Actually, nearly all the property tax increases around Seattle are to keep up with ever-growing voter approved levies. But it's easy for new journalists, the public and even a few politicians to be confused. (TIL that Winnipeg is a real estate hothouse...)

Not too bad for Seattle, but there’s some real jealousy here of DC ridership growth!

Looks like somebody didn't want to drive only 20 in that school zone to the north ;)

WA man accused of killing National Guard member pleads not guilty

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is accused of opening fire on Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, in November of last year.

CVS already has one of those stores in Admiral ;)

Canada invoking its version of the 2nd Amendment, only for international relations.

What’s behind Seattle Convention Center’s woes? In the shaky years during and after the pandemic, the convention center's leaders spent nearly all the $200 million in reserves. Now they need help.

From the weekend: Seattle's shiny new convention center has basically no reserves, a very precarious place to be for a $3 billion campus. Attendance is up, but the cost of operating the new building means profits haven't followed. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

What I usually see here is that while time-of-day for transit riders is more spread out, total ridership rebounded mainly on the same routes commuters traditionally filled. One factor is Seattle's arenas are next to downtown and the university anyway. Airport trips are growing.

Work Will Stop on Critical Tunnel Project Unless Trump Restores Funding

Construction will soon stop on the Gateway tunnel—the new intercity rail link between Manhattan and New Jersey—unless the Trump admin restores funding for the project. The president paused federal funding several months ago because he claimed its contracting was too DEI. (Gift link)

When will light rail service start between Bellevue and Seattle? Between now and opening day, Sound Transit operators will make practice trips across the I-90 floating bridge, sometimes every 10 minutes.

Light rail service from between Seattle and Bellevue will start in March, a long-overdue connection to the Eastside that will provide congestion-free rides across Lake Washington.

via @mclindblom.bsky.social

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

And soon the Automatic Train Protection signal upgrades should be complete, so trains can operate every four minutes on the Seattle side!

We are constantly taking footwear off to enter the house, or shaking puddle water off the sandals, so this couture is somewhat rational.

Light rail across Lake Washington: A preview before riders come aboard Test runs have gone smoothly this winter for the long-awaited 2 Line crossing of I-90. At last, the main 1 Line light rail spine will connect with the Eastside.

Trains across Lake Washington.

A four-car demonstration train cruised at 55 mph over floating sections of the former Interstate 90 express lanes Wednesday, with no shimmy and barely perceptible vibration.

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

And in the US it's mainly just LA and Seattle...

Seattle to get overnight bus service to Sea-Tac Airport The service will run every 30 minutes and connect to stops in Seattle. Currently, light rail begins running after 4 a.m. and ends after 1 a.m., making a transit trip to the airport difficult for some.

Coming in March, a new route. Reporter @nickdeshais.bsky.social has the latest: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Just so my American friends and followers get an idea of what the official mood of Canada - L'ambience officielle du Canada - is at the present moment.

Base of light pole with wires ripped out

Well the pathway lights to school lasted less than a week

CBC News further expands local journalism, bureaus | CBC News This year, CBC News will add 33 local journalists and create 11 new bureaus, increasing its Canadian footprint from 66 to 77 locations.

Big day! CBC News will add 33 local journalists and create 11 new bureaus this year, adding to last year's expansion of 30 journalists in 22 communities across Canada. Many of the new positions are based in Central and Western Canada. My editor's blog: www.cbc.ca/news/editors...

Rendering of 16th Ave Southwest in White Center with bike lanes located in between street parking and vehicle travel lanes, and only paint used to separate the bike lanes

I'm sorry but this is not a good design for 16th in White Center

Is it better? Sure, but I still will never ride my bike here with paint being my only protection and cars being encouraged to cut over the bike lane to park

This NYC benefit/cost is in the ballpark of Seattle's popular U-Link segment, and far superior to the ST3 West Seattle and Ballard proposed projects.

No fun to sit on a damp transit seat.

Both those points sound sensible to me. If the vinyl seats last longer, that is also a waste reduction angle.

From the inbox: @soundtransit will do its signal work in downtown Seattle before noon Saturday and Sunday, thereby restoring all light rail stations well before the 5 p.m. Saturday @seahawksofficial.com game.

Yes, if you tried to kayak from Lime Kiln State Park to Oak Bay the border might suddenly appear!

Is the vinyl recyclable?

Two Link seats side by side, one with fabric and the other with a vinyl seat insert.

Rider feedback → real changes.

2,300+ passengers helped inform our decision to replace cloth seats with vinyl on Link trains—rated higher for cleanliness, comfort, and satisfaction. More vinyl seats are rolling out over the coming months. 🚆

Read more: https://ow.ly/cr9B50XWgB4

A good way for Canadians to enjoy gardens south of the border without crossing the border. Hopefully I can surf again in Tofino. Cheers!

China has also been building huge highways since the turn of the century and replacing bike lanes with more car capacity in the '00s. And building more trains.

YouTube video by Federal Reserve Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell

Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...

Pellicciotti: Powell Delivers Dire Warning, Federal Reserve Must Remain Independent | Office of the Washington State Treasurer

Washington state treasurer, who presides over the state's AA+ credit rating, declares Pres. Trump's meddling with the Federal Reserve threatens to cause "bananafication" of U.S. finances. tre.wa.gov/Federal_Rese...