Martin Pagel
@martinpagel.bsky.social
transit advocate, cyclist, grew up with many transit options in Germany, have lived in the PacificNW for 30 years 🚡🚄🚌🚎🚈🚲
Even with a red lane buses will get stuck in cross-traffic. This is such an important corridor that it would make sense to build an aerial transit line seattletransitblog.com/2025/03/17/s...
SLU to Capitol Hill Gondola
With Link running mostly north to south, what’s the best way to serve neighborhoods to the west and east of the line? The highways (I-5, SR-99…) run north/south, too, and Seattle’…
seattletransitblog.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Even with a red lane buses will get stuck in cross-traffic. This is such an important corridor that it would make sense to build an aerial transit line seattletransitblog.com/2025/03/17/s...
That's what we need between Ballard and Westlake
August 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
That's what we need between Ballard and Westlake
I grew up with such bike paths in Germany, they are far safer though cars have to watch a bit more when turning
June 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I grew up with such bike paths in Germany, they are far safer though cars have to watch a bit more when turning
More cars next to the light rail would just provide more traffic congestion and safety issues whereas a pedestrian/bike bridge or even a gondola up to the Highlands would improve access. seattletransitblog.com/2025/02/27/i...
Issaquah Gondola
As Issaquah continues to grow, traffic has become a challenge. With I-90 running through the city and with major elevation differences between west and east, the few arteries are getting clogged. N…
seattletransitblog.com
June 22, 2025 at 7:51 PM
More cars next to the light rail would just provide more traffic congestion and safety issues whereas a pedestrian/bike bridge or even a gondola up to the Highlands would improve access. seattletransitblog.com/2025/02/27/i...
They ought to add a way to get from the waterfront to Seattle Center and the light rail
seattletransitblog.com/2025/03/17/s...
seattletransitblog.com/2025/03/17/s...
SLU to Capitol Hill Gondola
With Link running mostly north to south, what’s the best way to serve neighborhoods to the west and east of the line? The highways (I-5, SR-99…) run north/south, too, and Seattle’…
seattletransitblog.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:11 PM
They ought to add a way to get from the waterfront to Seattle Center and the light rail
seattletransitblog.com/2025/03/17/s...
seattletransitblog.com/2025/03/17/s...
I like the R lines! Why not use the existing tunnel for them and rather build a new tunnel to serve the highest density urban areas of Seattle? First Hill etc seattletransitblog.com/2024/01/10/f...
Focus on SLU and Ballard
The Ballard and SLU light rail segment is expected to get up to 57,000 riders. That’s higher than any of the other Link projects planned for ST3 (Everett, Tacoma Dome, West Seattle, or Issaqu…
seattletransitblog.com
March 22, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I like the R lines! Why not use the existing tunnel for them and rather build a new tunnel to serve the highest density urban areas of Seattle? First Hill etc seattletransitblog.com/2024/01/10/f...
I like the Duwamish bypass idea, but I don't think Tukwila needs a 2nd line but Renton could use one: x.com/mixio17/stat...
March 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I like the Duwamish bypass idea, but I don't think Tukwila needs a 2nd line but Renton could use one: x.com/mixio17/stat...
And we could have branched it in Fremont to connect it to Wallingford and UW!
But current rail technology makes it very difficult to go up on Queen Ann hill and then dive under ship canal. It would be much easier with tires, linear induction (SkyTrain), or maglev technology (TSB).
But current rail technology makes it very difficult to go up on Queen Ann hill and then dive under ship canal. It would be much easier with tires, linear induction (SkyTrain), or maglev technology (TSB).
March 15, 2025 at 11:16 PM
And we could have branched it in Fremont to connect it to Wallingford and UW!
But current rail technology makes it very difficult to go up on Queen Ann hill and then dive under ship canal. It would be much easier with tires, linear induction (SkyTrain), or maglev technology (TSB).
But current rail technology makes it very difficult to go up on Queen Ann hill and then dive under ship canal. It would be much easier with tires, linear induction (SkyTrain), or maglev technology (TSB).
yes, similar for West Seattle: for 5400 riders and $7b, it just doesn't make sense. Build Ballard to Westlake first (57,000 riders!), and then we can figure out West Seattle.
March 15, 2025 at 7:39 PM
yes, similar for West Seattle: for 5400 riders and $7b, it just doesn't make sense. Build Ballard to Westlake first (57,000 riders!), and then we can figure out West Seattle.
I grew up with those:
www.zughalt.de/wp-content/u...
www.zughalt.de/wp-content/u...
www.zughalt.de
March 9, 2025 at 3:18 AM
I grew up with those:
www.zughalt.de/wp-content/u...
www.zughalt.de/wp-content/u...
Other cities such as NYC have been doing this quite a bit.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_... for details: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCg...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_... for details: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCg...
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Covert Avenue - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Other cities such as NYC have been doing this quite a bit.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_... for details: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCg...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_... for details: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCg...
How about adding an underpass at Graham St for cars and pedestrians with a ramp going up to a center platform? No need for elevators/escalators and safe access without having to fight cars.
February 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
How about adding an underpass at Graham St for cars and pedestrians with a ramp going up to a center platform? No need for elevators/escalators and safe access without having to fight cars.
I'm sure that will stop all international weather systems to interfere with the U.S.
February 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I'm sure that will stop all international weather systems to interfere with the U.S.
You don't understand! It's all about diversity in altitude or attitude or whatever.
January 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
You don't understand! It's all about diversity in altitude or attitude or whatever.
or stack it over I-5: www.theurbanist.org/2020/01/03/i...
I-5 Lid Could Support Downtown Seattle High-Speed Rail Station - The Urbanist
# Earlier this year the city published a feasibility study to put a lid above I-5 to reconnect Downtown and First Hill, two neighborhoods divided by the freeway. It would add both housing and a park a...
www.theurbanist.org
January 27, 2025 at 1:28 AM
or stack it over I-5: www.theurbanist.org/2020/01/03/i...
I agree at least short term. If ridership continues to grow, we can still consider full UHSR but if we build a new track, we may also consider maglev technology as tracks are easier to build and travel is even faster.
seattletransitblog.com/2024/04/21/t...
seattletransitblog.com/2024/04/21/t...
The future of Amtrak Cascades
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently requested feedback on their plans for the future of Amtrak Cascades service. They call it the Preliminary Amtrak Cascades Service …
seattletransitblog.com
January 27, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I agree at least short term. If ridership continues to grow, we can still consider full UHSR but if we build a new track, we may also consider maglev technology as tracks are easier to build and travel is even faster.
seattletransitblog.com/2024/04/21/t...
seattletransitblog.com/2024/04/21/t...
The city seems to focus on GHG emissions from operations. I wonder whether anybody has looked at construction based GHG emissions. The Sound Transit DEIS for the West Seattle light rail calls out it will generate 614,000 tons of carbon. How would that effect our progress towards neutrality?
January 21, 2025 at 4:09 AM
The city seems to focus on GHG emissions from operations. I wonder whether anybody has looked at construction based GHG emissions. The Sound Transit DEIS for the West Seattle light rail calls out it will generate 614,000 tons of carbon. How would that effect our progress towards neutrality?
bsky is not a great place to provide nuance. Happy to meet in person for a more detailed discussion. You may also want to read up seattletransitblog.com/2024/06/07/w... with a ton of discussion from other transit enthusiasts.
West Seattle by Bus instead of Light Rail
Rather than building a light rail extension for West Seattle, how could Metro provide better transit to/from West Seattle with additional bus services? Forward Thrust had envisioned such decades ag…
seattletransitblog.com
January 9, 2025 at 5:32 AM
bsky is not a great place to provide nuance. Happy to meet in person for a more detailed discussion. You may also want to read up seattletransitblog.com/2024/06/07/w... with a ton of discussion from other transit enthusiasts.
Ballard and SLU has far higher density, we should have two stations at least in Ballard. Even with one, ridership is expected at 58,000 whereas WSLE expects 5400 riders. WS has Hwy99 and busway and two bridges whereas Ballard has one old bridge in need of replacement and 15th/Elliott/Denny corridor.
January 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Ballard and SLU has far higher density, we should have two stations at least in Ballard. Even with one, ridership is expected at 58,000 whereas WSLE expects 5400 riders. WS has Hwy99 and busway and two bridges whereas Ballard has one old bridge in need of replacement and 15th/Elliott/Denny corridor.
Ballard was scheduled for 2035, now 2039. WSLE cost has already pushed out the timeline for Ballard during the "realignment". Now the cost has doubled again, that will push out Ballard further. ST has not been forthcoming about how to pay for this but they are bumping against their debt limit.
January 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Ballard was scheduled for 2035, now 2039. WSLE cost has already pushed out the timeline for Ballard during the "realignment". Now the cost has doubled again, that will push out Ballard further. ST has not been forthcoming about how to pay for this but they are bumping against their debt limit.