Transportation

All summer long, SDOT has been encouraging Seattleites to join in the Walk Bike Ride Challenge, by switching at least two car trips per week to walking, biking, or using transit. And in addition to some sweet prizes, they've upped the ante by turning this contest into a neighborhood challenge, asking us: Will Wallingford Win the Walk Bike Ride Challenge Neighborhood Competition? Enter the Walk Bike Ride (WBR) Challenge, switch at least two car trips per week to walking, biking or transit,…

Last month, we told you about Seattle Metro's proposed service reductions in response to a budget shortfall. This Thursday, July 21, Metropolitan King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee will host the final public meeting on the proposed service reductions. If you didn't get a chance to attend the recent Seattle meeting, here's another shot at being heard. What:   Metropolitan King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee public meeting When:  Thursday, July 21 at 6pm. Where: Burien City Council…

So let's talk about Metro. In April, King County's Regional Transit Committee issued a 'scenario' titled, "600,000 Service Hour Reduction Scenario" that proposes various service cuts to address King County Metro's $60 million deficit.  In early May, the Seattle PI published an article about the possible service reductions.  Seems like there are still a lot of details to be worked out, and I'm anxious to see where things end up.  But then the story got even more complex, when a car…

SDOT is seeking input on citywide road and sidewalk improvement and has developed a short survey, which can be found here. The survey, developed by the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III (CTAC III), focuses on questions pertaining to the "Bridging the Gap" levy, which is up for renewal in 2015 and provides funds for things like resurfacing and repairing streets and sidewalks, implementing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, and transit improvements for the 45th St/NW Market corridor. According to SDOT,…

Yesterday, the Seattle Police Department, along with Washington State Patrol and Washington Liquor Control Board held a day-long Safe Driving Enforcement on Aurora. Jim Curtain from SDOT was kind enough to provide me with the most recent statistics from yesterday's operation, which I find staggering: Total charges -   670 Total citations - 509 Total warnings - 198 Total speeders - 331 Aggressive driving – 19 DUI Arrest - 6 Negligent Driving - 2 High speed - 66/40 Cell phone -…

I got an email from King County Metro Transit recently (sign up here!) informing me of the following.  I love the language, so I'll just quote them here: Starting Saturday, Feb. 5, Metro will make routing and bus stop changes for approximately two dozen bus routes serving downtown Seattle to keep people moving during the long-term construction in downtown Seattle and the SODO area. Although the road closures and construction projects will be phased over many years, Metro thinks it is…

SDOT is planning to finally stick it to 520 commuters this spring, to the proposed tune of $7 per day for peak commutes.  Unfortunately, the Valhalla I fervently wished for was eliminated as an option, as they also plan to nail carpoolers- you know, those little buses that run for free. My interpretation is that carpoolers lack for a lobby that can push their point of view. They also aren’t extreme enough for either political party to pander to (Cars Bad!…