Sound Transit
The Sounder train (very Heavy rail) is likely to be the only good idea hatched by this organization. Its success should lead those within to realize that its the massive waste that Emory Bundy says it is.

Mercer Street - Gateway to I-5 Lovely Tree-Lined Traffic Snarl
1/07 - Who thinks Mercer Street is a mess? But wait, don't answer until you've seen a road that's been downsized by 50% (its now 4 lanes Eastbound with 5 lanes on Valley Steet) with a trolley car blocking your approach to I-5.
A plan to have Eastbound Mercer Street pass under Fairview Ave. was rejected. Under that plan cars might have moved too swiftly thus distressing those travelling to the South Lake Union Park for an afternoon stroll. The City has prepared a lovely vision of your Mercer Street future. Maybe this is a movie script for A Nightmare on Mercer Street? Here's wishing that Paul Allen had someplace to go.

Our SR 99 Viaduct Page
1/07 - Oh the hilarity of it all! It deserves its own page.

Seattle Pursues Non-Motorized Transportation Plan
10/06 - The City of Seattle envisions a "transportation system that encourages people to use transit and non-motorized transportation modes".
By decreasing the number of navigable lanes, decreasing speed limits, and increasing the number of traffic lights the city is striving to make travel via personal motor vehicles the last choice.

Westlake Lane and Speed Reductions Proposed
10/06 - The City of Seattle is considering reducing the number of lanes from 4 to 2 on Westlake Ave. between Merceer street and Nickerson street.
Also proposed is a reduction in the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph.

Myrtle Edwards Park Bike Trail Closed - Again!
10/06 - The bike path through Myrtle Edwards park has been closed for the 5th time in two years.
There was no signage at the North end of the trail leaving hundreds of cyclists travelling through the Interbay bike trail only to find that the Myrtle Edwards trail had been closed.
The closure was related to work near Pier 70 where the Waterfront Trolley barn was demolished and a pedestrian overpass is being constructed in its place.
Officials appear to have decided that it was easier to inconvenience a few hundred cyclists for two weeks that to keep a small trail open through the construction site.

New Transportation Taxes
9/06 - The City of Seattle wants the voters to approve a 10% tax on parking at a commercial parking lots, a $25 per year per employee tax on Seattle businesses, and a 20-year increase in property taxes. Approximately 30% of the revnues are designated for repaving , 40% for bike and pedestrian initiatives, and 25% for bridges. Seattle residents might be concerned that 40% of the funds will lead to further decreases in road capacities by removal of lanes.

Stoneway Ave. N. to be reduced from 4 lanes to 2.
9/06 - Citing safety concerns the Seattle city government is moving to decrease the capacity of Stoneway Ave. N. by 50%.

24th Avenue NW. to be reduced from 4 lanes to 2.
9/06 - 24th Avenue N.W. in Ballard will incure a further reduction from 4 lanes to 2 between N.W. 56th streed to N.W. 65th street.
The number of lanes on a different section of the same street were previously reduced in 1995.

The City of Seattle recommends a Tunnel.
8/06 - The mayor and city council have asked the governor to replace the Highway 99 viaduct with a tunnel. Current cost estimates for the tunnel top 6 billion dollars.
Judy Runstad, co-chairwoman of the Governor's Global Competitiveness Council, at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting: "We have an excess of democracy in this state".

50th Ave. reduced from 4 lanes to 3.
7/06 - Eastbound 50th Ave. has been reduced from 2 lanes to 1.

34th Ave reduced from 3 lanes to 2.
7/06 - Westbound 34th Ave. has been reduced from 2 lanes to 1.

Waterfront Trolley Closed!
10/05 - The City of Seatlle has demolished the Waterfront Trolley barn so that a huge concrete overpass can be built in its place.
The overpass is part of the new sculpture park that will saddle Elliot Ave. near Pier 70 and also displaces a parking lot at the entrance to Myrtle Edwards park. The Trolley was constructed in mid-1980's and serves (used to) 400,000 riders per year including thousands of Mariners and Seahawks fans.
The estimated cost to build a replacement maintenance facility is over $10 million.
The Post Intelligencer, commenting on the loss of the trolley barn, had this to say:

Does anyone else find it somewhat ironic that after all of SAM's and their provincial patrons whining about the unsightly trolley barn, that the view of the "art park" from the waterfront is primarily that of a massive, impersonal and ugly concrete wall and bridge towering over the site of that former facility?

However, the view of the "art park" will undoubtedly be great from all of those proposed nearby million dollar high rise condos likely occupied by deluded pseudo - sophisticate bohos and self styled “urban elite’s” who mistake income for taste and “vision”.

Bus Tunnel Closed!
9/05 - The Bus Tunnel has been closed to install rails for the Light Rail system. Wait, didn't we do that 215 years ago? Yes, but Joel Connelly from the PI explains why we need to do it again.

City and County Reject Port Plan to Save the Waterfront Trolley
7/05 - Port Comissioner Paige Miller proposed extension of the trolley line 1.2 miles North to Amgen's new property.
Amgen has agreed to the construction of a new trolley barn on the Amgen property.
City and County officials citing concerns over the potential future disruption of the trolley due to Viaduct construction and the use of tax dollars for a trolley "that some citizens might not use" have rejected Commissioner Miller's proposal.

Rainier Avenue South reduced from 4 lanes to 2.
9/04 - Rainier Avenue South has been reduced from 4 to 2 lanes between the Seattle City Limits and 57th Ave S.
The City refers to this program as a "Road Diet".

Eastlake Avenue reduced from 4 lanes to 2.
9/02 - Eastlake Avenue has been reduced from 4 to 2 lanes between .
The City refers to this program as a "Road Diet".

24th Ave. N.W. reduced from 4 lanes to 2.
10/95 - 24th Ave. N.W. in Ballard has been reduced from 4 lanes to 2.

Greenwood Ave. N. reduced from 4 to 2 lanes.
4/95 - Greenwood Ave. N. between N. 50th street and N. 80th street has been reduced to 2 lanes as part of the Seatlle city governments "Liveable Neighborhoods" initiative.

12th Ave. reduced from 4 to 2 lanes.
3/95 - 12th Ave. between Yesler Way and John street has been reduced to 2 lanes.

8th Ave. N. reduced from 4 to 2 lanes.
1/94 - 8th Ave. N. between Leary Way and N. 85th has been reduced to 2 lanes. The city cited a century-old boulevards plan for the change, and as a tribute to that plan they've put a some trees in a planting strip in the middle of the roadway. Turns onto and off of 8th Ave. are now restricted because of the planting strip.

M.L.K. Jr. Way reduced from 4 to 2 lanes.
1/94 - M.L.K. Jr. Way North of I-90 has been reduced to 2 lanes.

Dexter Ave. N. reduced from 4 to 2 lanes.
6/91 - Dexter Ave. N. has been reduced to 2 lanes from Aloha street to Nickerson street.