By bgtothen on November 13, 2008
WSDOT just uploaded images that show how each of the 8 alternatives will look in real life. First off I want to say how amazing these images are. WSDOT is trying very hard to make sure that the public understands how these alternatives will look.
Second look at alternatives A through C. Just imagine it! These alternatives will completely change downtown seattle. This street will be lined by cafes and restaurants that spill out into the sidewalk. It will be filled with Seattlites strolling and just enjoying themselves. We will wonder why we even contemplated keeping the viaduct. And look at this disaster. I would not want to be one of those people. They make alternative E look okay but I think the ends of the “integrated” structure will look awkward not to mention cutting off the rest of the city from the water. Lets not forget this is a freeway.
From a vehicle movement perspective alternative C is probably the best acceptable solution. I could do a calculation using the HCM to figure out the difference in vehicle throughput but I can’t find my copy of the HCM right now.
From an urban planning perspective A and B are the best alternatives. A is a low capital option of B which is good to consider, but alternative B is a knock out! Read the description.
“Scenario B is similar to Scenario A, but it has more capital investments and more aggressive transit improvements.
Alaskan Way would be two-lanes in each direction north of Yesler Way, with bike lanes and parking. There would be signalized intersections along the waterfront. The east/west streets north of the Battery Street Tunnel would be reconnected with new signalized intersections on Aurora Avenue.
In this scenario the streetcar system would be extended, with lines to Fremont/Ballard, University District, central downtown, and Capitol Hill/First Hill. The bus rapid transit system would be extended with lines for Delridge and Lake City Way and from Ballard to the University District. This service would be in addition to planned new lines serving Ballard, West Seattle and Aurora Avenue.
There would also be more extensive I-5 improvements than with Scenario A. An additional northbound lane on I-5 would start near Cherry Street and go north to SR 520.
This scenario would offer open space of 76-86 feet along the waterfront.”
The one down side of this alternative is that the pedestrian promenade along the water will be narrower and in alternative C. Maybe a hybrid of B and C could be used to increase the size of the promenade while maintaing the same vehicle throughput.
UPDATE
Daily transit trips to, from and within the city center will dramatically increase, from 196,000 to as many as 305,000 by 2015 if one surface option replaces the viaduct.
WOW!
Posted in Data, Eastside, kingcounty, newyork, tunnel, You
By bgtothen on November 13, 2008
Now that 985 has failed it looks like the 520 project is moving forward at full tilt. I’m not sure how long they have had this website up (http://www.build520.org/) but they are looking for feedback about tolling. Just today on the bus I also saw a metro bulletin asking if tolls on 520 should be used to fund bus service. Looks like some good stuff is in the works!
Posted in Uncategorized
By bgtothen on October 27, 2008
I read the strangers coverage of last week’s debate between crazy Kemper and the Mayor and it prompted me to post this picture from London. 20 years ago this area was an industrial wasteland and now it is the financial hub of the UK. And guess what it is served by a light rail system. You can see it right outside the door (it is red).
So see Kemper you can make money off of transit. Lots of money. I bet the average income of everyone is this photo is significantly higher than Bellevue Square.
Posted in PDC
By bgtothen on September 14, 2008
I wanted to start my series by showing these pictures because it perfectly sums up what I learned in Europe. No matter how different one country or culture is from the next we all have the same problems, what varies is the solution. As you can see some solutions are much better than others. All you do is push that metal attachment into the soap and you’ll have dry soap every time you use it.
Posted in Uncategorized
By bgtothen on September 11, 2008
Hey everyone. Its been a while since I posted on here. I got back about a week ago now and I’m trying to get back into the groove. I’ll be helping out the Mass Transit Now campaign in the next 8 weeks, which I hope all of you will as well.
Today I attended a little pre-kickoff kickoff to the Mass Transit Now campaign where Larry Phillips gave a very good speech pointing out that when he was 19 the region was in the exact same position as we are now, and it would be irresponsible for us to do the same thing to future generations (thus prompting the photo above). Sooo lets get this thing going!!! Orphanroad seams to have quieted down a bit since I left and we need to get everyone pumped up and excited again.
Over the next few weeks (or months depending on how much time I have) I’ll be posting about some of the amazing things I saw in Europe. I think a lot of it will be about how they solve the same exact problems we have here but differently, and most of the time better. Also I took ton of photos (5000+) so most everything will be accompanied by photos to give you a better idea of what I’m talking about.
Posted in Uncategorized
By bgtothen on July 13, 2008
Why can’t LINK have grass?
Posted in Uncategorized
By bgtothen on July 12, 2008
Yesterday I spent most of the day at Pavillon de l’Arsenal which was very nice and has a great website ( www.pavillon-arsenal.com/home.php ). It is similar to the SLU discovery center but focus on history, urban redevelopment, and architecture. It includes a very nice timeline exhibit showing how Paris developed since it was founded. The exhibit included lots of old pictures as well as videos about project as well as interviews. It also included a very large scale model of Paris which you can see above.
The areas in yellow are areas where the government is focusing redevelopment efforts. They are mostly on the edge of the city and are located in areas that were previously industrial. The areas in purple are areas that are experiencing change. Combined these areas cover roughly 10 percent of Paris. As any good urban redevelopment project this effort includes the construction of a new tram line along the lime green line (tram line 3 www.ratp.info/orienter/plan_metro_pdf.php) which connects to many of the subway lines.
On a side note there are several things that I want to write about when I get back. They are:
-How bicycle design affect the riding experience
Yesterday I spent most of the day at Pavillon de l’Arsenal which was very nice and has a great website ( www.pavillon-arsenal.com/home.php ). It is similar to the SLU discovery center but focus on history, urban redevelopment, and architecture. It includes a very nice timeline exhibit showing how Paris developed since it was founded. The exhibit included lots of old pictures as well as videos about project as well as interviews. It also included a very large scale model of Paris which you can see above.
The areas in yellow are areas where the government is focusing redevelopment efforts. They are mostly on the edge of the city and are located in areas that were previously industrial. The areas in purple are areas that are experiencing change. Combined these areas cover roughly 10 percent of Paris. As any good urban redevelopment project this effort includes the construction of a new tram line along the lime green line (tram line 3 www.ratp.info/orienter/plan_metro_pdf.php) which connects to many of the subway lines.
On a side note there are several things that I want to write about when I get back. They are:
-How bicycle design affect the riding experience
-How best to mark bicycle lanes and the difference in bike lane design between the US and Europe
-How to improve the capacity and experience on buses and trains with flexible seating designs
-How to improve the capacity and experience on buses and trains with flexible seating designs
Posted in Uncategorized
By bgtothen on July 5, 2008
I do not think that I wrote about this but I will be in europe for the next 8 weeks on a “grand tour”. Right now I am in Paris and I know I will post some updates. I already was on the RER and Metro and today I scoped out Vilib. I am also visiting these citys:
London
Brighton
Bournemonth
Amsterdam
Copenhagen
Stockholm (and possibly Oslo)
Berlin
Munich
Venice
Florence
Cinque Terra
Rome
Granada
Barcelona
Is there anything in these cities that are a must see?
Posted in Uncategorized
By bgtothen on June 10, 2008
My last post got me thinking about the 98/99-B Line again. Most of you are familiar with my previous Metro ridership posts, however I don’t think that I ever explained the reason I started looking at those numbers.
While attending the CITE conference in Victoria I talked to a engineer who worked for Vancouver. We got to talking about TransLink’s Gateway projects and specifically the Broadway Line and he said that basically TransLink can’t add any more buses because they are already running at 2.4 minute headways.
This in-turn got me thinking about routes here, none of which run that often. Anyways coming full circle today I become curious about how Seattle’s transit stacks up against Vancouver’s in terms of riders per mile (which I think is the best measure). Here are the results. Because I had to pull projected riderships and non Metro information this is less accurate, although you get a good idea of where things fall.
The biggest thing is that the B-Line has huge ridership, almost more than Central LINK per mile. It achieves this with a medium BRT treatment which shows that BRT can handle lots of people. With that said I think it also shows that the B-Line corridors should already have Skytrain.
Also these numbers have to be taken with a grain of salt because the GVA has much higher densities than almost anywhere in the Seattle area outside Downtown/Cap Hill/UW. Then again that is an integral part of transit ridership isn’t it.
Skytrain is huge success and it shows. Also you can see that the initial Link segments has comparable ridership to the B-Lines but with any expansion plan now on the table it will grow rapidly and be comparable to Skytrain when it opens. Also notice how the old ST2 or a solo Eastside expansion don’t have amazing ridership compared to the other options. Goes to show how important the North and U LINK are for ridership.
Oh and poor Rapidride. It makes me want to laugh. Although then again Metro is spending ~2.5 million a mile for it which is a fraction of LINK. I had to make an educated guess (120% 54 and 358 ridership) because I couldn’t find any ridership projections. My guesses may be way off but we will have to wait until it opens.
Posted in calculation, carless, commute, exurbs, Rail Tunnel, roads
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