Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts

King County Metro Presentation: Using the Community Van Service

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Did you know that King County Metro offers a van for pre-scheduled, low cost trips?!

Come to the Senior Activity Center for a presentation by King County Metro that will teach you how to use this amazing service! 

Learn to schedule rides for group outings, running errands, getting to medical appointments, going to concerts and sports events, etc. all at the cost of regular bus fare.

Vans are available to book any time of the day, any day of the week, and this service is available to anyone.


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King County Metro Transit Instruction Program for Seniors and people with disabilities

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Using public transportation can feel challenging or frightening for many people. 

In an effort to help seniors and people with disabilities gain confidence and learn ridership skills, the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center welcomes King County Metro for a group instruction program that aims to introduce independent bus riding!

You will learn to safely and confidently use public transportation. Participants will learn about paying bus fare, using an Orca card, how to find bus stops, how to communicate with the driver, how to exit at the correct stop and general problem solving during your time riding the bus.

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Oregon, California and Washington commissions to discuss the future of West Coast transportation

Monday, September 9, 2024

OLYMPIA – The transportation commissions from California, Oregon and Washington will meet virtually this month to explore how the three states can collaborate. 

They’ll discuss approaches to creating a West Coast transportation network that coordinates and enhances freight and passenger mobility, strengthens resiliency and accelerates clean transportation efforts. The commission will also hold its regular monthly meeting following the West Coast discussion.

The three commissions will hear about efforts to develop a West Coast Transportation Network Plan and discuss next steps during a work session on Wednesday, September 11, from 9 to 11am. A regular meeting of the Washington State Transportation Commission will follow from 11am to 5pm.

Both virtual meetings are open to the public. Public comment for the three-state work session will take place at 10:45am, and public comment for the regular commission meeting will take place at 4pm. Those wishing to attend virtually may register for the three-state work session and regular commission meeting on the commission’s website. Both meetings will also be streamed live on TVW.

Highlights of the commission’s regular commission meeting include:
  • Congestion scorecard: During the regular commission meeting on Wednesday, Kirkland-based Inrix will give Washington commissioners an overview of its Global Traffic Scorecard, which looks at mobility data and commuting trends for the world’s most-congested cities.
  • Washington Transportation Plan update: Washington commissioners will discuss their ongoing work to update the state’s 20-year transportation plan.
  • Highway system study: The Washington commission will get an update on a route jurisdiction study underway, which assesses whether changes are needed to criteria defining the state highway system.
For more information about the commission and agendas for the 9am work session and 11am regular meeting, visit the commission’s website: www.wstc.wa.gov.


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Sounder kicks off Seahawks service for season opener vs. the Denver Broncos

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Blitz has tips for getting to the games
Image courtesy Seahawks.com
Sound Transit options for getting to the Seahawks game.

Seattle sports fans can save on travel time, parking and gas by taking Sound Transit’s popular Sounder trains to this weekend’s Seahawks game on Sunday September 8, 2024. 

Special Sounder service is in addition to regular Link light rail, ST Express and King County Metro service to and from Lumen Field

The inbound N Line train from Snohomish County departs Everett at 10:45am with stops in Mukilteo and Edmonds, arriving at King Street Station at 11:44am.

The return N Line train for Everett departs King Street Station 45 minutes after the end of the game.

An online schedule of Sounder trains serving Seahawks games is available here.

Seahawks mascot Blitz has more tips on how to ride here.

Link light rail runs every 10 minutes on weekends and serves 23 stations including Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline, and Northgate.

Link’s Stadium and International District stations are a short walk from the stadium.

Many King County Metro buses also drop off passengers near the stadium. King County Metro bus schedules can be found at kingcounty.gov/metro/schedules.

Corrected date: the game was September 8, 2024

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Major bus changes coming: 16 new routes, 51 modified, 33 routes deleted

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

Bus riders, get ready for major bus revisions. Metro Transit, Community Transit and Sound Transit will make big changes to bus service in the Shoreline and North King County region starting September 14th to better serve the new Light Rail stations.


Metro Flex will serve the area north of Ballinger Way

King County Metro Transit plans to add five new bus routes, delete eleven routes, change 15 routes, and add Metro Flex service to Lake Forest Park and Kenmore. In Snohomish County, Community Transit will delete a whopping 22 routes and change 30 routes, while adding ten new routes. And Sound Transit will modify six routes and add one.

The new routes will provide more east/west connections to get riders to light rail lines while deleting dozens of north/south lines made redundant by the new light rail stations.

The deletion of bus routes will free up capacity so bus riders will get more weekday trips (+9%), weekend trips (+32%) and more evening trips after 10pm (+43%) and riders will have shorter wait times because of improved frequency up to every 15 minutes on many routes.

New Metro bus routes

With the new 1 Line opening, Metro will be deleting the outdated 73, 301, 304 302, 320, 330, and 347 routes. But Shoreline and Northshore transit riders will get changed, new and improved service on the 331, 333, 345, 346, 348, 365, E Line and 522 routes. And Kenmore and Lake Forest Park riders will get on-demand, ride-hailing Metro Flex service.

Goodbye 347 and 330: Route 347 from Northgate to Richmond Beach and the cross-town 330 from Shoreline Community College to Lake City will both be deleted.

Hello 5th Ave 365: Now, the new route 365 will run north/south along 5th Ave NE connecting both light rail station in North City and Ridgecrest and running south to serve North Seattle College and Northgate.

Hello crosstown 333: The new route 333 will (finally) provide east/west service along NE 175th St - connecting the Mountlake Terrace Station to the Shoreline South Station with stops in Ballinger, North City, Shorewood High School and Shoreline Community College.

Revised 345, 346, 348 and E: Route 345 will now connect to the Shoreline South Station and run along N 155th St but will no longer connect to Shoreline College. Route 346 will connect the Aurora Village transit center to the Shoreline South station via Meridian Ave. The 348 will run along 180th instead of 175th in North City with a connection at the Shoreline North station. And Metro promises increased frequency on the express E Line all day and night.

Goodbye downtown expresses 301, 302 and 304 and hello 515: downtown Seattle routes 301, 304 and 302 will also be deleted because riders will be able to use the Link 1 Line instead. With the deletion of the 302, Richmond Beach commuters will need to take the 348 and transfer to the 303 or the Link 1 Line

However, for some reason, Sound Transit will add the new 515 downtown express to get Lynnwood bus riders to Seattle who don’t like the train (essentially duplicating service provided by the new light rail extension).

Route 65 and 72 connects UW to 145th: Route 65 to the UW will now continue to the Shoreline South Station, running along 145th St. but the 73 from Jackson Park to the UW will be deleted. Metro says the new Route 72 will partially replace the 372 and will run from the Shoreline South Station to the UW via Lake City.

UW Bothell 372 deleted: Metro will delete the 372, forcing UW faculty and students commuting between the Bothell and Seattle campuses to make a transfer. In its place, Metro is adding the new Route 324 from Bothell that terminates in Lake City where riders can make a transfer to the new Route 72. Metro decided to not extend the new 331 to Bothell but Community Transit’s new Route 120 will connect Lynnwood station to the UW Bothell campus where riders can transfer to get to the UW Seattle campus. Taking the 522 Express, may provide a faster option but will still include a transfer.

Bothell Express Bus: Northshore riders can take Sound Transit’s Route 522 Express, which (currently) connects Woodinville to the Roosevelt light rail station along Bothell Way and Lake City Way with stops in Bothell, Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. When the East Link 2 Line from Lynnwood to Redmond opens in spring of 2025, the 522 will start running along 145th street to connect to the Shoreline south light rail station - providing another needed east/west connection across North King County. Further down the road, the Stride S3 Line will replace the 522 with all-electric, bus rapid transit (BRT) to Shoreline on Bothell Way and 145th starting in 2027.

322 and 331 connect Kenmore: Route 320 from Kenmore to South Lake Union will be deleted but Kenmore riders can take the new 331 and improved 322 and 522. The new east/west Route 331 from Kenmore will connect Lake Forest Park, Ballinger, Mountlake Terrace, and Aurora Village to Shoreline Community College. The 322 will now connect Kenmore riders to the Northgate Station instead of Roosevelt Station.

On Demand Pickups for Lake Forest Park and Kenmore: Lake Forest Park will mostly be left behind and remain a car-dependent, transit desert with bus routes only on the state highways that cut through town. But Metro will be expanding its Metro Flex service area to north Lake Forest Park and Kenmore allowing transit users to hail a ride with an app. The on-demand transit service will serve only north Lake Forest Park leaving residents south of Ballinger Way stuck in traffic.

Take the Ferry with the 909 and 117: The new express Route 909 and modified Route 130 will connect the Mountlake Terrace station to Edmonds station, opening up easy, car-free access to Edmonds’ downtown, waterfront, Kingston Ferry terminal and Amtrak station. The new Route 117 will connect light rail riders from Lynnwood to the Mukilteo Ferry.


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ORCA offers six-month day pass reduced fare beginning August 30, 2024

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2024 - ORCA is excited to announce a special promotional offer that will help our riders save more on their daily ride or commute. 

Starting August 30, 2024, ORCA cardholders can take advantage of a new promotional day pass fare, offering significant savings for the next six months.

For a limited time, the Adult ORCA Day Pass will be reduced from $8.00 to $6.00, while the reduced fare day pass (Seniors, ORCA LIFT for customers with lower incomes, and customers with disabilities) will drop from $4.00 to $2.00.

To purchase an ORCA Day Pass, you will need to have a plastic ORCA card or digital ORCA card for Android users in Google Wallet. Adult ORCA cards cost $3.00 and ORCA LIFT and RRFP Senior and Disabled cards are free.
 

Youths 18 and under will continue to ride for free. This special offer is designed to simplify travel throughout the Puget Sound and help riders make the most out of their ORCA card by allowing unlimited* rides and transfers between all participating ORCA agencies throughout the day for the cost of just two trips.

Key Details of the Promotional Day Pass Fare:

  • Adult Day Pass: Reduced from $8.00 to $6.00
  • Reduced Fare Day Pass (Customers who are seniors, have a disability or have lower incomes): Reduced from $4.00 to $2.00
  • Promotion Duration: August 30, 2024 to February 28, 2025 (6 months)
  • *Unlimited Travel: Ride and transfer between all ORCA agencies all day, excluding Washington State Ferries and Kitsap Fast Ferries. Some additional E-purse funds may be required to cover trips on King County Water Taxi and Sound Transit Sounder trains.
How to Purchase the Promotional ORCA Day Pass on Your ORCA Card

Purchase Online:
  • Visit myORCA.com or download/open the myORCA app
  • If you have a myORCA account, log into your account.
    • On the myORCA app, select the card you wish to add the pass to, click “add money”, then “add a pass”, and then select “All Day Puget Pass”. Choose your quantity and add it to your shopping cart to check out.
    • On myORCA.com, click “manage this card”, select “passes” and choose “Regional” under pass type. Next, select “Daily $3.50” or “Daily $1.75” if you are a reduced fare customer, and adjust your quantity under “frequency”. Tap “add to cart” to checkout.
If you don’t have a myORCA account, you can still add the pass to your ORCA card here

If you have a digital ORCA card on Google Wallet, you can add the pass to your ORCA card via the Google Wallet app. 

Riders can also purchase an ORCA Day Pass in-person at an ORCA Ticket Vending machine, at an ORCA customer service location, or by contacting us at 888-988-6722 / TTY: 711.

Keeping public transportation convenient and cost-effective

It is intended to simplify the complexity of deciding which fare is right for your ride as service and fare changes, such as Sound Transit’s Link light rail flat $3.00 fare, take effect this August and into the fall.

Whether you're commuting to work, running errands, or exploring the city, the ORCA promotional day pass is your ticket to unlimited travel for the cost of just two trips.

After February 2025, the ORCA Joint Board will review options for extending the promotional day pass fare.

More information here  

Order a physical Adult ORCA card online at myORCA.com or purchase a digital ORCA card via Google Wallet. To purchase an Adult ORCA card in person, visit an ORCA card retail store, an ORCA ticket vending machine, or transit agency customer service office: https://www.myorca.com/where-to-buy/

For discounted ORCA LIFT, Senior, or Disabled cards, you can apply in person at a participating location or by mail. Visit https://info.myorca.com/using-orca/ways-to-save/ to find details on where to apply and what documents you'll need.


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Lime launches a two-year scooter and bike share pilot program in Shoreline

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Lime scooters in place at Aurora Village
Photo by Pat Deagen

The City of Shoreline has partnered with Lime to launch a two-year pilot program with Lime for a scooter and bike share mobile app service. 
According to the City, "This new program supports our commitment to sustainable transportation options."
Learn more about the City’s commitment to sustainable transportation.

The program will run for two years. Scooters have already been placed at the Aurora Village Transit Center. The program will eventually feature 200 devices in Shoreline, including 50 bikes, operated by Lime with potentially as many as 400.

Lime scooter at Aurora Village
Photo by Pat Deagen

Riders must be 18 years or older. Helmets are required by Lime and strongly encouraged by the City. You can get a 10% discount by verifying that you are wearing a helmet through the Lime app.

Lime scooters parked in North City
Photo by Oliver Moffat

Lime is managing all operations including device deployment, maintenance, recovery/rebalancing, and responses to community reports.

Screenshot from the Lime app shows the locations of scooters and bikes available for rental in Shoreline

Neighboring cities with Lime report problems with bikes and scooters being dumped along the roadside. If you see any problems, report them to Lime at: Support@li.me or 1-888-546-3345


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Husky Sailgating Cruise for the 2024 football season and Season Passes are on sale today

Husky Sailgating Cruise to Husky Stadium

Husky Sailgating Cruise for the 2024 football season and Season Passes are on sale today

This season, trade the traffic and parking headaches for a scenic roundtrip cruise across Lake Washington from Carillon Point in Kirkland to Husky Stadium. Enjoy a one-hour journey with fellow fans while savoring local beverages and bites on our comfortable outdoor or indoor heated decks. It’s the perfect way to kick off game day!

Argosy is thrilled to offer a special pregame cruise for the 2024 Apple Cup against Washington State, departing from Pier 55 on the Seattle waterfront, just a short walk from Lumen Field.

The two Season Pass options are available to purchase today, August 7, 2024 with individual game tickets set to go on sale mid-August. Purchasing a Season Pass guarantees access to cruises likely to sell out, including the Michigan game on October 5, and both options save at least 20% off retail ticket prices. 

Season Passes will be available until the first game on August 31.

Argosy Cruises has been a part of Seattle’s maritime tradition for over 75 years with many passionate UW fans part of their team, and this new sailgating experience will surely become a beloved game day tradition.

Pricing Details

Husky Harbor Season Pass
$340.00
Full Season Pass (includes Apple Cup)
$373.75


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Help chart Washington’s transportation future

Friday, August 2, 2024

Photo courtesy Washington State Transportation Commission

Public input sought at upcoming virtual meetings on the state’s 20-year plan, topics include climate, funding, community and equity

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Transportation Commission is in the process of updating the state’s 20-year transportation plan that establishes a high-level, long-term roadmap for the statewide transportation system. As part of this process, the commission is holding workshops in August and September to take public input on this early stage of the planning process.

The workshops will seek public input on four topics emerging from meetings held across the state thus far. 

The meetings will be conducted via Zoom, and online registration is required for each meeting.

Virtual workshop details

All workshops run from 10 to 11:30am on their given dates. 

The workshop will cover the following topics:
  • Climate and resiliency – Thursday, Aug. 15: What’s needed to ensure our transportation system can sustain itself under increasing serious climate events, and how do we proactively prepare for them?
  • Long-term funding – Thursday, Aug. 22: What types of funding solutions will help to meet transportation maintenance and operations, safety and preservation needs?
  • Connecting communities – Thursday, Aug. 29: How can we make our transportation system, neighborhoods and communities safer while improving access to opportunity?
  • Equity in transportation – Thursday, Sept. 5: How can transportation planning and investments be more inclusive of historically under-represented communities, including rural areas?
Each workshop will feature insights from practitioners in the field as well as an interactive discussion on how the state is making progress – and what could be done to improve that progress.

Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service in locations throughout the state. Find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot here

For more information about the Washington Transportation Plan update, visit the commission’s website


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Shoreline piloting a new dockless electric scooter and bike program

Thursday, August 1, 2024


The City of Shoreline is excited to launch a new dockless electric scooter and bike pilot program this July! 

You can explore the city in a fun and environmentally friendly way while connecting to public transportation options and reducing your reliance on a car.

The program will be piloted for two years with Lime selected as the service provider. Riders can download the Lime app on their smartphones to locate and unlock available scooters and bikes. 

For safety, helmets are required when riding, but there's a discount offered to incentivize helmet use. 

The City has asked Lime to start out with a limited deployment of scooters and bikes to test the service and see how well it works for our residents.

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Ferry Traffic Emphasis Patrols - July 26, 2024

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Edmonds Police at ferry dock

Back by popular demand-- Washington State Patrol, Mukilteo Police Department and Edmonds Police will be watching for line cutting & other violations at docks in Edmonds and Mukilteo.

Just a reminder - Your parents and teachers probably taught you that it's not polite to cut in front of others. In this case, it will also cost you $145.

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Take the ferry to Kingston

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Photographers Lee Lageschulte and her husband Roger recently took the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston. And of course Lee had her camera with her.

Kingston is a charming, small town, with a traffic jam to the ferry dock right down the middle

That ferry looks way too big for the Kingston run but the ferry system has had to move boats around to accommodate maintenance and staffing schedules. It looks gorgeous, through.

Lee said that Mt Rainier has been in the haze this summer but it's still pretty cool to see it from the ferry.

It's a two-volcano view from the ferry

If you pick the right time of day, you can cap your trip with a sunset.



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ORCA Card now available in Google Wallet; Android users can pay for transit with phone and Wear OS devices

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

ORCA is excited to announce the ability to save and access ORCA transit cards in Google Wallet from Android and Wear OS devices. 

Customers across the Puget Sound region can add an ORCA card to Google Wallet for convenient transit payments.

Now ORCA customers with Android and Wear OS devices can easily add their ORCA cards to their Google Wallet, enabling them to pay for transit, fund their accounts, purchase a pass, view transactions, and see trip history all within the Google Wallet app.

"We’re excited for this feature to offer another convenient payment option for transit customers using Google devices! Adding a new ORCA Card to the Google Wallet app is simple." according to Brittany Esdaile, director of the ORCA program:

  • Open Google Wallet
  • Select Add to Wallet
  • Choose Transit pass
  • Search for "ORCA"
  • Tap ORCA, and you're on your way

Additionally, customers who own plastic ORCA cards can easily convert them into digital cards on Google Wallet at no extra charge. 

If you have an Android phone, converting your plastic card to a digital card is available for Adult, Youth, Senior, Disabled, and ORCA LIFT cards. Upon conversion, the plastic card will be deactivated, and all passes and balances will be seamlessly transferred to the phone. New Adult digital cards added to the wallet will cost the same as purchasing a plastic ORCA card: $3.

While this innovation offers new convenience to customers who have purchased their own ORCA Card, it is important to know that businesses, schools, and organizations that issue ORCA cards will determine if they enable the cards that they provide to be added to Google Wallet. Customers can contact their issuing employer, school, or organization for more information.

Paying for transit with ORCA from Google Wallet is easy: 
  • Simply wake your phone screen, tap it on an ORCA card reader, and go.
To use ORCA from Google Wallet, customers must have an Android phone and have their ORCA card loaded into the Google Wallet app. They can also connect a Wear OS device to Google Wallet. Of note, this feature is only available for ORCA cards at this time; customers cannot use credit and debit cards from Google Wallet to pay for transit in the Puget Sound Area.

This new feature is supported by all seven participating transit agencies, including Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, and Washington State Ferries.

To ensure the best experience, customers are also encouraged to link their digital ORCA cards to their ORCA account on the myORCA app or myORCA.com.

For more information, please visit info.myORCA.com/GooglePay and stay updated with the latest news and updates by following ORCA on social media @TheORCACard.


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Walk, Ride, and Roll Event June 29, 2024 at the Shoreline Farmers Market

Thursday, June 20, 2024


Join us for a "Walk, Ride, Roll" Event at the Shoreline Farmers Market! Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Where: Shoreline Farmers Market
192nd Street Park & Ride
18821 Aurora Ave N

We're developing programs for commuting options, getting around town, and reducing reliance on cars alone. One you will see very soon as we launch a new dockless electric scooter and bike pilot program this July!

Come to our Walk, Ride, Roll Event to:
  • Meet the scooter/bike share vendor and test ride devices.
  • Learn about electric car-share coming to the City.
  • Explore what a Shared-Use Mobility Hub might look like.
  • Find Out about ways for getting around without a car.


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Shoreline celebrates “A Decade of Collaboration” —145th and I-5 Interchange and the 148th Non-Motorized Bridge Projects

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

From the City of Shoreline

On June 17, 2024 after a decade of creativity and hard work, plus unprecedented levels of partnership, the City of Shoreline, joined by federal, state, regional and local officials and community stakeholders, celebrated the recent start of construction of two major infrastructure projects. The 145th and I-5 Interchange and the 148th Non-Motorized Bridge projects will soon connect the region to the new Shoreline South/148th Street light rail station, scheduled to open on August 30.

The “thank you” event took place at Sound Transit’s Shoreline South/148th Street station. Attendees included Governor Jay Inslee; U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal; Washington State Senate Transportation Chair Marko Liias and House Transportation Chair Jake Fey; King County Executive Dow Constantine; Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers; representatives for Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell; and representatives from our community partners Transportation Choices Coalition and North Urban Human Services Alliance.

Ensuring strong transportation connections to light rail has been a Shoreline priority for many years. These projects will improve station access for transit, bicyclists, pedestrians, and cars. The Interchange project will replace the existing stoplights with roundabouts, which will improve the flow of traffic, eliminate idling at stoplights and make it easier for bus riders to access the station and transfer to light rail. The non-motorized bridge will connect residents, pedestrians, and bicyclists from the west side of I-5 directly into the station.

“Since light rail stations were first proposed, the City has been working diligently to prepare for the day when trains would be running,” said Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts. 

“We upzoned the area around our light rail stations to increase density, and we added green building standards and affordable housing requirements to ensure that our new urban neighborhoods will be both sustainable and equitable. These projects will ensure that the households that live here, as well as the broader community, have safe, reliable access to the new Shoreline South/148th Street station.”

“These transit-oriented projects improve connections for residents, reduce pollution and spur housing investments nearby,” said Governor Jay Inslee. “I appreciate the work of the city of Shoreline to accommodate transit, active transportation and more kinds of housing.”


“Since I came to Congress, ensuring the success of the Shoreline South/148th Station and the Lynnwood Link extension have been among my top priorities. Transit-oriented development, as seen right here in Shoreline, is so critical to tackling climate change, improving regional mobility, and increasing the accessibility and affordability of housing,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. 

“Accessible transit will help communities reach jobs downtown, an important pivot towards creating mobility that does not require a car to commute. I am so proud to have helped bring home and support over $24 million in federal dollars to ensure we were able to get this project across the finish line.”

“The City of Shoreline’s collaboration with Sound Transit will make it possible for residents of the city and beyond to enjoy the opportunities that light rail brings,” said King County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair Dow Constantine. 
“These improvements will connect people to this brand-new light rail station and an entire transit hub served by King County Metro buses, making public transit an easier, greener choice for everyone. Thank you to the dedicated transit advocates in our federal and state delegations for their support of these transformative investments.”


Work on these projects is now underway. Currently, 145th Street west of I-5 is closed to speed construction and is slated to reopen this fall. The interchange project is expected to be complete in late 2025. Construction of the eastern portion of the 148th bridge is currently in progress, with the west side work and the placement of the bridge deck planned for 2025. We expect to open the bridge in the spring of 2026.


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At 145th groundbreaking event: Jayapal brings the funds, Inslee brings the donuts

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Governor Jay Inslee brought donuts to the 148th street light rail station groundbreaking event.
Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

Elected officials gathered at the Shoreline South Light Rail Station on Monday morning to celebrate the recent start of construction on the 145th roundabouts and the non-motorized bridge over I-5.

Governor Jay Inslee shouted to be heard over the roar of construction and midday I-5 traffic as he thanked workers while handing out donuts.

On a busy day, the 145th construction zone can have as many as thirty workers on site.

“I want to thank the workers that put this together. These projects are transportation projects, these are housing projects. And these are job projects,” said Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts.

Construction is underway on 145th street at I-5 where the old signalized intersections will be replaced with roundabouts - photo by Oliver Moffat

Representative Pramila Jayapal highlighted her work to secure $4 million for the non-motorized bridge, $20 million for the completion of the 145th street corridor project, and a request for $4 million to fund Shoreline’s Trail Along the Rail.

“This is what it looks like when government puts its thumb on the scale for equity, for justice, for the environment, for business,” said Jayapal.

Currently, 145th west of I-5 is closed for construction until this fall. Pedestrians and bikes can currently use the north sidewalk of 145th but a detour on 147th is planned.

The 145th roundabout project is expected to be complete in late 2025.

The non-motorized bridge is expected to open in the spring of 2026.


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Pre-revenue testing underway on Lynnwood Link Extension

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Screenshot from video by Steven Treseler
from the pedestrian overpass at NE 198th
Testing on the 8.5-mile long Lynnwood Link Extension has entered the pre-revenue phase, marking an important milestone toward the opening on Aug. 30. 

This phase includes training for operators and maintenance staff, and continued testing to ensure stations, tracks, utilities, and vehicles work together as expected in preparation for the start of service.

During this period, light rail vehicles are running frequently between the Northgate and Lynnwood City Center stations.

In addition to trains on the tracks, people can expect to see maintenance vehicles, testing equipment, and personnel involved in the testing process, and hear sounds typical in an operating light rail system including station announcements, wheels on the tracks, and warning signals.

“With the start of pre-revenue service, the countdown has begun toward opening day for the Lynnwood extension, connecting King and Snohomish counties,” said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. “This is an exciting moment for our communities as we prepare to further expand the green, integrated transit system our region deserves.”

The next phase of testing will be simulated service, which will begin next month. During simulated service, all trains will discharge passengers at Northgate and continue to Lynnwood. When the Lynnwood extension opens, trains will run every eight minutes during peak hours.

Stacy & Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman JV and Skanska Constructors L300 JV are executing the civil construction on the Lynnwood Link Extension. The $3.26 billion project budget includes up to $1.17 billion from a Full Funding Grant Agreement executed by the Federal Transit Administration. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau executed a $658 million low-interest loan supporting the project, including new light rail vehicles and support facilities.

The Lynnwood extension will serve the following stations, all of them with connections to multiple transit modes:

  • Shoreline South/148th Station. Located just northeast of I-5 at the NE 145th Street exit, the elevated Shoreline South/148th Station includes a parking garage with approximately 500 new spaces as part of the project.
  • Shoreline North/185th Station. Located on the east side of I-5, the Shoreline North/185th Station serves Shoreline Stadium, the Shoreline Conference Center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Improved pedestrian pathways connect the station to the west side of I-5. A parking garage with approximately 500 new spaces is part of the project.
  • Mountlake Terrace Station. Located east of I-5 at the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center just north of 236th Street Southwest, west of Veterans Memorial Park, the elevated Mountlake Terrace Station straddles 236th Street Southwest, and is a short walk from the Mountlake Terrace Library, new city hall and future transit-oriented development. There are 890 existing parking spaces near the station.
  • Lynnwood City Center. Located at the Lynnwood Transit Center, this elevated station serves one of the busiest transit centers in the region, with extensive connections to local and regional service. A new garage containing 1,670 parking stalls in a five-story structure opened last year.

In 2016, voters approved the addition of a light rail station to the Lynnwood Link Extension at NE 130th Street. That station is scheduled to open in 2026.

Visit this page to learn more about the 1 Line to Lynnwood.


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Transportation and Middle Housing discussed at the May 20 Shoreline Council meeting

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

The locations of three new projects added to the Transportation Improvement Plan are marked on a map

By Oliver Moffat

At the May 20 meeting, the city council approved a new Transportation Improvement Plan with some amendments, discussed Electric Scooter and Bike Sharing, and provided feedback on the Comprehensive Plan.

Every year, the city council is required to approve a list of transportation projects for the subsequent six-years. The city council made three amendments to the Transportation Improvement Plan before approval: an unfunded bike bridge to Edmonds over SR 104, proposed improvements to Firlands Way, and splitting the 185th project into separate east and west projects.

Regional bike advocates lobbied the city council to build a non-motorized bridge over SR 104 where a one mile gap in the Interurban Trail between Shoreline and Edmonds drives cyclists onto busy streets. The city council agreed to pitch in $40,000 to study the project but (given staffing shortages) the city did not sound eager to commit to yet another big bike bridge project.

One block to the east of the CRISTA retirement community and one block west of the new Canopy apartment complex is Firlands Way N. A citizen-initiated proposal could convert the road with 90 feet of city-owned right of way into a six acre, tree-lined pedestrian friendly public space. 

The proposal could be both a transportation project and a park project and bring badly needed open space to the rapidly urbanizing neighborhood near Aurora. The city council added a plan to study the Firlands Way proposal to the transportation plan.

After hearing safety concerns about 180th Street from residents in North City, council member Eben Pobee sponsored an amendment to separate the 180th and 10th Ave segments of the 185th corridor project into a distinct project called the “North City Light Rail Connector”. 

Largely symbolic, the name change doesn’t increase the priority or funding for the project, but raises the visibility of a smaller project that was previously buried inside a larger project.

 A screenshot shows council member Betsy Robertson saying “All those folks who don’t want to see the additional housing, they are all comfortably housed.”

Although it wasn’t on the agenda, the topic of what kinds of Middle Housing the city should allow came up while discussing the Comprehensive Plan.

Mayor Chris Roberts said he wants to “double down” and “embrace middle housing of all types” not just meet the minimum density rules required by state law. “I hope the planning commission brings back policies that give us the big version of what middle housing could look like in Shoreline. And then we can work with our affordable housing developers to say ‘okay, what do you need’ and how do we get really truly affordable housing in our city,” said Roberts.

Council member Annette Ademasu disagreed with the push for more middle housing. “I’m hearing from people out there… they don’t want to see corner to corner… townhomes. They would rather see more green space interspersed when we are looking at middle housing,“ said Ademasu.

“All those folks who don’t want to see the additional housing, they are all comfortably housed,” council member Betsy Robertson said in response. “And we have a housing crisis and we need to add more units. And Shoreline is committed to doing that,” said Robertson.


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Grand opening of East Link Light Rail Starter Line with ceremony attended by state senators and governor

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Sen. Murray, King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci at the grand opening of the East Link. Photo courtesy Patty Murray

Bellevue, WA – Saturday, April 27, 2024, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, attended the grand opening of the East Link Light Rail Starter Line. 

This new service will provide 6.6 miles of east-west connections between Redmond and Bellevue. The full East Link will open in 2025 and run 14.5 miles between Seattle and Redmond. 

In 2013, Murray secured a $14 million grant under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program that she created—which is now the RAISE grant program—for the East Link project.

Murray was joined at the grand opening ceremony by Senator Maria Cantwell; Governor Jay Inslee; Redmond Mayor Angela Birney; Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson; Goran Sparrman, Interim CEO of Sound Transit; Donny Stevenson, Vice-Chairman of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe; Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft; Beryl Tomay, Senior Vice President of Transportation at Amazon; Monty Anderson, Executive Secretary of the Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council; Paul Kincaid, Associate Administrator for Communications and Congressional Affairs for the Federal Transit Administration; and Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember among others.

“Public transit is a top priority for people across Washington state, so it’s a top priority for me—and I’m proud to have fought for, and won, crucial investments in our state’s public transit system,” said Senator Murray. 
“I have a long history with this project, and remember some pretty tough times a couple decades ago fighting alongside Joni Earl to ensure there was a future for Sound Transit—that future is here now, and it is so bright. 
"I am so excited to be here today, and to be able to tell everyone we will no longer have to wait years for light rail to come to Bellevue—instead it will be here every ten minutes!”

Murray has long been a supporter of the East Link extension, attending the groundbreaking in 2016 after securing a $14 million TIGER Grant for the project in 2013. 

Murray established the TIGER grants program in 2009, which later became the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. 

“Delivering the federal dollars to support Puget Sound’s incredible expansion of public transit has not been easy, but as long as I serve as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee—it’s going to be a priority for the federal government,” Murray said.

Last summer, Murray announced a record nearly $133 million in RAISE funding for projects across Washington state—Washington was awarded the most RAISE grants of any state and received the most in total funding. Senator Murray notably helped secure $7.5 billion for the RAISE program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.


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Parkwood and Ridgecrest Neighborhoods to host information meeting on 145th Street projects May 14, 2024

Thursday, April 25, 2024


145th Street Projects, Tuesday May 14, 2024, 7:00 - 9:00pm

Would you like to learn more about the 7-month closure of NE 145th Street and the status of other projects around the 148th Street light rail station impacting your neighborhood?

The Parkwood and Ridgecrest Neighborhood Associations invite you to join us the evening of May 14th for a presentation by City staff and an opportunity to ask questions about road closures and planned construction activities.

Discussion topics will include the 145th Street closure and detour routes, I-5 Interchange project, roundabouts, 145th Street Corridor project, tree impacts, 5th Ave NE traffic improvements, and the 148th Street Non-Motorized Bridge project.
or attend remotely via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94794947990

Visit the 145th Street and I-5 Interchange Project webpage for more information and updates.

Hosted by the Parkwood and Ridgecrest Neighborhood Associations.

We strive to make this event accessible to all. Please contact parkwoodneighbors@gmail.com with any questions about accessibility


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