By Frank on February 9, 2012
A related thought I had while attending last night’s meeting is that Baumol’s cost disease is a killer for bus service in the long run. If you’re not familiar, Baumol basically says that the cost of wages in unproductive sectors of the economy go up because those works are living in the same world as [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on February 9, 2012
Since it’s a bus I ride regularly, I headed over to the Madrona Community Council on Tuesday to listen to Metro come talk about the proposed changes to the Route 2. It was an impressive turnout of residents, overwhelmingly in opposition. Hats off to the folks opposed to the changes who organized en masse. Over [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on February 2, 2012
Eric de Place writes about the Governor’s proposed “barrel fee” on oil to pay for transportation projects: Now, let’s imagine a hypothetical barrel of oil under the proposed barrel fee. Perhaps 70 percent of it would be refined into transportation fuel, half of which would be sold to Washington’s consumers and half of which would be [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on January 26, 2012
I wholeheartedly agree with Andrew and Art Thiel‘s general theses: snow is rare in Seattle, and due to our geography and other factors, a couple inches of white stuff can really mess us up. It’s a total waste of resources to go out and buy hundreds of plows that would just sit idle most years. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on January 26, 2012
I was having a drink with a friend and co-worker who’s a heavy business traveller, and I mentioned that I often take Link when I’m going to SeaTac. He expressed disbelief, and then asked me, “where is the airport station? It’s a ridiculous distance from the terminal, isn’t it?” I told him no, it’s on [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on December 22, 2011
The map above is striking. There’s clearly a core of Seattle — including Fremont, the University District, and Capitol Hill — that supported Prop 1, and for good reason. I wonder: what would a Transportation Benefit District look like for one or more of the neighborhoods above. Prop. 1 would have raised on the order [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on November 21, 2011
Philly’s Best by &y The intersection at 23rd & Union has a storied past, but also a troubled one. In 2008, after Degene Barecha was killed while working at the Philly Cheese Steak restaurant on the corner, Robert Jamieson wrote a piece in the Seattle P-I recounting the corner’s history in which he referred to it [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on November 16, 2011
Back in September I wrote about the demise of First Hill’s M Street Grocery, speculating that it had been done in (indirectly) by parking requirements. I can’t help but wonder if Belltown’s Local 360 Mercantile suffered the same fate. The Mercantile, attached to the restaurant by the same name, was a neat little shop and [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on November 11, 2011
This is a great point from Ben: A more diffuse package raises negatives – which are much more powerful than positives. If a measure has roads and transit, people who hate roads will vote against it as well as people who hate transit. People who hate bike lanes [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
By Frank on October 22, 2011
Seattle by Beaster725 This Thursday, JCFO is giving a design update on the Waterfront. With the Viaduct closing for a week, it seems like an appropriate time to think about a post-viaduct waterfront. DESIGN UPDATE AND IDEA SHARING October 27, 2011 5:00pm – 9:00pm Bell Harbor Conference Center, Pier 66 – Elliott Hall 2211 [...]
Posted in Uncategorized
Sound Transit Latest News
Recent Comments