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| |  | Transit riders have pushed for years to get Route 8 prioritized, even participating in a “Race The L8” event alongside the bus to show they can outpace the route in traffic. (Ryan Packer / The Urbanist) |
| Changes Coming to the Perpetually L8 Route 8 | Mayor Katie Wilson – co-founder and former executive director of the Transit Riders Union – announced a plan to address the frankly horrible bus congestion on Denny Way. This plan is part of a campaign promise to render Route 8’s nickname (the L8) irrelevant. This should make the bus journey between Lower Queen Anne (Uptown for you heathens) and Capitol Hill much quicker and more reliable. Today on the podcast 🎧, we get all the details from contributor Ryan Packer who has been following this change closely. [The Urbanist] | | - 🚌 What’s changing? The plan is to install a new half-mile eastbound bus lane and permanently reroute traffic that often backs up trying to access the I-5 on-ramp. This means converting a general-traffic lane into a red bus-only lane along 13 more blocks of Denny Way. Come August, drivers heading to I-5 will turn right at a reconfigured Boren Avenue intersection and take a left onto Howell Street to reach the ramp. This will replace the former turn at Stewart Street. [Seattle Times]
- 📃More bus priorities: SDOT has also outlined other priority transit corridors, including 24th Avenue E through Montlake and Lenora (Route 48 and 43) and Blanchard and Lenora Streets in Belltown, (Route 40, 62, and the C Line). More than 23,000 riders use those three lines daily. [The Urbanist]
- 🚙 Drivers express concerns: Drivers have already expressed concerns that this plan could worsen snarls on Howell Street, where drivers coming from Boren mix with drivers from downtown, all trying to get to the I-5/Yale onramp. However, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda notes “An entire lane of solo drivers on Denny Way between Seattle Center and I-5 can fit into one articulated Route 8 bus.” If you happen to be stuck in traffic you can always listen to Tacocat’s 2014 single F.U. #8. [KOMO]
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| | | 😬 Homelessness agency to dissolve? An audit of King County Regional Homelessness Authority flagged $8 million that “could not be reconciled.” The audit found KCRHA’s financial model relies on retroactive reimbursements, leaving it vulnerable to losing track of money. Mayor Katie Wilson said she has “serious concerns” about the organization’s financial management. KCRHA must provide a written response and corrective action plan in May. [KUOW] | 🎳 Bowling alley to become community center: Skyway residents have pushed for a dedicated community center for more than a decade. Now, they’re getting one! King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced that King County Parks will purchase the Skyway Park Bowl property which will become Skyway Community Center. The location balances the need for development of the center while incorporating green space from the nearby park. [The Seattle Medium] | |  | Seattle’s mishmash of grid systems has been confusing pedestrians since the city’s founding. (Wikimedia Commons) |
| 📍Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest: This is a mnemonic device to help remember the downtown street order: Jefferson, James; Cherry, Columbia; Marion, Madison; Spring, Seneca; University, Union; Pike, Pine. The phrase is likely referring to the “ungodly” activities happening downtown during the city’s early days. Why share this now? Because I just learned the manhole covers downtown also contain maps to help navigate! [Mossback’s Northwest] |
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Shout out to Claudia L for becoming a City Cast Seattle neighbor and making this newsletter possible. For everyone else, remember: don’t make Liam beg! I will though: please, join us as a neighbor and get a really cool pennant while you’re at it! |
| — Sam | Ashley Smith edited City Cast Seattle this week. |
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