Tag Archives: light rail

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Tunnel trip, park priorities, planning photos

June 5, 2009 Wendi Dunlap

Neighbors visualize changes to the urban village at the neighborhood planning update meeting on May 30. Photo by Jason.

A bunch of folks were able to ride the Link light rail through the Beacon Hill tunnel and down to Tukwila on Wednesday. Here’s a liveblogged description of the trip from the Northwest Progressive Institute Advocate blog. Dominic Holden from The Stranger rode it, too, and loved it.
The community discussed what to prioritize in the Jefferson Park expansion, at a community meeting on April 21 and also via an online poll. The results have now been tallied and are posted here. The city is using this process to set priorities since the funding for the project is not all available at once. (Thanks to Joel Lee for forwarding us this document to host.)
Jason has posted a photo set of the the North Beacon Hill neighborhood planning update meeting which was held on May 30. The set shows many of the discussion points that were brought up at the meeting.
The Seattle Public Library system, including the Beacon Hill branch, will be closed from August 31 through September 6, due to citywide budget cuts. The library will also be closed September 7 for the Labor Day holiday. During the closed week, no materials will be due, nor will any fines be accrued. None of the library’s website services, such as the book catalog, will be accessible either. (Can’t they find a way to at least allow us to use the website during that week?)

Getting Around

Link light rail to open July 18

April 20, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 5 Comments

A Link light rail train passes through the Rainier Valley while testing. Photo by Oran Viriyincy.

Sound Transit announced an official start date for the Link light rail service: July 18. This is a delay of two weeks from the previously rumored date of July 3, but had been expected because of delays in the Beacon Hill station construction. Rides will be free on opening weekend if you want to check it out. Sound Transit’s Link launch site will be updated in the coming weeks with more information about the opening festivities.

In related news, today is the kickoff of the ORCA card program. The ORCA card is a smart card that will eventually be used to pay fares on all the local transit systems. If you plan to be using the train (or other transit in the area) much in the future, particularly if you plan to transfer between train and bus, you will want to pick up an ORCA card from the orcacard.com website. Eventually ORCA will be required in order to transfer between different systems (such as light rail to bus, bus to Sounder, etc.). Read more about ORCA here.

Getting Around

First light rail train vs. car incident tonight at MLK and Dawson

April 15, 2009 Jason 7 Comments

While the Link rail line has yet to even officially open, a train/car collision has already occurred earlier tonight. KIRO TV has a slideshow of the accident involving a light rail train and a little Toyota Yaris in the at-grade portion of the route along MLK Way at South Dawson Street. Almost certainly, this won’t be the last.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Car wash, Lunch Bus, and an Earth Day Work Party

April 15, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 3 Comments

A north Beacon stairway to be improved at this weekend's Earth Day Work Party. Photo by Vicki Grayland.

Dominic Holden discusses the 15th and Beacon car wash, and suggests that whoever filed a complaint about the car wash violating zoning is misguided: “The building, as far as I can see, has no windows facing the sidewalk. No window shopping, candy shopping, or book shopping will be happening in that garage. The pedestrian potential thereâ€”at least for now, with that building in this economyâ€”is probably as good as itâ€™s going to get.” Most of the commenters, however, disagree — Slog
Sound Transit is hosting another Lunch Bus trip at 11:30 am on Friday, April 17. The Lunch Bus is a guided tour of the Link light rail initial segment construction, followed by lunch at a local eating establishment. You are responsible for buying your own lunch. Tours depart and return at the southwest corner of 5th Ave S & S King Street in the International District. You must RSVP today — see the website for info.
Beacon Ridge Improvement Community is hosting an Earth Day Work Party this Saturday, April 18, from 9:00 am until noon. Neighbors will help clean up and beautify the public stairways at South Walker, Hill and Holgate Streets between 16th and 17th Avenues South. Refreshments will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring tools if you have them, marked with your name (weeders, shears, shovels, trowels, rakes and brooms). Questions? Contact David at bricchair@comcast.net. Interested in becoming more involved? BRIC needs committee leaders and board members. See David if you are interested.

(Edited 4/16 to correct photo credit.)

Getting Around

The blue wall is coming down!

February 28, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 7 Comments

Photo by Alex Porter, in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.

Alex Porter reports:

They started taking down the big blue wall around the light rail construction site today! They removed a few segments at 17th and Lander — right where Lander St. used to go through.

The end of the seemingly endless Beacon Hill Station construction project is in sight!

Opinion, Urban Planning

Reader Opinion: North Beacon needs higher density

February 18, 2009 BHB Admin 27 Comments

Higher density near the Columbia City light rail station. Photo by Matthew Rutledge.

(We recently asked a few people to write their opinions about House Bill 1490 and how it relates to Beacon Hill. The bill was altered and no longer directly affects the Hill, but Andrew Smith still has a few things to say about density in our area.)

By Andrew Smith

Recently House Bill 1490 has started a discussion in our region over density and transit-oriented-development. Originally the bill required cities to create zoning packages that would have allowed increased density in a half-mile radius around all light rail and commuter rail stations. In a recent revision, that requirement was scaled back to apply to only communities defined by the Puget Sound Regional Council as “growth centers”: Auburn, Downtown Bellevue, Overlake, Everett, Federal Way, Kent, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Puyallup, Redmond, Seatac, Capitol Hill, Downtown Seattle, Northgate, the University District, Downtown Tacoma, and Tukwila. I imagine many in Southeast Seattle breathed a sigh of relief when they read that, as many in that area were very concerned about increased density changing their neighborhoods. However, I’d like to make the case for increased density in these areas, focusing my argument on Beacon Hill, and point out that while increased density could change the neighborhood, that change might be a better change than what will happen if density is prohibited.
Continue reading Reader Opinion: North Beacon needs higher density →

Getting Around

Another safety test closes MLK this weekend

January 22, 2009 Wendi Dunlap

This Saturday, January 24, 9 a.m. to noon, there will be another safety drill at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Cloverdale Street in preparation for the opening of Link light rail service.

During the test, MLK will be closed to through traffic from South Kenyon Street to South Henderson Street except for Metro transit service, which should not be affected by the closure. Detours will be in place, and motorists will be guided through the detours by police officers and signage.

Getting Around

Metro service change proposals updated

January 13, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 2 Comments

On January 1 we posted that Metro wants to hear from you about the revised service change proposals for Southeast Seattle. The problem was, at that time the proposals hadn’t yet been published. Well, now they have, and you can find them on Metro’s website.

Here are some of the notable changes:

Route 36 will extend all routes to the Othello Link station using new trolley wire that will be installed on South Myrtle Street and South Othello Street; south of Othello, 36 will be replaced by 106.
Route 60 will run every 20 minutes during peak periods, and extend weekend trips from Georgetown to White Center starting in 2010.
New Route 50 will run from Othello Link Station to West Seattle via the Columbia City Link Station and SODO!
Route 38 will run from Mount Baker to the Beacon Hill Link Station, where people will now transfer to light rail to get to SODO.

There are other changes as well, and you can complete an online questionnaire to give Metro your feedback, or visit one of the open houses we listed on January 1.

Two additional open houses have been scheduled as well:

Wednesday, February 4, 1:30-3:30 pm, Holly Park Community Church, 4308 South Othello Street (downstairs entrance on east side of building)
Wednesday, February 4, 6:30-8:30 pm, Holly Park Community Church, 4308 South Othello Street (downstairs entrance on east side of building)

Thanks to Warren Yee for posting this to the mailing list!

Getting Around

Safety drill to close MLK Jr. Way today

January 8, 2009 Wendi Dunlap

This morning, from 9:00 am to noon, don’t be surprised to see a lot of police and emergency response crews at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way and South Cloverdale Street. It’s a safety drill to help prepare for the opening of the Link light rail service this July. (We hear July 3 is the day. We can’t wait!)

During the test Martin Luther King, Jr. Way will be closed to through traffic from South Kenyon Street to South Henderson Street, though Metro Transit will be allowed through. Other traffic will be detoured to Renton Avenue South and Beacon Avenue South.

Need more information? Contact Bruce Gray, Sound Transit public information officer, at 206-398-5069.

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Getting Around

How much should light rail fares be?

January 3, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 3 Comments

Sound Transit wants feedback from you on proposed fares for the Link light rail line, which will open in July this year. The current proposal is for a distance-based fare, starting with a base fee and then increasing the fare the further you go.

An unofficial version of the proposed fare charts can be seen in this post at the Seattle Transit Blog. The two pricing plans are as follows: one plan keeps the current Ride Free Area downtown for the trains (so you could ride the train from Westlake to the International District for free) with a $2 base fare and a 5 cent charge per mile, rounded to the nearest quarter. The maximum fare in this plan for a ride from downtown to the airport would be $2.75. The other plan does not have a Ride Free Area for the trains, but starts with a $1.75 base fare, and a 5 cent charge per mile (rounded as in the other plan). The maximum fare in this plan would be $2.50.

For trips from Beacon Hill, we are looking at $2.25 from the Hill to Westlake and $2.50 to the airport under the first (Free Ride Zone) plan, or $2.00 from the Hill to Westlake and $2.25 to the airport under the second (no Free Ride Zone) plan.

Sound Transit will be presenting these plans and listening to your feedback at a series of public meetings:

Saturday, January 10, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, at El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Avenue South.
Thursday, January 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., New Holly Gathering Place, 7054 32nd Avenue South.
Thursday, January 22, 10 a.m. to noon, Mezza CafÃ©, Starbucks Corporate Building, Floor 3, 2401 Utah Avenue South in Sodo.

If these dates and locations sound familiar, it’s because these are also the dates and locations of the SDOT meetings we posted about on December 22, to discuss parking changes in the light rail station areas. Looks like there will be a lot to discuss at those meetings.

Can’t make the meetings? You can also express your opinion on the light rail fares by emailing linkfares@soundtransit.org, phoning Project Manager Sarah Lovell at 206-398-5405, or writing to:

Sarah Lovell
Sound Transit Office of Policy and Planning
410 S Jackson St
Seattle, WA 98104