Transportation

Some Sound Transit boardmembers have questioned the necessity of building a second light rail tunnel in downtown Seattle, arguing that routing Ballard Link through the existing tunnel could save billions. However, that arrangement introduces huge challenges of its own. Here's why a second tunnel is key to future plans.

Mayor Mary Lou Pauly's recommendation would halt on-demand transit service throughout most of the city, including in neighborhoods with very few other transit options. Issaquah Councilmembers are pushing to continue the program until it can be more robustly evaluated.

The City of Seattle will be removing an East Union Street bus only lane set aside for the Route 2 this weekend, ceding to requests from nearby property owners who have complained about traffic changes in the area. Bus riders are chagrined.

Pivoting away from full-scale bus base retrofits that go all-in on battery electric buses means that Metro won't face a fiscal cliff until the early 2030s, according to budget writers. Metro's General Manager also framed the move as one that helps to preserve core bus services.

People on bikes can finally connect from Little Saigon to Jefferson Park in their own protected lane, with future connections planned to the north and south. Concerns about lost parking on 15th Avenue S almost doomed the project.

A thriving Mount Baker Transit Center requires pedestrian upgrades, a revitalized commercial district, and plenty of housing nearby. Unfortunately, the City of Seattle is investing elsewhere, with North Rainier an afterthought.

Assuming bottomless motorist demand and no mode shift to transit made the Seattle Department of Transportation's study of Denny Way bus lanes effectively worthless. Route 8 upgrades deserves real consideration.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is eyeing seven neighborhoods with high rates of pollution, low car ownership rates, and high collision intersections, such as South Park, Lake City, and Capitol Hill, for its low-pollution pilot program. The list will ultimately be whittled down to three program sites.