Traffic Lab

Traffic Lab
A Sound Transit fare-enforcement officer boards a train at the International District/Chinatown Station. Sound Transit data shows that while 9% of people who ride light rail and Sounder commuter trains are black or African American, 22% of riders caught up in the fare-enforcement system over the last four years were black. (BETTINA HANSEN / The Seattle Times, 2014)
A Sound Transit fare-enforcement officer boards a train at the International District/Chinatown Station. Sound Transit data shows that while 9% of people who ride light rail and Sounder commuter trains are black or African American, 22% of riders caught up in the fare-enforcement system over the last four years were black. (BETTINA HANSEN / The Seattle Times, 2014)

Black passengers cited, punished disproportionately by Sound Transit fare enforcement

Sound Transit says its fare-enforcement system practice is designed to be unbiased, but the agency's data shows the system is not preventing disproportionate punishment.

Don't Miss

Tuesday, July 16, 2019. The intersection of 2nd and Pike where cyclists are unprotected in the intersection. Story is about design that is meant to protect cyclists through intersections. 210875

Seattle could be next to try Dutch-style bike-friendly intersection design

Pedestrians exit the Seattle Streetcar on Westlake Avenue in Seattle Friday, March 30, 2018. 205810

Downtown streetcar moving ahead with $9 million loan approved by Seattle council

This innovative track bridge will be installed at the location of expansion joints (some are at right of man taking photo) on the I-90 bridge to enable light rail vehicles to cross the floating bridge. Cars can accommodate the moving bridge when they drive over the expansion joints — tracks can not because they can not move out of alignment. The track bridge will allow for movement without changing alignment of the tracks. Eight track bridges will accommodate lake motion, and the specialized track attachments will allow trains to operate on the floating bridge when the Blue Line opens in 2023, according to a Sound Transit press release. Shot Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Sound Transit crews are installing fixed rails for Light Rail trains on the I-90 floating bridge This is the first time in the world this has been done. 210950

Train tracks on the I-90 floating bridge? Sound Transit is building them now.  VIEW

A pedestrian crosses the street at the intersection of S. Findlay St. and Rainier Avenue South in Seattle Wednesday, July 17, 2019. There is only one lane for northbound and one for southbound traffic in this area, with a middle lane for left turns only. The city has made some improvements to Rainier Ave. S. and is planning to make more, but there are still issues and advocates have grown frustrated at what they view as sluggish progress. A pedestrian was seriously injured at South Findlay Street. 210894

SDOT data shows nearly 100 serious-injury or fatal collisions on Seattle streets in first half of 2019

About Traffic Lab

Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues, spotlights promising approaches to easing gridlock, and helps readers find the best ways to get around.

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Contact us at trafficlab@seattletimes.com

Transit

Author Christof Spieler is photographed in downtown Seattle Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. 211756

Ask An Expert | How does the Puget Sound transit system compare to other cities across the U.S.?

Roads

Augustin Banda, husband of Maria Banda, gathers with friends and relatives for a vigil im memory of Maria, who was hit and died while crossing NE 125th street near 28th Ave NE. Residents have been requesting a crosswalk there for many years.

Lake City ‘touchstone’ Maria Banda died in crosswalk that community had long advocated to improve

Getting Around

Along with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and her SDOT director nominee Sam Zimbabwe, retired major general Mike Worden, director of citywide mobility operations, speaks at a news conference Thursday, the day before the viaduct closes down. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 in Seattle. 208991

As some wonder what he does, retired general leading Seattle Squeeze response expected to leave post

Technology

In this Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, photo an Uber helicopter lands at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, in New York. The ride-hailing company expanded its helicopter service Thursday, Oct. 3, between lower Manhattan in New York City and John F. Kennedy International Airport, making it available to all Uber riders with iPhones instead of just those in the top tiers of its rewards program. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) NYRD202 NYRD202

Uber Copter will now fly you over city gridlock – in New York  VIEW