Harper
@harlander.bsky.social
I read transit budget documents for fun
Transit | Housing | Photography
23
She/her
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Train good car bad
Transit | Housing | Photography
23
She/her
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
Train good car bad
I think thats true and I think the underrepresentation of democrats compared to republicans is influenced to some extent by the fact that young people are much less likely to identify as democrats (though I think the majority is just apolitical chuds)
January 20, 2026 at 11:34 PM
I think thats true and I think the underrepresentation of democrats compared to republicans is influenced to some extent by the fact that young people are much less likely to identify as democrats (though I think the majority is just apolitical chuds)
My best guess is that my source was coming from a 2015ish trolleybus expansion report for KCM and back then gas was cheaper
January 20, 2026 at 7:16 PM
My best guess is that my source was coming from a 2015ish trolleybus expansion report for KCM and back then gas was cheaper
Yeah, i noticed, thats interesting but unsurprising. Ive seen data before that suggests the opposite (and the argument was that the slight increase in cost per hour was balanced by the longer life of TBs). I wonder what the presuppositions those were operating under
January 20, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Yeah, i noticed, thats interesting but unsurprising. Ive seen data before that suggests the opposite (and the argument was that the slight increase in cost per hour was balanced by the longer life of TBs). I wonder what the presuppositions those were operating under
I dont think its just the council, I think its activists too
I think we should have a plan for how to expand the streetcar beyond just "build the CCC" (thankfully I have a plan if you wanted to chat)
I think we should have a plan for how to expand the streetcar beyond just "build the CCC" (thankfully I have a plan if you wanted to chat)
January 20, 2026 at 5:46 PM
I dont think its just the council, I think its activists too
I think we should have a plan for how to expand the streetcar beyond just "build the CCC" (thankfully I have a plan if you wanted to chat)
I think we should have a plan for how to expand the streetcar beyond just "build the CCC" (thankfully I have a plan if you wanted to chat)
Also holy shit we need to delete the West Seattle Water Taxi lmao
January 20, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Also holy shit we need to delete the West Seattle Water Taxi lmao
Okay, yeah, though that percentage would go down as we expand the streetcar system and spread a lot of the zero-mile costs across more hours which is part of why I would like to leave the door open on expansion (both more miles and more vehicles per mile)
January 20, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Okay, yeah, though that percentage would go down as we expand the streetcar system and spread a lot of the zero-mile costs across more hours which is part of why I would like to leave the door open on expansion (both more miles and more vehicles per mile)
The reason to keep the streetcar is that the system should eventually be extended. Not now (there are more important goals) but eventually there are a number of things we should do with them and keeping the streetcars running leaves that door open
January 20, 2026 at 8:42 AM
The reason to keep the streetcar is that the system should eventually be extended. Not now (there are more important goals) but eventually there are a number of things we should do with them and keeping the streetcars running leaves that door open
Trolleybuses cost slightly more per service hour) the requirement for buses to turn around in loops will likely add to the time (by my math around 5-10 minutes depending on if you use diesel or trolleybus)
January 20, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Trolleybuses cost slightly more per service hour) the requirement for buses to turn around in loops will likely add to the time (by my math around 5-10 minutes depending on if you use diesel or trolleybus)
For the record, under current conditions it would likely run closer to every 10. I cant find accurate cost per service hour for the FHS and I havent sat down and done the math to measure. Even assuming the FHS has double the cost (which it seems to roughly be the cost compared to diesel...
January 20, 2026 at 8:41 AM
For the record, under current conditions it would likely run closer to every 10. I cant find accurate cost per service hour for the FHS and I havent sat down and done the math to measure. Even assuming the FHS has double the cost (which it seems to roughly be the cost compared to diesel...
Disabilities (like those going to the hospital it serves) and people using it for shopping (a major ridership generator, especially on Jackson)
January 20, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Disabilities (like those going to the hospital it serves) and people using it for shopping (a major ridership generator, especially on Jackson)
Because I believe in using the political power to expand the service rather than slash it. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars building something and we can improve it substantially so lets do that rather than giving up.
Also, streetcars are FAR more friendly to people with...
Also, streetcars are FAR more friendly to people with...
January 20, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Because I believe in using the political power to expand the service rather than slash it. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars building something and we can improve it substantially so lets do that rather than giving up.
Also, streetcars are FAR more friendly to people with...
Also, streetcars are FAR more friendly to people with...
It would be seen as the city pulling investment from the ID
January 20, 2026 at 2:01 AM
It would be seen as the city pulling investment from the ID
Yeah, its not an infrastructural problem, purely a political one
January 20, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Yeah, its not an infrastructural problem, purely a political one
Ive considered that and it would work but crossing the tracks at 14th & Jackson would reduce reliability. You would also have problems in front of Union station
January 20, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Ive considered that and it would work but crossing the tracks at 14th & Jackson would reduce reliability. You would also have problems in front of Union station
Viable way for us to kick cars off Jackson meaning if we want all transit to have dedicated lanes theyll have to share
January 20, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Viable way for us to kick cars off Jackson meaning if we want all transit to have dedicated lanes theyll have to share
Its less expensive than you think because you dont have to change utilities (it would likely cost about $10m, money could be saved by only adjusting one side but Ive not figured out how viable that is)
Regardless, we do really need to do that on Jackson because I see no politically...
Regardless, we do really need to do that on Jackson because I see no politically...
January 20, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Its less expensive than you think because you dont have to change utilities (it would likely cost about $10m, money could be saved by only adjusting one side but Ive not figured out how viable that is)
Regardless, we do really need to do that on Jackson because I see no politically...
Regardless, we do really need to do that on Jackson because I see no politically...
I do want to make it clear that we really need to redesign jackson so the FHS and buses can se the same dedicated lanes. Even if that just means side running fully
January 20, 2026 at 1:23 AM
I do want to make it clear that we really need to redesign jackson so the FHS and buses can se the same dedicated lanes. Even if that just means side running fully
-redesign Yesler for a WB transit only lane for as much as possible (this may mean ripping up tracks and moving them)
Obviously I want to remove cars from Broadway but it isnt needed to improve the FHS substantially
Obviously I want to remove cars from Broadway but it isnt needed to improve the FHS substantially
January 20, 2026 at 1:19 AM
-redesign Yesler for a WB transit only lane for as much as possible (this may mean ripping up tracks and moving them)
Obviously I want to remove cars from Broadway but it isnt needed to improve the FHS substantially
Obviously I want to remove cars from Broadway but it isnt needed to improve the FHS substantially
My basic recommendation would be this:
-Redesign Broadway so that there is a transit lane on at least one side of the street at all times
-Rip up the stops and track on Jackson and redesign for right-hand stops that can be shared by the buses on Jackson (Van Ness in SF) and dedicate lanes
-Redesign Broadway so that there is a transit lane on at least one side of the street at all times
-Rip up the stops and track on Jackson and redesign for right-hand stops that can be shared by the buses on Jackson (Van Ness in SF) and dedicate lanes
January 20, 2026 at 1:19 AM
My basic recommendation would be this:
-Redesign Broadway so that there is a transit lane on at least one side of the street at all times
-Rip up the stops and track on Jackson and redesign for right-hand stops that can be shared by the buses on Jackson (Van Ness in SF) and dedicate lanes
-Redesign Broadway so that there is a transit lane on at least one side of the street at all times
-Rip up the stops and track on Jackson and redesign for right-hand stops that can be shared by the buses on Jackson (Van Ness in SF) and dedicate lanes
Removing cars from Broadway, dedicating its lanes on Yesler, 14th and Jackson, substantial intersection elimination, moving the trackbed to a straighter alignment, adding barriers, TSP, and increasing speed to 25mph could give us 8 minute service (though it would be tight)
January 20, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Removing cars from Broadway, dedicating its lanes on Yesler, 14th and Jackson, substantial intersection elimination, moving the trackbed to a straighter alignment, adding barriers, TSP, and increasing speed to 25mph could give us 8 minute service (though it would be tight)
By my math doing things like spot transit lanes leading into stops and TSP would give us 12 minute service no problem. Theres a chance it gives us 10 but I doubt it.
Removing cars from broadway and good TSP would more likely give us 10 minute service
Removing cars from broadway and good TSP would more likely give us 10 minute service
January 20, 2026 at 1:19 AM
By my math doing things like spot transit lanes leading into stops and TSP would give us 12 minute service no problem. Theres a chance it gives us 10 but I doubt it.
Removing cars from broadway and good TSP would more likely give us 10 minute service
Removing cars from broadway and good TSP would more likely give us 10 minute service
Yes but the fact that it is so open and easy to use means people are much more likely to bring groceries and strollers on it. I see people not get on a 60 and wait for an FHS even when going somewhere both buses serve
January 19, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Yes but the fact that it is so open and easy to use means people are much more likely to bring groceries and strollers on it. I see people not get on a 60 and wait for an FHS even when going somewhere both buses serve
Reducing the downtime at the ends would lead to bunching and would require more drivers
January 19, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Reducing the downtime at the ends would lead to bunching and would require more drivers
In my view, while the streetcar system should be expanded, we should tackle improving the ones we already have first
The FHS leaves so much on the table and with the better service we could easily achieve we could realize that potential
The FHS leaves so much on the table and with the better service we could easily achieve we could realize that potential
January 19, 2026 at 7:29 PM
In my view, while the streetcar system should be expanded, we should tackle improving the ones we already have first
The FHS leaves so much on the table and with the better service we could easily achieve we could realize that potential
The FHS leaves so much on the table and with the better service we could easily achieve we could realize that potential