Ryan Packer
@typewriteralley.bsky.social
Pedestrian
Reporting at The Urbanist as Contributing Editor
Transportation advocate
Probably covering a random public meeting
(they-them)
📍Puget Sound
https://www.patreon.com/typewriteralley
Reporting at The Urbanist as Contributing Editor
Transportation advocate
Probably covering a random public meeting
(they-them)
📍Puget Sound
https://www.patreon.com/typewriteralley
Pinned
Ryan Packer
@typewriteralley.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Hi new followers-
Several years ago I decided to start documenting how regularly people in my city of Seattle were getting hurt while trying to get around via walking or biking, in as close to real-time as possible.
In response to consistent feedback I'm going to continue on this platform.
Several years ago I decided to start documenting how regularly people in my city of Seattle were getting hurt while trying to get around via walking or biking, in as close to real-time as possible.
In response to consistent feedback I'm going to continue on this platform.
To be fair, there is actually some push back on the Bellevue City Council to the idea of advancing an "emergency" when it comes to Old Bellevue's "character."
Despite a well-recognized housing emergency in Puget Sounds, cities continue to wield their emergency powers in ways that are related to...anything but that crisis.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
December 3, 2025 at 3:10 AM
To be fair, there is actually some push back on the Bellevue City Council to the idea of advancing an "emergency" when it comes to Old Bellevue's "character."
Speaking of Clyde Hill, they have a new mayor as of just a few seconds ago. Dean Hachamovitch, the former CM who headed up the team at Microsoft that created AutoCorrect, will lead the wealthy enclave after the previous mayor resigned this summer.
This discussion is coming a few weeks after Bellevue's neighbor, Clyde Hill, used its emergency powers to enact development regulations because of the threat of...some "cottage houses" being too large.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/18/h...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/18/h...
Housing Emergency? Clyde Hill Shuts the Door to Most Middle Housing » The Urbanist
# Already under scrutiny for potential violations of state housing law, the city of Clyde Hill's new restrictions make its middle housing code one of the most restrictive in the state.
www.theurbanist.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Speaking of Clyde Hill, they have a new mayor as of just a few seconds ago. Dean Hachamovitch, the former CM who headed up the team at Microsoft that created AutoCorrect, will lead the wealthy enclave after the previous mayor resigned this summer.
Despite a well-recognized housing emergency in Puget Sounds, cities continue to wield their emergency powers in ways that are related to...anything but that crisis.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
December 3, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Despite a well-recognized housing emergency in Puget Sounds, cities continue to wield their emergency powers in ways that are related to...anything but that crisis.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
The monorail, operated by Seattle Monorail Services (a private company)
The monorail, owned by the City of Seattle, is going to stop accepting ORCA transfers? Boo.
December 2, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The monorail, operated by Seattle Monorail Services (a private company)
Reposted by Ryan Packer
Seattle's new District 2 City Councilmember Eddie Lin just finished his swearing in ceremony. He won 68% of the vote last month.
December 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Seattle's new District 2 City Councilmember Eddie Lin just finished his swearing in ceremony. He won 68% of the vote last month.
Time to get a sneak peak of Federal Way Link's full extent.
December 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Time to get a sneak peak of Federal Way Link's full extent.
This is the crosswalk right outside Kent Des Moines Station (opening Saturday) that allows you to get across State Route 99.
See that teeny bus stop off on the distance? That's the closest stop for southbound RapidRide A Line riders.
See that teeny bus stop off on the distance? That's the closest stop for southbound RapidRide A Line riders.
December 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This is the crosswalk right outside Kent Des Moines Station (opening Saturday) that allows you to get across State Route 99.
See that teeny bus stop off on the distance? That's the closest stop for southbound RapidRide A Line riders.
See that teeny bus stop off on the distance? That's the closest stop for southbound RapidRide A Line riders.
Commute Seattle Executive Director (and former D3 council candidate) Alex Hudson announced this morning that she's leaving her post to take a job in Katie Wilson's office.
December 2, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Commute Seattle Executive Director (and former D3 council candidate) Alex Hudson announced this morning that she's leaving her post to take a job in Katie Wilson's office.
Seattle Fire is currently responding to a driver hitting someone walking at 15th Ave W and E Emerson Street in Interbay.
December 2, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Seattle Fire is currently responding to a driver hitting someone walking at 15th Ave W and E Emerson Street in Interbay.
Listening to tonight's Federal Way city council land use committee meeting, where a councilmember was questioning the need to add a sidewalk to a street directly connecting Federal Way High School with the light rail station, "because it's a residential area" and would impact parking.
December 2, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Listening to tonight's Federal Way city council land use committee meeting, where a councilmember was questioning the need to add a sidewalk to a street directly connecting Federal Way High School with the light rail station, "because it's a residential area" and would impact parking.
At his very first council briefing, Eddie Lin is pushing to amend Seattle's draft state legislative agenda to include a stronger push for new progressive revenue sources.
December 1, 2025 at 10:36 PM
At his very first council briefing, Eddie Lin is pushing to amend Seattle's draft state legislative agenda to include a stronger push for new progressive revenue sources.
The City of Seattle's 2026 state legislative agenda is *incredibly* light in the area of transportation.
December 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The City of Seattle's 2026 state legislative agenda is *incredibly* light in the area of transportation.
Greetings from Seattle City Hall, where Eddie Lin is at the dais for his first official council meeting.
His ceremonial swearing-in is happening at this time tomorrow.
His ceremonial swearing-in is happening at this time tomorrow.
December 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Greetings from Seattle City Hall, where Eddie Lin is at the dais for his first official council meeting.
His ceremonial swearing-in is happening at this time tomorrow.
His ceremonial swearing-in is happening at this time tomorrow.
Reposted by Ryan Packer
"unanticipated utilities" --> "the surprise tunnel at 10th and Madison" www.capitolhillseattle.com/2024/11/the-...
Corridor-wide bus revamps have been hitting delays and are often taking 10 years or more to deliver. A new King County Metro report released this fall outlines the myriad reasons RapidRide lines fall behind as the overall program faces an uncertain future.
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/01/w...
Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/01/w...
Why It Takes So Damn Long to Build a RapidRide Line » The Urbanist
# Corridor-wide bus revamps have been hitting delays and are often taking ten years to deliver, or more. A new King County Metro report released this fall outlines the myriad reasons RapidRide lines f...
www.theurbanist.org
December 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
"unanticipated utilities" --> "the surprise tunnel at 10th and Madison" www.capitolhillseattle.com/2024/11/the-...
Since "sweeps" is an amorphous and ambiguous term, Bruce Harrell could claim he wasn't engaging in them (while clearly doing so) and KIRO can say that Katie Wilson wants to eliminate them (which she has not said she will do).
There needs to be consequences for publishing lies.
1) Bruce Harrell is mayor. Why is this article framing a problem as the responsibility of the mayor-elect, rather than the existing mayor?!
2) Wilson did not promise to "end sweeps." This is a lie. Printing lies is propaganda, not news.
1) Bruce Harrell is mayor. Why is this article framing a problem as the responsibility of the mayor-elect, rather than the existing mayor?!
2) Wilson did not promise to "end sweeps." This is a lie. Printing lies is propaganda, not news.
![Screenshot of a KIRO opinion piece:
Title: "Harger: Seattle Space Needle homeless camp grows as Mayor-elect Katie Wilson promises to end sweeps"
[Picture of the Space Needle and a tent]:
BY CHARLIE HARGER
Host, Seattle's Morning News
Lede:
"A homeless encampment near the Space Needle that gained international media attention is testing Seattle’s homeless crisis response as Mayor-elect Katie Wilson prepares to end camp removals when she takes office in January 2026"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:udp5knsxol66kisgtzpll3ju/bafkreidmzyf3epwbm34mm4bkrkcsszral7o347h4rn6xxedtdieodo3eye@jpeg)
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Since "sweeps" is an amorphous and ambiguous term, Bruce Harrell could claim he wasn't engaging in them (while clearly doing so) and KIRO can say that Katie Wilson wants to eliminate them (which she has not said she will do).
Happy first day of bill prefiling in Washington State to all who celebrate.
app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/pre...
app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/pre...
app.leg.wa.gov
December 1, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Happy first day of bill prefiling in Washington State to all who celebrate.
app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/pre...
app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/pre...
This fall, King County Metro quietly delivered a report laying out the laundry list of reasons that RapidRide corridor upgrades suffer yearslong delays.
It comes at a very uncertain time for the overall RapidRide program, with only two projects in planning.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/01/w...
It comes at a very uncertain time for the overall RapidRide program, with only two projects in planning.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/01/w...
Why It Takes So Damn Long to Build a RapidRide Line » The Urbanist
# Corridor-wide bus revamps have been hitting delays and are often taking ten years to deliver, or more. A new King County Metro report released this fall outlines the myriad reasons RapidRide lines f...
www.theurbanist.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This fall, King County Metro quietly delivered a report laying out the laundry list of reasons that RapidRide corridor upgrades suffer yearslong delays.
It comes at a very uncertain time for the overall RapidRide program, with only two projects in planning.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/01/w...
It comes at a very uncertain time for the overall RapidRide program, with only two projects in planning.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/01/w...
Finally wrapped up my take on the West Seattle Link "visioning forum" held last Monday in Delridge: less a forum, more of an audition
www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/30/t...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/30/t...
Teresa Mosqueda Makes Her Case for Joining the Sound Transit Board » The Urbanist
# With several vacancies opening up on the 18-member Sound Transit board, a West Seattle Link
www.theurbanist.org
November 30, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Finally wrapped up my take on the West Seattle Link "visioning forum" held last Monday in Delridge: less a forum, more of an audition
www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/30/t...
www.theurbanist.org/2025/11/30/t...
Oops.
Today in "excellent link light rail signage", we not only imply that federal way has a downtown, but also that it has its own airport for you to visit! Hop from SEA to FED on the link! 🤦
cc @typewriteralley.bsky.social
cc @typewriteralley.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Oops.
Give the people what they want (trains)
November 30, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Give the people what they want (trains)
Night library vibes.
November 30, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Night library vibes.
Somehow I'd never seen this visual representation of all of the different alignments for Federal Way Link along SR 99 that were under consideration, with the transitions between trenches and elevated segments shown so strikingly.
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
November 30, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Somehow I'd never seen this visual representation of all of the different alignments for Federal Way Link along SR 99 that were under consideration, with the transitions between trenches and elevated segments shown so strikingly.
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
(We didn't pick any of these, and built it next to I-5 instead)
One week away.
On Dec. 6, say hello to new 1 Line stations in Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown! 🎉
Get ready to ride and stay tuned for opening day celebration details here: soundtransit.org/southkinglink
#1Line #SouthKingLink
Get ready to ride and stay tuned for opening day celebration details here: soundtransit.org/southkinglink
#1Line #SouthKingLink
November 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM
One week away.
I'm sure this column definitely won't be used as a cudgel against the planned Health through Housing project that is about to open in Kirkland.
In the same editorial section, Danny Westneat has a piece declaring the county's hotel shelter program a failure (his emblematic example being a building that turned out to have structural issues), concluding that "the operating costs for managing homeless populations have been [too] high."
A Seattle hotel went from ‘good investment’ to fight homelessness to an empty eyesore
The Inn at Queen Anne was heralded as part of a promising new way to aid homelessness back in 2021. But it has now sat empty for two-and-a-half years, writes columnist Danny Westneat.
www.seattletimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I'm sure this column definitely won't be used as a cudgel against the planned Health through Housing project that is about to open in Kirkland.
This #transittrek almost turned out to be a bust, after I walked up and down the shoulder of a 35 mph road not seeing any trailhead entrance. Thankfully, I finally figured it out but, it's hard for me to recommend it to someone else.
My day trip to Bremerton turned into an impromptu #transittrek to the Hall of the Cedars at the Ilahee Preserve.
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
This #transittrek almost turned out to be a bust, after I walked up and down the shoulder of a 35 mph road not seeing any trailhead entrance. Thankfully, I finally figured it out but, it's hard for me to recommend it to someone else.