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mclindblom.bsky.social

@mclindblom.bsky.social
829 followers 327 following 659 posts

Seattle Times transportation reporter since 2003

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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 21h
Even today, the legendary status of I-695 and "where are the $30 tabs I voted for" provides a handy rationale for people to dodge the rising car-tab tax.
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Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 06/10/2026
The Parti Québécois, which won the provincial election yesterday (with a plurality), has said it would block Canada's proposed high-speed rail line planned to link Toronto and Montréal in 3 hours.
theguardian.com
Separatists win Quebec election in test for Canada PM’s national unity strategy
Parti Québécois wins provincial election but will not be able to govern alone, as Mark Carney stresses unity in face of tariffs threat from Donald Trump
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 21h
Great question! I don't know, but there are enough of those now that somebody has probably researched it. Also, artistic crosswalks sometimes go into neighborhoods paired with other safety features.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 21h
A nice overview from Ryan about the lost chance to run state passenger ferries:
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 21h
For sure, but the state also had 27 years to adjust to I-695. (For newcomers, the #waleg was so moved by that tax revolt they made the cuts anyway, even after I-695 was tossed out of court.) To be cynical, it "freed up" car tab tax potential for the unbuilt monorail and Sound Transit.
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Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 02/10/2026
Montreal’s automated metro REM is considerably surpassing ridership expectations this fall, with average daily ridership settling in at 130,000, even before the opening of the airport branch, expected next year.
lapresse.ca
Réseau express métropolitain | L’achalandage du REM bondit
Loin d’être en retard, l’achalandage quotidien du Réseau express métropolitain (REM) a bondi de plus de 60 % durant l’été, au point où il est dorénavant bien au-delà de ses cibles, selon La Caisse, qu...
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
You have to think growing confidence about safety does help ridership, but it's only one reason people ride or not. Metro reported in July that incidents per rider were gradually decreasing and we mentioned their statement here. Still a ways to go. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
King County Metro pledged to boost bus security. How is it going?
Metro is making progress, and rider misconduct reports are down. But the agency hasn't installed all driver protection barriers yet, or hired a full police force.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
It's supposed to be humorous. Maybe next week's headline will call the roadwork "a drag."
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The public art stole the show this week!
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Sound Transit committee in session. This chart illustrates some arduous and measurable improvement during 2026 for on-time light rail, Lynnwood to downtown Seattle.
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Brian F. Kelcey @stateofthecity.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Tofino, BC and waste management regulation
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
That's great news. Out on the Oregon Coast, local Cleanline Surf shops have cardboard bins where I tossed my shredded surf booties in July. Props to all the Tofino surfers who wipe out often enough to destroy their wetsuits.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Old habits die hard, as seen by someone at Sound Transit who typed that the Chargers are still from San Diego.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A glide path to success
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Artistic crosswalks come to Bellevue, Wash. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
Bellevue’s most dangerous intersections get a colorful upgrade
The art project aims to make crosswalks more visible and lessen car-pedestrian collisions.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Third Avenue's got problems but SDOT ain't one. Looking back a few years, they successfully rebuilt the crumbling bus lanes in 2017-18, as the first large Move Seattle levy project, without hampering service much. Signals are working well too.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Overtime as 1/7 of city wages:
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Dow Constantine estimated the savings at $40m now, because they used the same contractors as the longer Northgate to Shoreline North (done with zero problems) contract.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
That way, you get the full benefit of the massive investment of money and construction hassles from day one, not someday.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
As the story proceeds, my outlook gets a bit more optimistic. Meanwhile, I was surprised last week, while touring the line, how much bus service already pours into Shoreline South/148th Station nearby.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
AFAIK you wouldn't devote the tiny traffic cop corps just to that - cheaper and easier to crack down with parking enforcement officers, if the city got angry about tax evasion.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
It's easy to tell the difference - when the canvasser doesn't know diddly squat about the cause, that means they're paid, regardless of partisanship. Nobody would make that mistake meeting @oowm.org
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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 18/09/2026
In 2027, four new speed camera locations are set to become 24/7. They will be Seattle's first 24/7 speed cameras after decades of enforcing speeds in school zones. The locations were chosen based on a prevalence of speeding and serious crashes. Story: www.theurbanist.org/seattles-spe...
theurbanist.org
Seattle's Speed Camera Program Enters New Frontier
The four new camera locations, set to be implemented in 2027, will be Seattle's first 24/7 speed cameras after decades of enforcing speeds in school zones. The locations were chosen based on a prevale...
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David Kroman @kromandavid.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Underground cables, babyyyyy www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
Fixing Seattle’s power outages continues a 1960s class divide
Decaying electrical cables, buried in the 1960s to beautify some of Seattle’s wealthiest neighborhoods, are the cause of the city’s long power outages.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
What would Tocqueville say about town meetings in 2026?
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I've leaned toward that view over the years -- but then again, the C and H Line buses are already way too slow between the stadiums and Belltown. If light rail had stayed on schedule for 2030, it would be a lot easier to shrink the waterfront road (aka Highway 519 from Dearborn to Yesler)
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
East Coast having nice things
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Not a sombrita
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I'm not quite grasping a new dimension.. but in the '00s, Sound Transit had far less money, and politicians were traumatized by a near institutional collapse (when digging to UW cost more than planned). They even discussed whacking the art budget. Therefore, an incentive for surface not cut/cover.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Comfortable, or distracted. A whole lot of things are happening on MLK Way even if you are fully focused.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The numbers are sort of big but actually there are *fewer* crashes than the environmental documents predicted, before the transit-board made final votes on doing surface-level trains. At the time, they were mostly emulating Portland.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It was jarring to see two drivers taking turns cutting each other off mid-span; it looked like they were trying to hit each other, but could not.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Tom @tfooq.bsky.social researched this incident in-depth and I learned valuable facts from his story - you will too, check it out:
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Try writing a pop song about "nine to six."
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
New Airo Trains Start Rolling on Amtrak Cascades September 30 www.theurbanist.org/new-airo-tra...
theurbanist.org
New Airo Trains Start Rolling on Amtrak Cascades September 30
The new trains feature ergonomic seats, upgraded WiFi, and a sleek new cafe car. They'll go into service on both the Seattle to Eugene and Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. routes. More trains are set to arr...
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Debora Juarez plays chicken with transit leaders — and wins [a Pinehurst Station] from the Crosscut archive. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/201...
cascadepbs.org
Debora Juarez plays chicken with transit leaders — and wins
It’s early May and Councilmember Debora Juarez is about to do something enormously risky. The first draft of Sound Transit 3 is out, priced at a cool $50 billion. If approved by voters, it will conne...
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
The best (only?) reason to go!
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Seattle Department of Transportation @transportation.seattle.gov · 09/09/2026
In 2027, new speed safety cameras will enforce traffic laws 24/7 in four locations on Rainier Ave S, E Marginal Way S, and Sand Point Way NE. Read our blog for details: sdotblog.seattle.gov/2026/09/09/s...
sdotblog.seattle.gov
New 24/7 speed safety cameras will enforce traffic laws on Rainier Ave, E Marginal Way, and Sand Point Way - SDOT Blog
New 24/7 speed safety cameras will enforce traffic laws on Rainier Ave, E Marginal Way, and Sand Point Way in Seattle.
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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
A few hours before kickoff on the Seahawks home opener, I do not see a single open stall at South Bellevue station's parking garage. That's 1,500 stalls.
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Doug Trumm @metropolitanglide.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Save for a couple sprinters, everybody lost the race to the bus. Transit advocates were excited about that
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It's fewer than 1%. I might see someone with clubs 1-2x per week.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
You scoff, but occasionally people do carry their golf clubs onto trains and buses to the links, such as West Seattle and Jefferson GC.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Sept. 30 is the opening date for both Pinehurst Station and UW fall quarter: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
seattletimes.com
Seattle’s next light rail station gets an opening date
After the Pinehurst opening, there won't be another new stop along the regional light rail system until at least 2031, in Rainier Valley.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Alerting @gbakerkraken.bsky.social
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/r/Habs @habsonreddit.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
This is how Canadians measure the passage of time: “The Leafs would win the Cup. That’s a long time ago.”
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
And that one crashed around 5 p.m., which would make it three spinouts on the EB bridge deck.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Even if local progress doesn't stop global warming, the consolation prize of less particulate still makes fossil fuel reduction worthwhile.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
One of those had out-of-state plates, for what it's worth.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Probably not. I've even noticed a purple bus on the C Line one morning this week, and the top driver in the 8 a.m. hour is off, causing a staff shuffle. I would strongly suspect some improvising in the maintenance base accounts for these seating changes.
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mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
And they'll take at least as long to decompose.
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