Transportation

In 2020, Rob Saka advocated against proposed safety infrastructure along a critical greenway in West Seattle. This week, the issue resurfaced, and Saka, now a city councilmember and chair of the transportation committee, again railed against traffic diverters.

Despite considerable momentum behind SB 5156 coming from the state Senate, the idea of reforming Washington's strict elevator codes met resistance from firefighter groups and the powerful elevator constructor's union.

Amtrak has sourced temporary rail cars to restore curtailed Cascades train service, following last week’s removal of 26 Horizon rail cars needing repair for corrosion issues. An additional run to Vancouver, BC will start April 1.

Ray Delahanty of CityNerd takes a look at what Hoboken, New Jersey has been doing on safety. Across the river from New York City, the city hasn't been a road fatality since 2019 and has worked hard to implement Vision Zero redesigns on streets citywide.

The local endorsement of a preferred alternative means King County Metro can work toward full design. The agency hopes to secure federal funding at a time of great uncertainty around federal support for public transit projects.

Dow Constantine will leave his post as King County Executive and take over as Sound Transit's CEO on April 1, after the agency's board of directors approved the hiring in a unanimous vote Thursday. Constantine takes over at a tenuous time, with projects budgets bursting at the seams.

Beginning on Monday, March 31, King County Metro will relaunch fare enforcement on buses and streetcars after a five-year hiatus. The new format will be a little more forgiving for fare payment violations.

Citing corrosion, Amtrak suddenly recalled 70 Horizon rail cars for maintenance on March 25, heavily impacting several routes, including Amtrak Cascades between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC. Down to one operable trainset, Amtrak Cascades will be forced to rely on replacement bus service.