Kirk Hovenkotter
@kirkhovenkotter.com
Director of Transportation Choices Coalition | Not short for Kirkleton
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
Katie Wilson interrupts her State of the City address to note the fact that a 27-year-old was killed last night by a driver in Capitol Hill.
"We have to do better. We're not on track for our Vision Zero goals, and we have to make it safe for our vulnerable road users to get around the city."
"We have to do better. We're not on track for our Vision Zero goals, and we have to make it safe for our vulnerable road users to get around the city."
February 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Katie Wilson interrupts her State of the City address to note the fact that a 27-year-old was killed last night by a driver in Capitol Hill.
"We have to do better. We're not on track for our Vision Zero goals, and we have to make it safe for our vulnerable road users to get around the city."
"We have to do better. We're not on track for our Vision Zero goals, and we have to make it safe for our vulnerable road users to get around the city."
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
I love this visual representation of King County Metro's plans to expand its span-of-service across routes in South King County with the bus restructure planned for later this year.
February 17, 2026 at 6:24 PM
I love this visual representation of King County Metro's plans to expand its span-of-service across routes in South King County with the bus restructure planned for later this year.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
LFG Pierce County this is your moment
NEW OP-ED // Pierce County Must Run a Transit Ballot Measure in 2026
Op-Ed by Kirk Hovenkotter of @transpochoices.bsky.social and Laura Svancarek of Tacoma On The Go.
via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/o...
Op-Ed by Kirk Hovenkotter of @transpochoices.bsky.social and Laura Svancarek of Tacoma On The Go.
via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/o...
Op-Ed: Pierce County Must Run a Transit Ballot Measure in 2026 » The Urbanist
# The Pierce Transit Board is considering a ballot measure in November 2026 that would boost funding in order to expand bus service, make routes more frequent, and create new transit connections to li...
www.theurbanist.org
February 16, 2026 at 9:37 PM
LFG Pierce County this is your moment
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
NEW OP-ED // Pierce County Must Run a Transit Ballot Measure in 2026
Op-Ed by Kirk Hovenkotter of @transpochoices.bsky.social and Laura Svancarek of Tacoma On The Go.
via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/o...
Op-Ed by Kirk Hovenkotter of @transpochoices.bsky.social and Laura Svancarek of Tacoma On The Go.
via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/o...
Op-Ed: Pierce County Must Run a Transit Ballot Measure in 2026 » The Urbanist
# The Pierce Transit Board is considering a ballot measure in November 2026 that would boost funding in order to expand bus service, make routes more frequent, and create new transit connections to li...
www.theurbanist.org
February 16, 2026 at 9:35 PM
NEW OP-ED // Pierce County Must Run a Transit Ballot Measure in 2026
Op-Ed by Kirk Hovenkotter of @transpochoices.bsky.social and Laura Svancarek of Tacoma On The Go.
via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/o...
Op-Ed by Kirk Hovenkotter of @transpochoices.bsky.social and Laura Svancarek of Tacoma On The Go.
via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/o...
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
Urgent: Time is running out to advance smarter transportation planning in Washington. Contact your representatives TODAY and ask them to pass House Bill 2134, which would require Regional Transportation Planning Organizations to account for GHG emissions and Vehicle Miles Traveled. bit.ly/40dqzWZ
Take Action: Transportation Planning Must Support Washington’s Climate Goals
Washington State can’t meet its climate goals or invest in more transit if regional transportation plans ignore the climate pollution created by cars. Transportation is the largest source of greenhou...
actionnetwork.org
February 16, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Urgent: Time is running out to advance smarter transportation planning in Washington. Contact your representatives TODAY and ask them to pass House Bill 2134, which would require Regional Transportation Planning Organizations to account for GHG emissions and Vehicle Miles Traveled. bit.ly/40dqzWZ
Great piece in the Spokesman Review on Rep Jamila Taylor’s bill that funds WA’s transit agencies to make buses free for community & technical college students. I’m a huge fan
www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...
www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...
Washington bill aims to provide free or reduced fares to community college students
Community college students could soon get free rides on public transit under a bill that advanced in the state House on Monday.
www.spokesman.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Great piece in the Spokesman Review on Rep Jamila Taylor’s bill that funds WA’s transit agencies to make buses free for community & technical college students. I’m a huge fan
www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...
www.spokesman.com/stories/2026...
Off by 50k! Hopefully like with our elections it makes up ground with the later drops. We’ll see if it gets closer to 250k
Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine says the early estimate of Link ridership yesterday during the Super Bowl victory parade was 200,000, an conservative number that is expected to be revised upward.
That beats the 160,000-rider previous high water mark for Link.
Sounder saw around 20,000 boardings.
That beats the 160,000-rider previous high water mark for Link.
Sounder saw around 20,000 boardings.
February 12, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Off by 50k! Hopefully like with our elections it makes up ground with the later drops. We’ll see if it gets closer to 250k
Every 6 minutes came a crushload @sound-transit.bsky.social train full of Seahawks fans for the parade.
Starting Saturday, trains this often this won’t just be for special events, but will just be the everyday commute.
Starting Saturday, trains this often this won’t just be for special events, but will just be the everyday commute.
February 12, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Every 6 minutes came a crushload @sound-transit.bsky.social train full of Seahawks fans for the parade.
Starting Saturday, trains this often this won’t just be for special events, but will just be the everyday commute.
Starting Saturday, trains this often this won’t just be for special events, but will just be the everyday commute.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
4 lanes instead of 6 feels like a big victory--especially since one lane each direction will be bus- only.
Making the I-90 Interchange Work Better for Rainier Avenue South
By: April Delchamps Playing smart, not just playing hard The Seahawks are heading to the Superbowl! Whether you're preparing for gameday...
wsdotblog.blogspot.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:55 PM
4 lanes instead of 6 feels like a big victory--especially since one lane each direction will be bus- only.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
We need your help to ensure Sound Transit can keep building light rail across the Puget Sound Region as quickly as possible. Senate Bill 6148 would give Sound Transit the financial flexibility it needs by allowing it to issue 75-year bonds. Contact your senator to ask them to support this bill.
📢Action Alert: Give Sound Transit a Tool to Build Light Rail Faster
Please write to your senator today to support Senate Bill 6148.
transportationchoices.org
February 11, 2026 at 12:43 AM
We need your help to ensure Sound Transit can keep building light rail across the Puget Sound Region as quickly as possible. Senate Bill 6148 would give Sound Transit the financial flexibility it needs by allowing it to issue 75-year bonds. Contact your senator to ask them to support this bill.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
NEW: Sound Transit says simulated service on the full 2 Line will start THIS SATURDAY.
From ST: "Passengers will be able to ride test trains between International District/Chinatown and Lynnwood City Center stations and service hours on the existing 2 Line [...] will be extended until midnight."
From ST: "Passengers will be able to ride test trains between International District/Chinatown and Lynnwood City Center stations and service hours on the existing 2 Line [...] will be extended until midnight."
February 10, 2026 at 10:43 PM
NEW: Sound Transit says simulated service on the full 2 Line will start THIS SATURDAY.
From ST: "Passengers will be able to ride test trains between International District/Chinatown and Lynnwood City Center stations and service hours on the existing 2 Line [...] will be extended until midnight."
From ST: "Passengers will be able to ride test trains between International District/Chinatown and Lynnwood City Center stations and service hours on the existing 2 Line [...] will be extended until midnight."
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
There's a national media event unveiling our new Amtrak Cascades trains in DC today. Here are some photos for you to enjoy! The Cafe Car is even stocked with our PNW favorites.
February 10, 2026 at 6:41 PM
There's a national media event unveiling our new Amtrak Cascades trains in DC today. Here are some photos for you to enjoy! The Cafe Car is even stocked with our PNW favorites.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
Good progress on the construction of the protected bike lane leading to the future Pinehurst station. 🚊 🚶♀️ 🚲 🌲
February 10, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Good progress on the construction of the protected bike lane leading to the future Pinehurst station. 🚊 🚶♀️ 🚲 🌲
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
Very pleased to report that HB 2092, my bill to create an Amtrak Cascades Riders Advisory Committee has been passed out of committee! This has been a great collaboration with the rail advocacy community and will help us advance better passenger rail in WA. #waleg
February 9, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Very pleased to report that HB 2092, my bill to create an Amtrak Cascades Riders Advisory Committee has been passed out of committee! This has been a great collaboration with the rail advocacy community and will help us advance better passenger rail in WA. #waleg
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
"Few opportunities in the levy are greater than on Rainier Ave, where repaving, safety work, and transit upgrades...all converge, especially around Judkins Park Station...the road remains incredibly dangerous...even as it welcomes thousands of additional neighbors via significant housing growth."
💯
💯
New from me...when SDOT released the 2026 transportation levy delivery plan in late January, the question on my mind was: how can this plan be shaped by a Mayor who wasn't in office to see it put together? Here's my attempt to answer that:
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/09/2...
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/09/2...
2026 Levy Plan Sets Stage for a New Mayor’s Transportation Priorities » The Urbanist
# The full list of 430 levy-funded projects across Seattle was mostly assembled before Mayor Katie Wilson took office. But it contains significant opportunities for the new administration to shape tra...
www.theurbanist.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:21 PM
"Few opportunities in the levy are greater than on Rainier Ave, where repaving, safety work, and transit upgrades...all converge, especially around Judkins Park Station...the road remains incredibly dangerous...even as it welcomes thousands of additional neighbors via significant housing growth."
💯
💯
Wednesday will definitely be record @sound-transit.bsky.social light rail ridership.
I’ll throw out that it crushes 250,000 rides. About double the weekday average in July, the busiest month.
Who’s needs sports betting when you’ve got transit ridership betting?
I’ll throw out that it crushes 250,000 rides. About double the weekday average in July, the busiest month.
Who’s needs sports betting when you’ve got transit ridership betting?
February 9, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Wednesday will definitely be record @sound-transit.bsky.social light rail ridership.
I’ll throw out that it crushes 250,000 rides. About double the weekday average in July, the busiest month.
Who’s needs sports betting when you’ve got transit ridership betting?
I’ll throw out that it crushes 250,000 rides. About double the weekday average in July, the busiest month.
Who’s needs sports betting when you’ve got transit ridership betting?
Metro had these huge gains last year even as light rail expanded. More transit grows the pie for every agency in the region
Today we have US transit data for all of 2025, & DC's WMATA was officially the fastest-growing major US agency, with ridership up 8.7%!
The LIRR (NY, 6.4%), King County Metro (Seattle, +6.5%) & SEPTA (Philly, +4.7%) performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit lost riders🧵
The LIRR (NY, 6.4%), King County Metro (Seattle, +6.5%) & SEPTA (Philly, +4.7%) performed well, while LA Metro & NJTransit lost riders🧵
February 6, 2026 at 3:18 AM
Metro had these huge gains last year even as light rail expanded. More transit grows the pie for every agency in the region
To the moon?
Ridership on Seattle's Link Light Rail continues rising amid the system's many expansions, helping Seattle have the strongest year-on-year ridership growth of any major metro area in 2025!
Link ridership rose more than 27% in 2025, and its two lines will be connected in March!
Link ridership rose more than 27% in 2025, and its two lines will be connected in March!
February 6, 2026 at 2:48 AM
To the moon?
🚨🚨Huge investment in Spokane Transit Authority & @spokanecity.org
$85 million in federal funding for bus rapid transit is headed your way, @mayorspokane.bsky.social! 🚌🚌🚌
I was proud to secure this funding for Spokane. Investing in public transit connects our communities, strengthens our economy, and gets people where they need to go!
I was proud to secure this funding for Spokane. Investing in public transit connects our communities, strengthens our economy, and gets people where they need to go!
February 5, 2026 at 10:50 PM
🚨🚨Huge investment in Spokane Transit Authority & @spokanecity.org
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
Seattle's current plans call for this...abomination...at the south end of the Ballard Bridge but Rep. Julia Reed, with input from Councilmember Strauss, just submitted a state transportation budget request to signalize the intersection.
February 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Seattle's current plans call for this...abomination...at the south end of the Ballard Bridge but Rep. Julia Reed, with input from Councilmember Strauss, just submitted a state transportation budget request to signalize the intersection.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
WSDOT: Hi SEPA we want to build a massive "diverging diamond" interchange on I-90 at SR-18 to facilitate additional sprawl is that cool?
SEPA: Sounds fine to me
City of Seattle: Hey SEPA, we'd like to allow people to build more homes in the heart of our city
SEPA: Slow down just a minute fella
SEPA: Sounds fine to me
City of Seattle: Hey SEPA, we'd like to allow people to build more homes in the heart of our city
SEPA: Slow down just a minute fella
February 1, 2026 at 4:29 AM
WSDOT: Hi SEPA we want to build a massive "diverging diamond" interchange on I-90 at SR-18 to facilitate additional sprawl is that cool?
SEPA: Sounds fine to me
City of Seattle: Hey SEPA, we'd like to allow people to build more homes in the heart of our city
SEPA: Slow down just a minute fella
SEPA: Sounds fine to me
City of Seattle: Hey SEPA, we'd like to allow people to build more homes in the heart of our city
SEPA: Slow down just a minute fella
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
I just want both teams’ urbanist mayors @wutrain.bsky.social & @mayorofseattle.bsky.social to make some sort of sweet transit oriented bet on the Super Bowl. Winner gets a lifetime CharlieCard or ORCA Card?
I’m not the biggest sports fan but it would be nice if the Seahawks could give Mayor Wilson a Super Bowl win right out of the gate.
January 26, 2026 at 4:05 AM
I just want both teams’ urbanist mayors @wutrain.bsky.social & @mayorofseattle.bsky.social to make some sort of sweet transit oriented bet on the Super Bowl. Winner gets a lifetime CharlieCard or ORCA Card?
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.
ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.
ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
On March 28th, the Crosslake connection will open. It's the first time in the world that light rail will cross a floating bridge. TCC was proud to lead the ballot measure campaign in 2008 that made this extension from Seattle to the Eastside possible. In 64 days, we’ll see you on the train!
January 23, 2026 at 7:39 PM
On March 28th, the Crosslake connection will open. It's the first time in the world that light rail will cross a floating bridge. TCC was proud to lead the ballot measure campaign in 2008 that made this extension from Seattle to the Eastside possible. In 64 days, we’ll see you on the train!
Reposted by Kirk Hovenkotter
Very exciting! A boon to the Seattle region's transit network thanks to direct service linking Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond beginning in March.
After years of delays and debate, Sound Transit says riders will finally be able to take the Link light rail across Lake Washington via the Interstate 90 bridge starting March 28.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3YYNrJh
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3YYNrJh
January 23, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Very exciting! A boon to the Seattle region's transit network thanks to direct service linking Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond beginning in March.