is a quarterly performance report on completed projects. Ben

From WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2011/05/05_24WABikeFriendlyState.htm The League of American Bicyclists has voted Washington “Most Bicycle Friendly State” for the fourth year in a row. This is due to the construction of multiple bicycle-friendly projects. While bicycling doesn’t work for everyone, it is a valid transportation option. It is therefore good to see Washington win this award. Ben