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The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 18h

NEW // How Ballard and West Seattle Light Rail Became a $30 Billion Undertaking

Story by @typewriteralley.bsky.social via @theurbanist.org www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/10/h...

How Ballard and West Seattle Light Rail Became a $30 Billion Undertaking » The Urbanist

# Since voters approved West Seattle and Ballard Link in 2016, the two projects have been caught in a perfect storm of factors that led to the eye-popping cost estimates that we have today. While the ...

www.theurbanist.org

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · 1d

Transit safety isn’t optional, it’s a necessity.

This week, CM Balducci led a Transit Safety Report briefing—a blueprint built with operators, safety experts, & community leaders.

Now it's time to turn these recommendations into action.

Watch KING 5’s coverage:

King County Metro seeks major safety investment after driver's fatal stabbing

King County Metro is pushing for more than $115 million in safety investments over the next two years.

www.king5.com

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · 2d

🚇 Seattle’s biggest transit challenges mean we need bold thinking to deliver ST3 without breaking the bank. That means reimagining the second downtown tunnel, speeding up delivery, and putting riders first. Read more in @publicola.bsky.social >>>

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future - PubliCola

By Claudia Balducci It’s no secret that our region needed high-capacity transit yesterday — or better yet, four decades ago.…

publicola.com

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · 2d

100%. Those are the questions to ask/study to conduct to make it work (if it can!)

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Erica C. Barnett @ericacbarnett.bsky.social · 2d

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future
In a guest post, Sound Transit board member and King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci says it's time to consider light-rail options that don't require digging a second tunnel through downtown Seattle.
publicola.com/2025/10/08/t...

Three Key Questions to Save Our Light Rail Future - PubliCola

By Claudia Balducci It’s no secret that our region needed high-capacity transit yesterday — or better yet, four decades ago.…

publicola.com

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · 2d

Yes

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Push The Needle @pushtheneedle.bsky.social · 2d

Again, there is a very important election coming up for King County Executive. The winner will be critically important in how funds are used for housing and how to build out our light rail system which needs creative solutions to come into budget. Claudia Balducci is the right vote

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · 2d

NEW // Buried Report Throws Cold Water on Zahilay’s Billion-Dollar Housing Bond Proposal

By Ryan Packer

via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/10/08/b...

Buried Report Throws Cold Water on Zahilay’s Billion-Dollar Housing Bond Proposal » The Urbanist

# The idea of using King County's uptapped bonding capacity to unlock dollars for affordable housing seemed like a promising new area for exploration. But a report dropped on the county council's door...

www.theurbanist.org

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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 9d

“The e-bike market is skyrocketing — and, according to some studies, outpacing electric cars…The question now is: Do officials double down on deadly car-centric urban design, or do they rethink cities to encourage people to ditch four wheels for two?”

Via @grist.org grist.org/transportati...

E-bikes could cut carbon, congestion, and costs — if cities take them seriously

E-bike sales are booming, providing a clean form of transportation that also improves public health. Yet cities remain committed to cars.

grist.org

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · 8d

Now on KUOW’s Soundside:
King County Executive candidates debate @kuow.org www.kuow.org/stories/squa...

Square Up: King County Executive candidates debate

The last time we had an open race for King County Executive, Barack Obama was about to become President. And everyone was talking about some new Washington-based movie called “Twilight.” Today, two c...

www.kuow.org

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Sam Alcorn @samalcorn.bsky.social · 25d

Raised crosswalks solve two problems with one intervention: 1) accessibility for people on sidewalks without curb ramps and 2) traffic calming, resulting in fewer injuries and deaths

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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 27d

"Simple research shows 34 countries or territories have some mail-in voting and—in an amazing coincidence—that list largely mirrors those countries that are freest, wealthiest and most democratic." [Steven Greenhut, @reason.com]

Trump shouldn't take election advice from a Russian dictator

While mail-in voting provides obvious logistical challenges, every serious analysis of mail-in voting results has found it to be secure.

reason.com

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Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 29d

This is the biggest story in America right now.

Coffee up 20.9% year-over-year

Steaks up 16.6%

Apples up 9.6%

Bananas, 6.6%.

www.axios.com/2025/09/11/t...

Grocery prices rise at the fastest pace since 2022 as Trump tariffs bite

On the campaign trail, Trump promised lower grocery prices.

www.axios.com

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · Sep 10

Amazing photos from last night's historic floating bridge rail crossing. Courtesy: @sound-transit.bsky.social #soundtransit

light rail train crossing the I-90 floating bridge

view from operator's cab of first light rail vehicle crossing the I-90 bridge

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · Sep 9

Two amazing sights, all at one moment:

“At nearly the same moment the railcar first entered the I-90 bridge from the Mercer Island side, 11:49 p.m., a thick shower of sparks streaked high above the park, from an apparent meteor.”

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

An apparent meteor streaks across the sky on Monday in Seattle, adding to the feeling that train fans were indeed part of a special event. (Nick Wagner / The Seattle Times)

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · Sep 9

So beyond exciting to be out watching this historic moment with a crowd of rail fans!

Bruce Englehardt @sounderbruce.bsky.social · Sep 9

The first East Link train under its own power on the floating bridge!

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · Sep 9

Super fun to watch this historic moment.

Bruce Englehardt @sounderbruce.bsky.social · Sep 9

The first East Link train under its own power on the floating bridge!

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · Sep 9

What a night!

Waiting for the first first East Link train under its own power to reach Seattle from the Eastside.

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · Sep 8

“As usual, King County Councilmember @kccclaudia.bsky.social came with the most highly-detailed suggestions…”

KUOW Public Radio @kuow.org · Sep 5

Sound Transit’s light rail expansion plans could cost up to 25% more than expected. This week, board members began brainstorming on how to bring down costs.

Nix the new tunnel? Sound Transit looks for big moves to save billions

Sound Transit’s light rail expansion plans could cost up to 25% more than expected. This week, board members began brainstorming on how to bring down costs.

www.kuow.org

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Blake Trask @btrask.bsky.social · Sep 6

100% a deserved celebration but:

“…the dropped elements that didn’t make it to the point of a ribbon-cutting are a reminder that much work remains to create a people-focused downtown. That more complete metamorphosis this will take bold leadership from those steering Seattle into the future.”

Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · Sep 6

Happy Waterfront Park grand opening day, Seattle.

I wrote about some of the stuff considered for the new waterfront that didn't make it across the finish line today.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/06/s...

The Seattle Waterfront Park Amenities That Never Crossed the Finish Line » The Urbanist

# While the primary debate over the remade Seattle waterfront has focused on the size of Alaskan Way, a whole slate of potential public space improvements also ended up on the cutting room floor. Thos...

www.theurbanist.org

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J.M. Berger @jmberger.com · Sep 6

Apocalypse Now, famously a movie about how war is awesome and always turns out well

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · Sep 5

That’s why we owe it to our region to invent a Sound Transit future that’s affordable, reliable & boldly reimagined. Let's review the option of building a second downtown tunnel, explore creative ways to break up megaprojects into manageable portions & deliver service that works for riders.

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · Sep 4

Seattle isn't perfect, but it is one of the best places to live car-free and car-light in the U.S. We need to build on this momentum.

Crystal Fincher @finchfrii.bsky.social · Sep 4

“In 2023, there were a record 74,100 carless households, representing 20% of all Seattle households. That’s up from 53,200, or 16% of households, in 2017.”

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Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · Sep 4

Disease prevalence in US states before & after vaccine introduction 🧪

From Edward Tufte & graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...

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Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · Sep 3

Great short video by TransLink explaining “the empty bus lane myth”

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Ryan Packer @typewriteralley.bsky.social · Sep 2

Harrell is touting the work Seattle did to streamline development standards and to start to staff up to handle ST3 planning.

He is also supporting Claudia Balducci in pushing ST to look at a second downtown tunnel as part of Ballard Link.

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Claudia Balducci @kccclaudia.bsky.social · Aug 29

Yesterday at the Sound Transit Board meeting, I questioned the necessity of an additional tunnel downtown—from CID Station to Westlake—so we could save money and better tackle the agency's financial challenges.

I’m fully committed to delivering the light rail network our region deserves.

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