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Michael Smith

@mesmith35673.bsky.social
577 followers 318 following 1.3K posts

Seattle, WA Software engineer, safe streets advocate, and occasional Seattle Transit Blog contributor Check out the ridership data for your favorite route at seattletransitridership.com. He/him

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Reposted by Michael Smith
Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 21h
Executive Girmay Zahilay has proposed to accelerate approximately two-thirds of the funding for the next RapidRide line to enter planning in Seattle, in the hopes of moving up work. But concerns have also been mounting over the R Line's potential design. www.theurbanist.org/zahilay-prop...
theurbanist.org
Zahilay Proposes Advancing RapidRide R Funding to Spur Bus Upgrades
King County would move $64 million out of a total $91.2 million cost for the R Line project to its upcoming budget, in a bid to accelerate bus upgrades along Rainier Avenue. Executive Zahilay has turn...
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Reposted by Michael Smith
A. Zivarts @nondriver.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Thank you to all the community members and elected leaders who came out to the Nondrivers Alliance/Transit Riders Union 7 bus ride-along yesterday. The big takeaway? We need more flexible and accessible space...
People on busPeople waiting at  stationGroup walking on sidewalk
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Reposted by Michael Smith
Olraca @olraca.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Thinking about this map of mosquito fleet ferry service that existed in the Puget Sound in 1901.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Want to learn more about Community Transit’s history over the past 50 years? Check out this incredible History Link essay by Sydney Jackson. www.historylink.org/File/23439
historylink.org
Community Transit (Snohomish County)
Community Transit is the public transit authority of Snohomish County. It provides year-round bus, paratransit, and vanpool service across more than 1,300 square miles of the county, covering a Publi
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In response to the Lynnwood Link Extension, Community Transit has overhauled its network. The expensive commuter routes were replaced by more efficient local and express routes within Snohomish County. CT’s commuter bus era came to a close in June 2026. seattletransitblog.com/2026/06/13/c...
seattletransitblog.com
Community Transit ran its last bus to Seattle
The last inbound Route 424 bus in downtown Seattle on Friday morning (Michael Smith). On Friday afternoon, Community Transit Route 424 made its final trip from Seattle to the City of Snohomish. Thi…
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In 2009, Community Transit launched the first BRT route in the region. The Swift Blue Line offered limited stop service on Hwy99/Evergreen Way between Everett and Aurora Village Transit Center. Two more Swift lines have since opened and the Swift Gold Line is scheduled to begin service in 2031.
Swift Orange Line bus in Lynnwood.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Community Transit has led the region in adopting new approaches to improve transit. In 2007, CT introduced double decker buses to Puget Sound. The “Double Tall” buses could carry up to 100 passengers at a time, boosting the capacity of the busiest commuter routes to Seattle.
Community Transit Double Tall bus on Route 904
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Happy 50th anniversary to Community Transit! The agency began with just seven routes and 500 daily passengers on October 4, 1976. Since then, it has expanded to serve 30,000 passengers every weekday across 34 routes.
CT Route 909 bus in Edmonds
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Reposted by Michael Smith
Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Heading to the Graham Block Party today, thinking about how we're almost at the 10th anniversary of the death of Ronacin Tjhung at MLK and Graham. Are we any closer to creating an MLK that is safe to bike on? No, we are not. www.seattlebikeblog.com/2017/01/24/d...
seattlebikeblog.com
Dad killed while biking to 2nd job, leaves 5 kids orphaned in Philippines
Ronacin Tjhung was working more than 60 hours a week at two jobs to send money back to support his five children in the Philippines. Those children, between 9 and 16, lost their mother in the terri…
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Stop by the South Seattle Club Fair today before 2pm! We are at Centilia Cultural Center next to Beacon Hill station! 🥏
Club fair posterPeople at the club fair
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It’s worth noting the maps I shared above don’t have inbound long distance routes listed (101, 554, etc) because passengers are not expected to board those routes in Seattle.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I don't have a map, but the stop locations did not change (Seneca, Marion, and Jefferson). Before the August service change, these stops were used by routes 510, 515, and 545. Now they are only used by 510 and 545.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Is this what you have in mind? These are from the March 2026 service change.
2nd and 4th Ave boarding map3rd Ave bus stops from the March 2026 service change.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
This Sunday, join @ecocityaction.org and @jrock08.bsky.social on a trip to Issaquah Salmon Days. The group will meet at South Bellevue station at noon and take Route 556 to Issaquah. ecocityaction.org/events/lraw1...
ecocityaction.org
Issaquah Salmon Days — EcoCity Action
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
King County is home to thousands of salmon who migrate back to the county’s rivers and streams every fall. There are a few dozen locations where you can observe the great migration, and many are accessible without a car! seattletransitblog.com/2026/10/02/f...
seattletransitblog.com
Friday Roundtable: Salmon SEEson
Map of salmon spotting locations in King County. (King County) Every year, thousands of salmon travel though creeks, rivers and lakes in King County on their return trip from the ocean. These adult…
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Pinehurst: 75-80 dB
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Reposted by Michael Smith
Seattle Department of Transportation @transportation.seattle.gov · 01/10/2026
Halloween is coming. You don’t have to go to a “trunk-or-treat” event in Seattle! You can close your neighborhood street to through-traffic – for free! Trick-or-Streets permits are free and easy to get. Join here: seattle.gov/transportation/trick-or-streets
The ancient two-panel Drake meme. On the top, he's looking away in disgust and holding his hand up. The text next to it says "Truck-or-treat". On the bottom, he looks pleased and is pointing toward text that says "Close your street".
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Some anecdotal ridership data: At 8:30am each southbound train had about 10-15 boardings. Each northbound train had about 1 boarding. No one (except me) got off any of the trains. At 5:00pm, each SB train had 10 boardings. Each NB train had about 2 boardings and 15-20 alightings.
People boarding a southbound 2 Line trainPeople wait for the train In the morning.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The new Metro Route 77 provides east/west service to Pinehurst station from Bitter Lake and Lake City. I rode Route 77 to/from Pinehurst four times today and every trip had between 5 and 15 people board or alight at Pinehurst station.
Group of people about to board a westbound Route 77 bus
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
SDOT is working on some exciting improvements to the area that will make biking to Pinehurst station easier and safer. Even before these improvements, biking is a popular way to access the station. www.seattle.gov/transportati...
Lots of bikes at Pinehurst stationSomeone biking from Pinehurst stationSomeone biking from Pinehurst stationSomeone walking their bike near Pinehurst station
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
As many people have noted, the land use around the station is really bad. This can and should change. In the meantime, ensuring convenient and safe bike and transit connections is key.
New protected bike lane outside Pinehurst station.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I stopped by to check out Pinehurst station today. The station itself is really compact compared to other elevated Link stations. Romson Bustillo did an incredible job with the station art. The installation brightens the space and makes the station more inviting.
Crowd of people entering Pinehurst station. Station artStation art
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Reposted by Michael Smith
Transit Trekker @transittrekker.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Day 1 of #WeekWithoutDriving and Rapid Ride G is sro but my hiking boots can handle the terrain en route to our #TransitTrek. For me, easy access to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) puts a lot of transit hiking in reach b/c connecting to ferries, express bus routes, reduces the time penalty.
My foot in a hiking boot extended to the bendi part of the bendi boy bus I am on.
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Reposted by Michael Smith
Seattle Bike Blog @seattlebikeblog.com · 30/09/2026
We just hit 1 million Fremont Bridge bike trips so far this year #SEAbikes #Seattle
seattlebikeblog.com
We just hit 1 million Fremont Bridge bike trips so far this year
Data through September 29. Sometime Monday evening (September 28), somebody rolled across the Fremont Bridge and registered the one millionth bike or scooter trip so far this year. The old bike counter display had both a daily count and a thermometer-style counter that filled up over the course of the year. That thermometer maxed out at one million. When the city first installed the counter with sponsorship from Cascade Bicycle Club, one million was seen as an aspirational number. Seattle just hit that figure before October. Last year, the bridge didn't reach the 1 million mark until mid-December.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I wonder if the Trees and People Coalition cares about the hundreds of healthy trees that were cut down to build a highway.
SR-509 construction tearing through Des Moines Creek Park, just south of Seattle.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
bsky.app/profile/mesm...
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The conductor used the paper tags for about half the car before he noticed the screens were updating.
Paper tags sticking out of the aisle seats on an Airo train.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I’m time traveling this morning. After getting off an Amtrak Airo train, I boarded a Route 574 bus to SeaTac Airport.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Thank you for another great trip @amtrakcascades.wsdot.wa.gov!
Small crowd of people taking pictures of the train in Tacoma.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Big quality of life upgrade: the info screens indicate when the closest restroom is occupied.
Info screen with the toilet crossed out
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The name screens are used in Coach Class as well. The conductor updates each screen when checking tickets. This replaces the paper tag that used to be placed at each seat.
Name screen in Coach Class
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If you are reading this post, the onboard Antrak Airo WiFi works.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The panoramic windows are a huge upgrade.
View of Rainier from the train.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Have a great trip!
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Happy to report Amtrak Airo trains offer incredible views on the Cascades route.
Mount Rainier during sunrise seen from the train.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The cafe car is the busiest breakfast spot in town this morning.
Obscured view of the cafe line, about 20 people long.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The name screens work (in Business Class)
Name screen reserved from Seattle to TacomaName screen reserved from Tacoma to Centralia
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Amtrak Airo has started revenue service! Congratulations to everyone at @amtrak.com and @amtrakcascades.wsdot.wa.gov!
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Welcome aboard!
First day decorative ticket on a tray table
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Both trains today have a southbound facing NPCU. This is needed because of an issue with at-grade crossing signal circuit activations on the Car 6 cabs.
Trains at King St
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Two Amtrak Airo trains are at the station today. The one in the back is heading to Vancouver, BC in an hour.
Amtrak Airo trains at King St
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Good morning from King Street Station! In just 30 minutes the inaugural Amtrak Airo train will depart and travel south to Eugene, Oregon.
King St Station.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Going which way? Is the DSTT blocked?
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In less than 24 hours, Amtrak will welcome the first passengers on its brand new Amtrak Airo trains. Here is a sneak peek at the new amenities you can expect onboard. seattletransitblog.com/2026/09/29/a...
seattletransitblog.com
Amtrak Airo Sneak Peak
Amtrak Airo trains offer a modern interior and spacious seating. The newest trains in Amtrak’s fleet, Amtrak Airo, will welcome their first customers tomorrow on the Cascades route. To celebrate th…
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Reposted by Michael Smith
Gordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Seattle's most beloved small business districts were built by transit, not street parking.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
There are even name screens above every seat
Name screen on an Airo train.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Thank you for a great ride @amtrakcascades.wsdot.wa.gov! See you again on Wednesday!
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Train selfie!
Selfie in the reflection of the Airo train.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Amtrak staff. They said they are still working out all of the details for bike reservations so it may still be capped at 6 bikes initially.
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Michael Smith @mesmith35673.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The giant windows include a built in shade if needed.
Open windowShade partially downFully closed shade
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