Michael Smith
@mesmith35673.bsky.social
Seattle, WA
Software engineer, safe streets advocate, and occasional Seattle Transit Blog writer
You’ll find me exploring the city by bike/bus or analyzing transit ridership data.
He/him
Software engineer, safe streets advocate, and occasional Seattle Transit Blog writer
You’ll find me exploring the city by bike/bus or analyzing transit ridership data.
He/him
5/29: Seattle Streetcar on the First Hill Line
January 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM
5/29: Seattle Streetcar on the First Hill Line
ST Express changes will be in the Fall. Metro will be updating a few more routes (8, 223, 224, 225, 240, 250) in March and the remaining East Link Connections changes will be in the Fall.
I suspect they are holding off on some changes to avoid confusion before ⚽️ and to maintain redundancy on I-90.
I suspect they are holding off on some changes to avoid confusion before ⚽️ and to maintain redundancy on I-90.
January 24, 2026 at 8:22 AM
ST Express changes will be in the Fall. Metro will be updating a few more routes (8, 223, 224, 225, 240, 250) in March and the remaining East Link Connections changes will be in the Fall.
I suspect they are holding off on some changes to avoid confusion before ⚽️ and to maintain redundancy on I-90.
I suspect they are holding off on some changes to avoid confusion before ⚽️ and to maintain redundancy on I-90.
I thought KDM would be busier as well. There is no change in ridership on the 156 and 165, so not many passengers are transferring between the bus and train there.
January 23, 2026 at 11:58 PM
I thought KDM would be busier as well. There is no change in ridership on the 156 and 165, so not many passengers are transferring between the bus and train there.
They are part of the 2 Line dataset when the data is filtered by line.
January 23, 2026 at 11:56 PM
They are part of the 2 Line dataset when the data is filtered by line.
Hang on a second - that graph doesn't make sense. We can't just add the weekday average and the weekend averages to get the overall average daily ridership. FW averaged closer to 3.7k boardings per day while KDM and Star Lake are closer to 1k boardings per day.
January 23, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Hang on a second - that graph doesn't make sense. We can't just add the weekday average and the weekend averages to get the overall average daily ridership. FW averaged closer to 3.7k boardings per day while KDM and Star Lake are closer to 1k boardings per day.
I think this sign takes the cake for the most inaccurate ST sign. Check out all of the great destinations you can get to from Symphony station.
bsky.app/profile/mesm...
bsky.app/profile/mesm...
The incorrect “Landmarks in Seattle via Link” sign that ST displayed at SeaTac station for a few weeks last year is still up at Westlake station.
January 23, 2026 at 6:16 AM
I think this sign takes the cake for the most inaccurate ST sign. Check out all of the great destinations you can get to from Symphony station.
bsky.app/profile/mesm...
bsky.app/profile/mesm...
We love to see a nice modal filter. Is that on 135th? If so, it must have been recently cleared since street view shows the gap in the road filled with bushes and grass.
January 23, 2026 at 4:03 AM
We love to see a nice modal filter. Is that on 135th? If so, it must have been recently cleared since street view shows the gap in the road filled with bushes and grass.
@nathand.bsky.social wrote about this update in December: seattletransitblog.com/2025/12/23/o...
New ORCA features next year: Open Payments and 3-Day PugetPass
ORCA cards came to Google Wallet in 2024, but there is no update on when the cards will come to Apple Wallet. Image courtesy of ORCA. More fare payment options are coming to ORCA in 2026, both moti…
seattletransitblog.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:11 PM
@nathand.bsky.social wrote about this update in December: seattletransitblog.com/2025/12/23/o...
East Link project page is updated to say “early 2026”. I wouldn’t be surprised if the official opening date is announced at the Board meeting tomorrow.
January 22, 2026 at 5:14 AM
East Link project page is updated to say “early 2026”. I wouldn’t be surprised if the official opening date is announced at the Board meeting tomorrow.
False alarm. From ST: “Content was being prepared for a whole range of potential dates and that one pushed through. It should've been still in development mode. Nothing to announce on simulated service or the opening date just yet.”
January 22, 2026 at 4:36 AM
False alarm. From ST: “Content was being prepared for a whole range of potential dates and that one pushed through. It should've been still in development mode. Nothing to announce on simulated service or the opening date just yet.”
Don’t the digital displays usually say “Lynnwood” and “Federal Way” already?
January 22, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Don’t the digital displays usually say “Lynnwood” and “Federal Way” already?
All arterial intersections should have traffic signals. Left turns at intersections without signals are often done quickly in a gap of oncoming traffic. This limits the driver’s ability to properly check for people walking and biking. Drivers should not feel rushed when making a turn.
January 21, 2026 at 5:55 PM
All arterial intersections should have traffic signals. Left turns at intersections without signals are often done quickly in a gap of oncoming traffic. This limits the driver’s ability to properly check for people walking and biking. Drivers should not feel rushed when making a turn.
The NE 65th St bike lane definitely needs an upgrade, but be warned: UPS drivers can still block a “protected” bike lane. bsky.app/profile/mesm...
Like this?
January 21, 2026 at 6:01 AM
The NE 65th St bike lane definitely needs an upgrade, but be warned: UPS drivers can still block a “protected” bike lane. bsky.app/profile/mesm...