Transportation

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

High-speed rail with potential Everett stop misses out on $198M grant

Local members of Congress said they are committed to securing more federal funding to keep the ambitious project on track.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118

Whidbey Island has one of highest wildlife-vehicle crash rates

Most of the reported vehicle-wildlife collisions involve deer, according to WSDOT.

Logo for news use featuring Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. 220118
A person steps off the light rail at Northgate Station on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

$3 per ride: Sound Transit sets new fare for all Link trips

In fall 2024, it will be a flat fee on the Link, no matter the distance. The change comes just as light rail expands to Snohomish County.

A person steps off the light rail at Northgate Station on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Ferry workers wait for cars to start loading onto the M/V Kitsap on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Longtime state ferry commuters: ‘This is the worst it’s been’

Thousands of commuters rely on the Edmonds-Kingston and Mukilteo-Clinton ferries. But delays and cancellations have piled up.

Ferry workers wait for cars to start loading onto the M/V Kitsap on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A Sound Transit bus at it's new stop in the shadow of the newly opened Northgate Lightrail Station in Seattle. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Sound Transit CEO exits, creating vacancy at pivotal moment for Link

After a little over a year, Julie Timm is leaving the regional public transit agency “to take care of family matters.”

A Sound Transit bus at it's new stop in the shadow of the newly opened Northgate Lightrail Station in Seattle. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A person and child watch seagulls on the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Mukilteo-Clinton ferry on 1-boat service as outage sparks delays

Ferry commuters also dealt with a fare processing problem that slowed transactions Thursday morning.

A person and child watch seagulls on the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Traffic moves along I-405 between Highway 522 and Highway 527 where WSDOT received the approval to build a second express toll lane on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Bothell, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State wants to increase I-405 tolls to at least $1, up to $15

The changes are meant to fund construction — as bids came in way over-budget — while decreasing congestion from Lynnwood to Bellevue.

Traffic moves along I-405 between Highway 522 and Highway 527 where WSDOT received the approval to build a second express toll lane on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Bothell, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic moves northbound on I-5 through Everett on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Overnight I-5 lane reductions begin Monday night in Everett

The work this week will allow preparation for a Snohomish County bridge painting project.

Traffic moves northbound on I-5 through Everett on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A car drives over newly marked bike lanes at the intersection of College Avenue and 47th Street SE on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Stop sign change in Everett shines light on neighborhood traffic safety

A project on 47th Street SE aims to add safe bike lanes on lightly used roads. It’s been a test for drivers’ muscle memory.

A car drives over newly marked bike lanes at the intersection of College Avenue and 47th Street SE on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

Index-Galena Road, Mountain Loop Highway close for season

Only 33 days after its reopening, part of Index-Galena Road was shut down due to winter weather.

The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)
Traffic moves along Mukilteo Speedway in front of Olympic Middle School on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Automated traffic speed cameras get the green light in Mukilteo

Cameras will be at three sites on Mukilteo Speedway for school and park safety, not at red lights.

Traffic moves along Mukilteo Speedway in front of Olympic Middle School on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A man walks through the M/V Kitsap on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Mukilteo-Clinton ferry gets grant for renovations focused on walk-ons

The $4.8 million grant from the feds will be split between six aging Washington ferries, to improve the vessels’ interiors.

A man walks through the M/V Kitsap on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Offloading ferry traffic is stopped to allow pedestrians to cross the street at the Edmonds ferry dock on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 in Edmonds. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

2-ferry service restored on Edmonds-Kingston route — for a weekend

M/V Salish, one of the system’s smallest vessels, will fill in through Sunday after weeks of one boat on the route.

Offloading ferry traffic is stopped to allow pedestrians to cross the street at the Edmonds ferry dock on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 in Edmonds. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
A car signals to take a right turn onto Mukilteo Boulevard while a red light is showing on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

In Everett, right turns on red go under the microscope

Research suggests limiting right turns on red saves lives. Seattle and other metro areas have begun banning the turns.

A car signals to take a right turn onto Mukilteo Boulevard while a red light is showing on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A ferry heads out from Mukilteo towards Clinton during the evening commute Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Ferry shuffle downsizes Mukilteo-Clinton route’s capacity

The change reduces capacity by 20 cars, due to a systemwide shift to ensure routes align with ridership demands.

A ferry heads out from Mukilteo towards Clinton during the evening commute Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)

Most WA transportation services back online following cyberattack

The department was still investigating the cyberattack and could not say Friday what caused it.

Ferries pass on a crossing between Mukilteo and Whidbey Island. (Andy Bronson / Herald file)
Senator Marko Liias speaks at the ground breaking of the Swift Orange Line on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Traffic deaths are down in Finland. Edmonds senator is going to find out how

Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, will be part of the contingent making the trip in December.

Senator Marko Liias speaks at the ground breaking of the Swift Orange Line on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Cyberattack crashes WA transportation websites

Traffic cams and ferry tracking are among the services that the incident took down.

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)

‘The best day in 17 years’: Locals revel in Index-Galena Road reopening

Closed for 17 years after a storm, a road connecting Index to the Wild Sky Wilderness has been restored.

The newly rebuilt section of Index-Galena Road is pictured on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, near Index, Washington. (Jordan Hansen / The Herald)
An Orca card on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

ORCA card makes transit simpler — and cheaper, too

Following an article about a trip from Everett to Sea-Tac, readers wrote in with one resounding suggestion: Get an ORCA card.

An Orca card on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)