Transportation
Everett family puzzled by decision to boot toddler off plane
EVERETT -- It was already past the 3-year-old boy's bedtime as he boarded the plane Saturday night for a six-hour red-eye from Seattle to Miami.
Date: 05/30/2012 | Local News
2 years, no verdict on Paine Field passenger flights
EVERETT -- Allegiant Air and Horizon Air wrote letters to Snohomish County in 2008, asking to fly passenger jets from Paine Field.
Date: 05/29/2012 | Local News
Canadian rail strike stalls shipping in B.C.
A Teamsters strike that idled Canadian Pacific Railway's freight network in Canada is hindering shipments at the country's two biggest ports as the labor action stretched into its third day.
Date: 05/26/2012 | Bizblog
Inbox: digital groceries, pay for news, tag your bag
Miscellany from our inbox ...Electronic coupons at Safeway
Date: 05/24/2012 | Bizblog
Port of Everett shipping schedule
As of May 22, 2012. This Port of Everett schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Date: 05/23/2012 | Bizblog
Senate panel OKs $2.50 hike of airline security fee
WASHINGTON -- A Democratic-controlled Senate panel has approved a $2.50 increase in airline security fees that would double the per-passenger fee for those taking nonstop flights.
Date: 05/23/2012 | Business
Delta to take Southwest's 717s
MINNEAPOLIS -- Delta Air Lines plans to add 88 Boeing 717s to its fleet, picking up planes that Southwest Airlines didn't want anymore.
Date: 05/23/2012 | Business
New Mukilteo ferry terminal site selected
MUKILTEO -- After years of delays and uncertainty, a major step has been taken toward building a new ferry terminal in Mukilteo.State ferry officials have picked a site: the west end of the former Air Force tank farm, just east of the waterfront business district.
Date: 05/21/2012 | Local News
Guide to the Port of Everett
No entity has controlled and shaped Everett's waterfront more than the Port of Everett. The port's mission is to grow businesses and jobs, and it does that by creating opportunities for others to make money. For example, a business could lease a space at...
Date: 05/20/2012 | Need to Know
Are the airlines listening to consumers? Depends on the situation
When it comes to customer service, travel companies constantly push the limits with fees, surcharges and onerous policies. No industry does it more than the airlines, and no domestic airline does it more than Spirit Airlines, the small Florida-based carrier known for its risque ads and creative...
Date: 05/19/2012 | Life
Airlines make less on checked bags last year
NEW YORK -- U.S. airlines' revenue from bag fees fell last year for the first time since they started collecting them, signaling that more passengers are packing light to save cash when they fly.
Date: 05/18/2012 | Business
West Coast spike in gas prices tied to refineries
Motorists across most of the country have been getting a break on gas prices, but not on the West Coast.The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Oregon is $4.17. That's up 16 cents from last week.
Date: 05/14/2012 | Northwest
Port of Everett shipping schedule
As of May 14, 2012. This Port of Everett schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Date: 05/14/2012 | Bizblog
Port considers buying K-C mill site
EVERETT -- The Port of Everett is aggressively exploring whether it should buy the 66-acre Kimberly-Clark site, which is for sale after the waterfront pulp-paper mill closed last month.
Date: 05/13/2012 | Local News
Legendary car designer Carroll Shelby dies at 89
DALLAS — Decades after a heart condition forced him to retire from racing, Carroll Shelby still loved to drive muscle cars. Well into his 80s, the legendary car designer spent hours testing his last Mustang Shelby GT500, which sets a new record for horsepower and hits a top speed of more than...
Date: 05/12/2012 | Nation & World
JetBlue makes no-fly list mistake, removes toddler
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Officials say an 18-month-old girl was mistakenly pulled off a JetBlue flight before it left Fort Lauderdale because airline employees thought her name was on the U.S. no-fly list.
Date: 05/12/2012 | Nation & World
Russian jet crash shows risks of 'joy flights'
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- The crash of a Russian-made passenger jet into the flanks of an Indonesian volcano has put a spotlight on the notoriously informal atmosphere aboard new aircraft during manufacturer demonstrations -- known here as "joy flights."
Date: 05/12/2012 | Business
4 yak skulls from Tibet seized at Sea-Tac Airport
SEATTLE -- A traveler trying to bring four yak skulls back from Tibet was stopped at Sea-Tac Airport by a dog who smelled something funny.The traveler told Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists he found two of the skulls while hiking and bought two more at a village store.
Date: 05/10/2012 | Northwest
Inbox: Rails, liquor, lean factories, Mount Vernon
Working on the railroad
Date: 05/10/2012 | Bizblog
State asks Corps to study coal terminal plans
OLYMPIA — The Washington Ecology Department is asking the Corps of Engineers to develop a cumulative study of plans for coal export terminals in the Northwest.
Date: 05/09/2012 | Business
Port of Everett shipping schedule
As of May 8, 2012. This Port of Everett schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Date: 05/08/2012 | Bizblog
Federal watchdog urges stronger air-safety oversight
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration has repeatedly dragged its feet in responding to whistleblower complaints about safety problems and stronger oversight of air safety is needed, a government watchdog said Tuesday.
Date: 05/08/2012 | Business
FAA seeks to fine Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air
WASHINGTON — Federal officials are seeking $655,125 in fines against Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air affiliate for alleged safety violations, including failing to inspect a plane for cracks.
Date: 05/04/2012 | Business
New Sea-Tac rental car garage opens May 17
SEATAC -- The new rental car facility for Seattle-Tacoma Airport is scheduled to open May 17. The Port of Seattle said it consolidates all of the rental car operations in one location near the airport. The five-story structure has space for 5,400 vehicles.
Date: 05/03/2012 | Northwest
Why the railroad doesn't have to listen to the city
I received several calls and emails yesterday after a story I wrote on tree cutting rules was published. The story talked about why Everett homeowners...
Date: 05/02/2012 | Inside Everett
State ferry fares increase; some to have smaller crews
SEATTLE -- Higher fares are now in effect for Washington state ferries.A 3 percent general fare increase starting May 1 coincides with the May-September peak season surcharge.Meanwhile, some ferries will have smaller crews this summer.
Date: 05/01/2012 | Northwest
Inbox: Transportation miscellany edition
For whatever reason, our inbox of late has been crammed tighter than a fully loaded 737 with stuff about transportation, human and otherwise.
Date: 05/01/2012 | Bizblog
Port of Everett shipping schedule
As of April 30, 2012. This Port of Everett schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Date: 04/30/2012 | Business
Blasting planned as Highway 522 widened
MONROE -- Widening Highway 522 is going to be a blast.Explosions to remove tons of rock as part of the state's $128.8 million project are expected to happen in late May.
Date: 04/30/2012 | Local News
New light rail serves west L.A.
LOS ANGELES -- The city's new Expo Line is now carrying passengers, and trains are running from downtown to the west side for the first time since the Eisenhower administration.
Date: 04/29/2012 | Nation & World
Delta, US Airways see strong travel demand
By Joshua FreedAssociated PressMINNEAPOLIS -- Rising fares haven't kept passengers away, judging by financial results at Delta Air Lines and US Airways.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
US Air pushing its plan of merger
FORT WORTH, Texas -- US Airways Group Inc. said it is focused on showing American Airlines creditors that its merger plan would result in $1.2 billion in cost synergies.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
Bridge proposed across Grays Harbor
WESTPORT -- The Westport City Council voted Tuesday night not to support a proposed bridge across Grays Harbor between Ocean Shores and Westport.
Date: 04/25/2012 | Northwest
Sea-Tac tries expedited security PreCheck program
SEATAC -- Next time you're at an airport how would you like to speed through the security line without taking off your shoes and belt or removing laptops and liquids from carry-on bags?
Date: 04/24/2012 | Northwest
Machine tunneling under I-5 in Seattle
SEATTLE -- A machine digging a tunnel for a Sound Transit light rail line crosses another tricky point Monday night as it passes under I-5 in downtown Seattle.The tunnel will be just 15 feet below the express lanes.
Date: 04/23/2012 | Northwest
Kingston port reconsiders Seattle foot ferry
KINGSTON -- The Kingston-Seattle foot ferry has attracted far fewer passengers than the Port of Kingston expected when the service started in October 2010, and it's future is in doubt.
Date: 04/23/2012 | Northwest
Boeing 757 with engine trouble lands safely in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES -- A Boeing 757 jetliner from Hawaii has landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport after the pilot reported engine trouble.
Date: 04/22/2012 | Northwest
Airline first shorts customer, then bungles refund check
Question: We have been trying to get a refund from Southwest Airlines for almost one year. It's a refund that Southwest fully admits it owes, but always finds another excuse not to pay. I hope you can help us.
Date: 04/21/2012 | Life
Gas station mix-up leaves drivers with foul fuel
MARYSVILLE -- At least 37 people experienced car problems after filling up their vehicles Sunday at a Chevron station, according to a company spokesman.
Date: 04/20/2012 | Local News
Judge dismisses lawsuit in ferry case
SPOKANE -- A federal judge in Spokane has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to create competition to the lone ferry operator that serves the town of Stehekin on Lake Chelan.
Date: 04/18/2012 | Northwest
TSA PreCheck coming to Sea-Tac's north checkpoint
SEATTLE -- The Transportation Security Administration says it will be using Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's north security checkpoint for its new expedited screening program.TSA is testing its new PreCheck system at 28 airports this year.
Date: 04/16/2012 | Northwest
Weather helped airlines on-time performance
NEW YORK -- Mild winter weather helped U.S. airlines greatly improve their on-time rates in February, the government said Thursday, and the rate of lost or damaged bags reached a 24-year low.
Date: 04/15/2012 | Business
Expedia should help with 'travel nightmare'
Question: We booked a ticket from Washington, D.C., to the Bahamas recently through Expedia. It was a code-share flight Bahamasair (www.bahamasair.com) operated by US Airways.
Date: 04/14/2012 | Life
Brothers sue state to run ferry on Lake Chelan
SPOKANE -- The state argued Thursday that two brothers have no legal right to establish a competing ferry service to the remote town of Stehekin in the Cascade Range.
Date: 04/12/2012 | Northwest
Peak Washington ferry surcharge starts May 1
SEATTLE -- Single-ticket prices for vehicles on Washington state ferries go up 25 percent on May 1, except on the San Juan Islands run.The San Juan Islands fare will go up 35 percent.
Date: 04/04/2012 | Northwest
Mukilteo mayor miffed over Sound Transit post snub
EVERETT -- A rivalry is brewing between the mayors of Edmonds and Mukilteo for a spot on the Sound Transit Board of Directors.
Date: 04/04/2012 | Local News
Steady rise in gasoline price continues, weekly surveys show
The march to $5-a-gallon gas continues, with SeattleGasPrices.com reporting today:
Date: 04/02/2012 | Bizblog
TSA urged to review plastic airline handcuffs
NEW YORK -- Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., has asked the Transportation Security Administration to review security procedures -- including the use of restraints on commercial aircraft -- after plastic handcuffs apparently failed to subdue a disturbed pilot on a flight from New York City to Las Vegas on...
Date: 03/31/2012 | Nation & World
Work on roundabout in Sultan delayed
SULTAN -- Bad weather made the Washington State Department of Transportation postpone construction of a roundabout on U.S. 2.
Date: 03/31/2012 | Local News
Air France should have refunded cancellation under European law
Question: In late December, my Air France flight from Paris to Strasbourg was delayed because of an electrical problem.
Date: 03/31/2012 | Life
Fuel cost pushing airfare increase
DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines Co. says it's raising ticket prices to offset the high cost of jet fuel. And several other big airlines are following Southwest's lead.
Date: 03/27/2012 | Business
Local gas prices seen rising earlier than usual
Perhaps you've already seen today's new numbers from AAA and this explanation of rising gas prices at the global level. Here's some further perspective from...
Date: 03/26/2012 | Bizblog
Professionals help you redeem miles
Christine Ballentine is a loyal US Airways customer, and she has been saving up her frequent-flyer miles for a trip to France this summer. But turning them into a ticket hasn't been easy.
Date: 03/24/2012 | Life
Gregoire signs Wash. transportation budget
OLYMPIA -- Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday signed into law a supplemental transportation budget with $57 million in new spending paid for by increased fees related to driving.
Date: 03/23/2012 | Northwest
Indian artifacts at dock site
No added delay seen for Mukilteo ferry project
Date: 03/23/2012 | Local News
Coal-terminal fight generates increasing heat
We've posted a brief story from the Bellingham Herald via The Associated Press about the proposal to build a rail-to-sea coal terminal within the
Date: 03/22/2012 | Bizblog
200 southeastern Pa. transit police go on strike
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia police and public transit officials say increased security is planned in response to a walkout Wednesday by about 200 transit police officers who cover the system's subways, trains, buses and trolleys.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Nation & World
Sound Transit tunnel reaches milestone in Seattle
SEATTLE -- Sound Transit says it reached another milestone in construction of a light rail line through Seattle on Wednesday when a tunnel boring machine reached the Capitol Hill station site after a 10-month dig from the direction of Husky Stadium.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Northwest
Ferries start spring schedule Sunday
SEATTLE -- Washington state ferries begin their spring schedule Sunday.The Skagit Valley Herald reports the international route to Sidney, British Columbia, resumes and the schedule includes additional trips on the Anacortes-Friday Harbor run.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Northwest
UPS to acquire Europe's No. 2 package delivery outfit
UPS is giving a vote of confidence to Europe with its $6.77 billion purchase of Dutch rival TNT Express, the company's biggest deal ever
Date: 03/19/2012 | Business
Air travelers over 75 to get a break on security
CHICAGO — Some air travelers over the age of 75 will soon get a break at airport security checkpoints under a test program announced Wednesday that could allow them to keep their shoes and light jackets on and skip pat-downs.
Date: 03/14/2012 | Nation & World
Average price of gas in state hits $3.98
After a brief respite, the price of gasoline is climbing again.The national average price for a gallon of gasoline rose a nickel over the weekend and is now $3.80 per gallon. That more than wiped out the penny decline seen last Tuesday through Thursday.
Date: 03/12/2012 | Business
Website tracks wrecks on U.S. 2
Warren Hartz of Index writes: We regularly drive by the electronic sign near Zeke's that tells us how many days since the last serious accident on U.S. 2.
Date: 03/12/2012 | Street Smarts
Roadwork ahead
Transportation budget includes higher fees to fund projects
Date: 03/10/2012 | Local News
Flight attendant goes berserk before takeoff (video)
CHICAGO -- An American Airlines flight attendant disrupted a flight Friday morning as it was about to take off from Dallas Fort/Worth en route to Chicago, saying over the aircraft intercom system that the plane was going to crash, alluding to 9/11 terrorist attacks and ranting about the airline's...
Date: 03/09/2012 | Nation & World
FAA says air fares likely to stay high
WASHINGTON -- Air fares are likely to stay high throughout this decade, as passenger travel grows but airline capacity shrinks, according to a government forecast issued Thursday.
Date: 03/09/2012 | Business
California rejects tainted BP gasoline from Washington state
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Tens of millions of gallons of gasoline that did not meet California's clean fuel specifications were delivered to the city of Martinez and sold across the state by petroleum giant BP, state regulators said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday.
Date: 03/08/2012 | Nation & World
With Boeing in lead, jets' overhead bins get bigger
MINNEAPOLIS -- Fliers can stop sharpening their elbows. Overhead bins are getting bigger.
Date: 03/06/2012 | Business
State House passes supplemental transportation budget
OLYMPIA -- The state House has passed a supplemental transportation budget with $57 million in new spending over the next year on freeway projects, transit, the state patrol and the ferry system.
Date: 03/05/2012 | Northwest
Today's afternoon runs of Port Townsend-Coupeville ferry route canceled
SEATTLE -- Washington state ferries has canceled the afternoon runs for the Port Townsend-Coupeville route due to bad weather.The agency says the 2:15 p.m. and 3 p.m. runs were canceled and advised commuters to take the Edmonds-Kingston or Mukilteo-Clinton ferries as alternatives.
Date: 03/05/2012 | Northwest
State House passes transportation budget
OLYMPIA -- The Washington state House has passed a transportation budget that would secure more than $50 million over the next year for immediate transportation needs.
Date: 03/03/2012 | Northwest
Amtrak rooms don't live up to billing
Question: We recently traveled on Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to Sacramento. It was not a good experience. When we entered the sleeper bedroom, it was readily apparent that the visual depiction on the Amtrak website was a gross exaggeration. The condition of the car was very poor.
Date: 03/03/2012 | Life
House bill prevents environmental delays to 520 bridge project
OLYMPIA -- The Washington state House has passed a bill to prevent a possible work stoppage on the 520 floating bridge project over environmental concerns.
Date: 02/29/2012 | Northwest
Washington state gas prices up 22 cents in 1 week
The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Washington has climbed to $3.86 -- up 22 cents in a week and 37 cents in a month, and 16 cents higher than the national average, the AAA driving club reported Monday.
Date: 02/28/2012 | Business
Front Porch: Comment on Mukilteo ferry plans
Ferry dock plansThe public will have a chance the next two nights to comment on options for building a new ferry dock in Mukilteo.Tonight's meeting is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. at the Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo.
Date: 02/22/2012 | Local News
Airport security gets simpler -- for a select few
NEW YORK -- You can keep your jacket, belt and shoes on through airport security. You just need to fly a lot, or pay for the privilege.
Date: 02/17/2012 | Business
Airlines cite high fuel costs as they raise fares
DALLAS -- If you're buying an airline ticket soon, get ready to pay a few bucks more.According to fare trackers, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines are leading a round of price increases that will boost the base fare on many medium-length and long flights by $10 per round trip.
Date: 02/16/2012 | Business
Bellingham can teach Everett a thing or two about travel
Pssst -- here's news if you want to get out of here.Frontier Airlines is about to add a daily flight to Denver. It won't be from here, though. That would be impossible.
Date: 02/12/2012 | Local News
Governor's plan to pay for roads, ferries finds little support in Legislature
OLYMPIA -- The wheels are coming off Gov. Chris Gregoire's $3.6 billion transportation plan, and there doesn't appear to be anything she can do to prevent it.
Date: 02/11/2012 | Local News
Fresh paint for Port Angeles ferry Coho
PORT ANGELES -- The ferry Coho is back in service on its Port Angeles-Victoria, B.C., route with a new paint job after two weeks of maintenance at Anacortes.The Peninsula Daily News reports the 341-foot Black Ball ferry also had an overhaul of its fuel tank, fire pumps and drive shaft.
Date: 02/08/2012 | Northwest
28 more airports, including Sea-Tac, will test lower-hassle screening procedures
WASHINGTON -- A new passenger screening program to make check-in more convenient for certain travelers is being expanded to 28 more major U.S. airports, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the government said Wednesday. There will be no cost to eligible passengers, who would no longer...
Date: 02/08/2012 | Business
Shipbuilder Vigor Industrial to expand operations with acquisition of Alaska shipyard
Vigor Industrial, a Northwest shipbuilding operation that operates Vigor Marine in Everett, is purchasing an Alaska-based shipbuilding company, Alaska Ship and Drydock in Ketchikan.The acquisition is expected to strengthen Vigor's presence on the West Coast.
Date: 02/08/2012 | Business
Toiletry kit makes security checks easier
What it is: A two-part kit from the Packing Genius line by Kiva Designs eliminates the need for those quart resealable plastic bags. The kit features a pouch made from superlight, 100 percent recycled fabric. Stuff nonliquid items in that.
Date: 02/07/2012 | Life
Iran launches military exercises; USS Lincoln on guard
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran began ground military exercises Saturday and defiantly warned that it could cut off oil exports to "hostile" European nations as tensions rise over suggestions that military strikes are an increasing possibility if sanctions fail to rein in the Islamic Republic's nuclear...
Date: 02/05/2012 | Nation & World
Kit makes air travel easier
What it is: A two-part kit from the Packing Genius line by Kiva Designs eliminates the need for those quart resealable plastic bags. The kit features a pouch made from superlight, 100-percent recycled fabric. Stuff nonliquid items in that.
Date: 02/04/2012 | Life
Time is running out to replace Mukilteo’s aging ferry dock
MUKILTEO -- Nearly a year ago, travelers who usually take the ferry between Mukilteo and Clinton were forced to detour through Edmonds for two weekends while repairs were made to the dock in Mukilteo.
Date: 02/04/2012 | Local News
Have your paperwork ready before you fly
Question: I'm an Indian national residing in the United States. I was scheduled to fly from Houston to Mumbai on British Airways recently. My itinerary involved a short stopover in London.
Date: 01/28/2012 | Life
New California rules will require cleaner cars
LOS ANGELES -- California, long a national leader in cutting auto pollution, pushed the envelope further Friday as state regulators approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put significantly more pollution-free vehicles on the road in coming years.
Date: 01/27/2012 | Nation & World
Critics blast governor’s transportation plan as tax increase
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire's $3.7 billion transportation package got a bumpy reception in initial public hearings Tuesday, criticized as taxing oil refiners and motorists too much while providing cities, counties, bus...
Date: 01/25/2012 | Local News
Business briefs: Horizon to offer Bellingham-Portland service
BELLINGHAM -- Alaska Airlines announced that its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, will again offer seasonal daily service between Bellingham and Portland this summer, beginning June 4 and ending Aug. 24. The carrier will fly 76-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprops on the route.
Date: 01/21/2012 | Business
Could Google take over online travel?
If you haven't Googled a flight itinerary recently, you should try it.Google's Flight Search, the fledgling search engine that lets you find a ticket and book it directly through an airline, is getting better. Much better.
Date: 01/21/2012 | Life
Amtrak suspends Seattle-Portland run
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Amtrak says it's suspending service between Portland and Seattle because of bad weather.The passenger rail agency said the Pacific Northwest storm has left trees and other debris on the tracks.
Date: 01/19/2012 | Northwest
Emirates to serve Seattle with Everett-built 777s beginning March 1
SEATTLE -- The new Emirates Airlines route from Seattle to Dubai could create opportunities for Snohomish County.
Date: 01/19/2012 | Business
State officials say without funding five ferry routes would be scuttled
Ferry service between Port Townsend and Coupeville, and on four other routes in the state, could be eliminated under a worst-case funding scenario presented by transportation officials.
Date: 01/19/2012 | Local News
Calculating ticket costs may be easier under new rules
If airfares confuse you as much as they confuse me, then I have some good news: Several new rules are going to make it easier to calculate the total cost of a ticket.Maybe.
Date: 01/14/2012 | Life
WSDOT mailing bills to Seattle toll bridge drivers
SEATTLE -- Drivers who crossed the Highway 520 toll bridge at Seattle and who don't have the automatic Good To Go accounts will receive bills in the mail next week.
Date: 01/13/2012 | Northwest
TSA finds 2 handguns in Sea-Tac carry-on bags
SEATAC -- Security officers found handguns two straight days at checkpoints at Sea-Tac Airport.
Date: 01/12/2012 | Northwest
Computer issues delay 25 Alaska Airlines flights
SEATTLE -- Computer problems caused delays on 25 Alaska Airlines flights on Wednesday.Airline spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says each of the flights was delayed about an hour. The problem began around 10 a.m.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Northwest
Prospects dim for Eastside commuter train
SNOHOMISH -- A judge's decision last month to uphold the Port of Seattle's purchase of a rail corridor keeps the line in public ownership.
Date: 01/09/2012 | Local News
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