Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · 8h

Mayor Bruce Harrell gets to work at City Hall by car. His challenger Katie Wilson rides the bus.

What else separates Seattle's mayoral candidates? Read on!

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

Seattle mayoral candidates Harrell, Wilson take different roads to address transportation issues

Mayor Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson have similar visions on transportation issues. But in a congested city, small differences can add up.

www.seattletimes.com

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · 3d

Surprise! White River Bridge to reopen ahead of schedule.

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

White River Bridge to reopen, restoring key King-Pierce county link

The Highway 410 bridge over the White River has been closed since Aug. 18, when a tall truckload whacked its crossbeams, warping them.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

The Seattle Times @seattletimes.com · Aug 17

While drivers flooded Seattle's streets to make their way around the region's closed highways, a group of people advocated for lidding Interstate 5 to hide the highway and dampen the noise.

As Seattle drivers deal with I-5 closure, some say it’s time to cap it

While drivers flooded Seattle's streets to make their way around the region's closed highways, a group of people advocated for lidding Interstate 5 to hide the highway and dampen the noise.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

HistoryLink.org @historylink.bsky.social · Jul 26

#OnThisDay in 1970, Jimi Hendrix played Sicks' Stadium, his final Seattle show. historylink.org/File/21126

Jimi Hendrix concert poster, Sicks’ Stadium, Seattle, 1970

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · Jul 18

I’ll follow up the story at some point and we’ll talk.

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · Jul 18

Thanks Kirk, story could’ve been better for sure. Still, the premise of the story is in the first line. That bus riders will like and benefit from the change is a given. Will it increase congestion for cars? Probably, and that’s what the biz orgs are complaining about.

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

WSDOT Traffic @traffic.wsdot.wa.gov · Jul 12

We are seeing traffic building more, especially before the closure points on I-405, & along detour routes in Kirkland & Renton.

-3 mile backup on NB I-405 in Renton
-1.5 mile backup on SB I-405 in Kirkland

Expect very heavy traffic on detour routes & city streets. Plan ahead!

A screenshot from the WSDOT travel map shows heavy traffic leading up to a closure of northbound I-405 in Renton.

A screenshot from the WSDOT travel map shows heavy traffic leading up to a closure of southbound I-405 in Kirkland.

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

Annalee Newitz @annaleen.bsky.social · Jul 10

As more journalists are driven out of their jobs, I keep hearing this drumbeat of "it's ok -- they can start their own newsletter or publication." Some can. But becoming your own business is a huge job, and will eliminate many talented reporters from the public sphere. Here's why. (1/5)

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · Jul 9

Thanks Nick. I’ll take a look and talk to the mapmaker.

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · Jul 9

At some point in the not too distant future, someone will bike from Alki Beach in West Seattle, by the industrial monoliths on Harbor Island and through the hullabaloo of downtown, all the way to Smith Cove, without once interacting with traffic.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Bike path on Seattle waterfront is missing piece to city puzzle

Seattle's revamped waterfront includes a 1.2-mile stretch of safe, protected bicycle lanes, a key link in the city's growing bike network.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

mclindblom.bsky.social @mclindblom.bsky.social · Jun 30

WA gas taxes go up this week, largely to cover soaring construction costs of freeways already begun. A concise history by @nickdeshais.bsky.social: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA's gas tax goes up for the 21st time Tuesday, and there's no real alternative

Lawmakers considered other ways to fund the state's megaprojects, highway maintenance and ferries, but stuck with the gas tax because of its low overhead.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

Portland Streetcar History @pdx-streetcars.bsky.social · Jun 28

Multnomah County Archives have a high-quality scan of the 1943 trolley map found on the reverse of a map of Vanport that was given to residents of that ill-fated city. It's a one-color version of the full-color map that was issued in May of that year.

multco.access.preservica.com/uncategorize...

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

Oran โอม @oranv.com · Jun 22

After over a year of neglect, I finally updated my Seattle Transit Map! September will mark the tenth anniversary of the map. The website itself needs work but the new layer is now online. seattletransitmap.com/app/

June 2025 edition of Seattle Transit Map

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

WSDOT East @east.wsdot.wa.gov · Jun 13

30 minutes in 30 seconds! Here is the timelapse from setting the bow truss for the Children of the Sun Trail pedestrian bridge across the Spokane River earlier today. It took two cranes to set the 300,000-pound steel structure.

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · May 24

When work begins next month on Interstate 5 for some long-awaited repairs and maintenance, lanes will be closed, speed limits lowered and more than one driver will look for a different, faster and more convenient route through North Seattle.

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

I-5 project will spark changes along Aurora Avenue

The bus-only lanes on Aurora Avenue North will be in effect all day, every day as the state works on Interstate 5 over the next few years.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

The Seattle Times @seattletimes.com · May 22

The controversial bill would, if approved, represent one of the most significant changes to housing density policy in Seattle in at least the last decade.

Seattle denser housing plan moves a step forward

The controversial bill would, if approved, represent one of the most significant changes to housing density policy in Seattle in at least the last decade.

www.seattletimes.com

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · May 21

Floating bridge sighting on Lake Washington.

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

Joseph O'Sullivan @olympiajoe.bsky.social · May 20

NEW: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is on a quest to bring back the Blue Dogs-

The Democratic congresswoman's strategy of appealing to working class rural moderates won her Washington's 3rd District. Will it work anywhere else?

For @cascadepbsnewsroom.bsky.social

www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is on a quest to bring back the Blue Dogs

The Democratic congresswoman's strategy of appealing to working class rural moderates won her Washington's 3rd District. Will it work anywhere else?

www.cascadepbs.org

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · May 20

Good point. Please support journalism and subscribe to your local newspaper.

Reposted by Nick Deshais

Brittney Bush Double Play @brittneybush.bsky.social · May 20

"On Monday morning, drivers still drove through, despite two small, A-frame signs declaring the street closed just feet from where the temporary memorial once stood."

Street closure at Seattle middle school following death of student

The Seattle Department of Transportation closed a street outside of the Central District's Washington Middle School to most traffic.

www.seattletimes.com

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · May 20

Early 2026.

Sound Transit @sound-transit.bsky.social · May 20

When thousands of eager riders turned out to celebrate the 2 Line opening to Downtown Redmond, one question arose more than any other: “Now when will it connect to Seattle?” Head to The Platform for an update on this highly anticipated regional connection: ow.ly/Yvab50VVZ0R

An aerial view of the I-90 floating bridge on a sunny day

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · May 20

Later in the story:

“Barekew was killed after a 51-year-old woman failed to place her GMC Acadia in park and got out of the SUV, which rolled about 75 yards downhill and struck Barekew on the sidewalk in front of the school shortly before 12:30 p.m. on March 6.”

I suggest reading a whole story.

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Nick Deshais @nickdeshais.bsky.social · May 20

Following the death of a 12-year-old student killed by an unattended SUV in front of Washington Middle School in March, the Seattle Department of Transportation has blocked a street in front of the Central District school.

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

Street closure at Seattle middle school following death of student

The Seattle Department of Transportation closed a street outside of the Central District's Washington Middle School to most traffic.

www.seattletimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

Washington Trails Association @washingtontrails.bsky.social · May 15

Get your hiking news!

King County hikers can soon access trails via Trailhead Direct, learn about changes to the North Cascades National Park permit system, read about scan and pay options for Forest Service rec sites and more 🏔️

Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct, new light rail station connects to trails, print North Cascades permits at home

Trailhead Direct is back for 2025! King County Parks has opened two new connector trails at one of the new Sound Transit Light Rail stations. North Cascades National Park is allowing most advance back...

www.wta.org

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Reposted by Nick Deshais

Beth Day @thebethocracy.bsky.social · May 15

Attaching sensors to bikes to monitor close passes as a way to measure cyclist safety. I was going about this using data correlated with cyclist's feelings of safety (life intervened and my safer bike route mapping grad school project is on hold). So simple. www.washington.edu/news/2025/05...

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