Michael Smith

New Post: Signs for two-car Link trains return to Seattle seattletransitblog.com/2026/02/09/s...

I do think JPS will be the preferred transfer station for trips between Rainier Valley and Roosevelt, Northgate, etc as it will have a much easier transfer than Mount Baker. On the return trip, people will probably get on whichever line comes first and transfer at either JPS or Mt Baker.

Transfers at JPS will be better, but the train will only save a few minutes at that point. Given the up-to 8min wait time for the train, I think it would need to be 15-20 min faster than the bus to get downtown for people to switch. Even then, a lot of people prefer a slightly slower 1 seat ride.

I’m not sure how much JPS will change patterns for people going downtown. Most 7/106 passengers going downtown stay on the bus instead of transferring to Link at Mt Baker today, even though the train is faster during rush hour. Ofc, that may be due to the transfer penalty + crossing Rainier.

halftime show fromt eh supebowl showing a set on the field featuring a nyc bodega

This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use urbanism is illegal to build in most American cities.

Congrats to Mt Baker “Community” Club for successfully eliminating all upzones near Hunter Blvd. Wouldn’t want any renters getting access to the lake!

Let’s only use that reasoning for preserving the pedestrianized half-block of Pike St where @nerd4cities.bsky.social and @kenjilopezalt.bsky.social filmed a video.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=VhJb...

From the wording on that sign, looking and listening are required for crossing safely. Is this Lynnwood’s way of admitting that their streets are not safe for people with vision and/or hearing disabilities?

Two signs on the sidewalk that read: “Crosswalk safety: Stop, Look, Listen. Cross only when safe” and “In Memory of Deondre Whitaker”.

Hey @lynnwoodwa.bsky.social - instead of victim blaming someone who was killed on your streets, the City should take concrete steps to make it safe to do so. I was nearly hit by a car at this same intersection when a driver decided to make a right turn on red without stopping.

Swift Orange Line bus at Hwy 99 & 196th St.

6/29: Community Transit Swift on the Orange Line

The A Line will still be a high ridership route, but I don’t think it will be Metro’s most productive route.

A cat perched in a tree.

I’ve always thought the cat stuck in tree trope was just a made up story. It turns out, cats (or at least this one) can and do climb trees!

I think we are witnessing the end of the A Line’s dominance as Metro’s most productive route. It lost a decent chunk of riders in Dec to FWLE and there won’t be a lot of new passengers using it as a Link feeder until Pac Hwy is more built up. It’s looking like the G Line will be #1 in 2026.

Just got confirmation from Metro that the stops on Rainier will open on March 28. The new stops on 23rd will open the same day for routes 8 and 48.

I just got an email from ST that they’ve updated the GTFS feed. Does that include the full 2 Line schedule or simulated service?

Putting aside the ridiculousness of it all, why is the new cut through bi-directional? Wouldn’t a one-way towards Delridge be sufficient?

That what I thought when I saw the poles downtown. Will the 1 Line also be reduced to 2 and 3 car trains? I was surprised to see the new sign poles at stations in Rainier Valley.

White pole at the second car in Columbia City. Similar poles have been installed at many other 1 Line stations.

4-car stop line sign at Columbia City station.

Sound Transit is re-installing the stop line signs for 2-car trains. It looks like 2 and 3 car trains will be making a comeback in 2026.

Mild prediction: Link will surpass 50 million trips in 2026.

The back of a HOV sign dwarfs a sign for cyclists that warns them about turning cars.

Human scale vs automotive scale signs

City Hall steps and balconies covered in students

Seattle City Hall right now, where students from around the city have gathered after a mass walk-out to protest ICE:

Not yet, because this is only on the G Line right now. Once open payments are accepted system wide (later this month), transfers will work.

I’ve seen more drivers make a mid-block u-turn from SB Rainier into Safeway than make the left turn from Safeway on to SB Rainier.

I’m a few days late, but it works!!

Add @seattlebikeblog.com to your list

Whenever I see a moved concrete barrier I think:
A) these need to be drilled into the ground
B) I’m glad it got hit instead of a person
C) we need more traffic calming measures to slow down cars so they do not hit the barriers
D) we need more of these protecting Seattle’s bike lanes

Imagine if ST said the S1 Line would stop at South Bellevue station instead of downtown. That is essentially the plan in Renton.

With bus lanes and TSP on Rainier, 3rd, and Logan, S1 buses could reliably serve the existing TC and The Landing/Boeing in 10 min. Instead, the S1 Line will take 4-6 min to only stop at the new TC that is closer to I-405. Is saving 5 min (on a 45 min trip) worth skipping key destinations?

Sound Transit rendering of the new transit center walkway along Grady Way. The row of trees on the left hide 6 lanes of traffic and a nearby highway.

Grady Way next to the transit center site. The transit center will be on the plot of land to the right.

The new Renton TC broke ground today. Its location at Rainier&Grady is worse for most Renton-bound passengers, but better for Stride S1 through riders. That is ok because walking to the TC will be super nice. Conveniently, the trees on the left are hiding 6 lanes of high speed traffic on Grady Way.

Friendly reminder that MLK Way’s dangerous design is a local hazard and regional liability. Maintaining the current design is a choice that city leaders make everyday. Sound Transit will be implementing minor changes (pedestrian gates) later this year, but a full redesign by SDOT is long overdue.