@mclindblom.bsky.social
Seattle Times transportation reporter since 2003
I missed the retreat, but noticed this gorgeous yet confounding workflow chart that tells me they aren't ready to 'grapple' for quite a while.
November 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
I missed the retreat, but noticed this gorgeous yet confounding workflow chart that tells me they aren't ready to 'grapple' for quite a while.
Here's one - the @wsdot.wa.gov just built a pre-emptive desire trail that will help some apartment residents in the northeast go more directly to a new light rail station to their southwest, in this southward looking image. (The walk is still not very pleasant, at wide I-5 access roads.)
November 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Here's one - the @wsdot.wa.gov just built a pre-emptive desire trail that will help some apartment residents in the northeast go more directly to a new light rail station to their southwest, in this southward looking image. (The walk is still not very pleasant, at wide I-5 access roads.)
Sound Transit committee in session. Only 1/3 of escalator and elevator failures are mechanical, while most are from intentional or accidental customer damage.
November 6, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Sound Transit committee in session. Only 1/3 of escalator and elevator failures are mechanical, while most are from intentional or accidental customer damage.
Seattle is the #8 U.S. transit market by monthly ridership, and after that, it really drops off.
September 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Seattle is the #8 U.S. transit market by monthly ridership, and after that, it really drops off.
What's a Cracker Barrel?
August 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
What's a Cracker Barrel?
Annals of language: This feature in The Nation about Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson mentions the "precariat," a word new to me which captures the spirit of 2025.
August 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Annals of language: This feature in The Nation about Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson mentions the "precariat," a word new to me which captures the spirit of 2025.
Sound Transit system expansion committee now in session. No big revelations, but one unsettling stat appears. West Seattle/Ballard projects are only at "12%" in design phase, nine years after voter approval.
August 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Sound Transit system expansion committee now in session. No big revelations, but one unsettling stat appears. West Seattle/Ballard projects are only at "12%" in design phase, nine years after voter approval.
Alex Tsimerman is back testifying @soundtransit after a "three-year trespass." He did refrain from calling the board Nazis and Gestapos, to focus on the agency's massive spending, and conclude with a shoutout to President Trump.
August 14, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Alex Tsimerman is back testifying @soundtransit after a "three-year trespass." He did refrain from calling the board Nazis and Gestapos, to focus on the agency's massive spending, and conclude with a shoutout to President Trump.
Ridership per station is approaching pre pandemic crowds.
August 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Ridership per station is approaching pre pandemic crowds.
Sound Transit committee in session. The latest "Transit Development Plan" includes ridership, which is the most valuable reason to operate transit.
August 7, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Sound Transit committee in session. The latest "Transit Development Plan" includes ridership, which is the most valuable reason to operate transit.
Sound Transit rider-experience committee is underway. Staff report says 1/3 of fare ambassador time is spent on customer service, notably helping people deal with planned detours and surprise breakdowns.
July 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Sound Transit rider-experience committee is underway. Staff report says 1/3 of fare ambassador time is spent on customer service, notably helping people deal with planned detours and surprise breakdowns.
From the inbox: Sound Transit park-ride stalls are 95% occupied as of April.
June 29, 2025 at 2:30 AM
From the inbox: Sound Transit park-ride stalls are 95% occupied as of April.
A healthy ridership boost Sound Transit light rail in May despite occasional stalls. Though two Redmond stations added 4k daily riders, most of the gain is seasonal and commuter growth for the 1 Line through Seattle.
June 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
A healthy ridership boost Sound Transit light rail in May despite occasional stalls. Though two Redmond stations added 4k daily riders, most of the gain is seasonal and commuter growth for the 1 Line through Seattle.
Before this week's wire damage, Sound Transit's Eastside 2 Line doubled its April ridership in May, because of adding Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond stations.
June 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Before this week's wire damage, Sound Transit's Eastside 2 Line doubled its April ridership in May, because of adding Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond stations.
From the inbox: Light rail ridership (1 and 2 Lines) broke 100k/day in April, nearing the Oct. 2024 mark. Overall Sound Transit is still down 12% from pre-pandemic because bus and commuter train use cratered.
May 15, 2025 at 10:16 PM
From the inbox: Light rail ridership (1 and 2 Lines) broke 100k/day in April, nearing the Oct. 2024 mark. Overall Sound Transit is still down 12% from pre-pandemic because bus and commuter train use cratered.
The @soundtransit Rider Experience and Operations committee discusses whether to allow dogs on trains - as Marymoor Village Station opens soon.
May 1, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The @soundtransit Rider Experience and Operations committee discusses whether to allow dogs on trains - as Marymoor Village Station opens soon.
The @soundtransit is seeking comment on a 2026 service plan. This intro statement hopefully will become true but is not correct today.
April 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The @soundtransit is seeking comment on a 2026 service plan. This intro statement hopefully will become true but is not correct today.
We can let @soundtransit out of the penalty box when it comes to escalators and elevators. These are pretty good numbers considering some are 35 years old, and abuse by the public is fairly common. Downtown reliability was under 50% early this decade.
March 6, 2025 at 10:54 PM
We can let @soundtransit out of the penalty box when it comes to escalators and elevators. These are pretty good numbers considering some are 35 years old, and abuse by the public is fairly common. Downtown reliability was under 50% early this decade.
Google Maps is keeping up with the latest White House edicts.
February 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Google Maps is keeping up with the latest White House edicts.
From the inbox: @soundtransit committee in session. Federal Way Link project director Linneth Riley-Hall displayed this picture of a test train crossing the Structure C bridge over wetlands.
February 13, 2025 at 10:56 PM
From the inbox: @soundtransit committee in session. Federal Way Link project director Linneth Riley-Hall displayed this picture of a test train crossing the Structure C bridge over wetlands.
Crews took advantage of the Feb. 1-2 station closure to also adjust the overhead train-power wires on the southbound side, as shown here in this @soundtransit photo.
February 11, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Crews took advantage of the Feb. 1-2 station closure to also adjust the overhead train-power wires on the southbound side, as shown here in this @soundtransit photo.
From the inbox: @soundtransit affirms its $11.4 billion estimate from 2021 for Ballard Link (including new downtown and SLU tunnel) will change and they don't have a new cost figure yet. Land acquisition is about to begin.
February 10, 2025 at 5:47 PM
From the inbox: @soundtransit affirms its $11.4 billion estimate from 2021 for Ballard Link (including new downtown and SLU tunnel) will change and they don't have a new cost figure yet. Land acquisition is about to begin.
Analytics! The oft-maligned airport station ranked #2 in fall ridership, while three north stations along I-5 were sparsely patronized.
February 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Analytics! The oft-maligned airport station ranked #2 in fall ridership, while three north stations along I-5 were sparsely patronized.
From the inbox: new five-year contracts totaling $11 million for drug and alcohol testing @soundtransit.
January 18, 2025 at 1:07 AM
From the inbox: new five-year contracts totaling $11 million for drug and alcohol testing @soundtransit.