Podcasts about Sound Transit

Fare-dodgers beware: Sound Transit wants its $3 from you. A lot of people aren’t paying, and there are a lot of new stops to build, so the agency is going the way of the New York City Subway: fare gates. We’ll hear more about Sound Transit’s newest money-making plan from KUOW’s Casey Martin. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Transit needs four years to install a turnstile, a device New York figured out in 1904. And it will still fail. Seattle house hunters are searching Phoenix in record numbers as Washington quietly bleeds taxpayers and billions in income. Live coverage of the judge in the Charlie Kirk deciding if Tyler Robinson will stand trial. // Big Local: Rick Steves has bought a historic theater in Edmonds to preserve it for the community. Police removed a bobcat from a Kirkland home. A Bellingham woman has been given prison time violating her parenting plan after she took her son to Panama. // A Michigan Democrat’s efforts to virtue signal with a land acknowledgment backfired when she couldn’t pronounce any of the tribal names.

Even museum workers are striking in Seattle, saying they want more ‘autonomy' on the job. The University of Washington updates its code of conduct to crack down on civil unrest. Department of Justice announces surge of voter fraud investigators. Sound Transit plans fare gates after years of allowing evasion.

5pm - GUEST - DON NIELSEN, Chairman, American Center for Transforming Education,  ON SEATTLE SCHOOLS // Sound Transit Fare Gates // Swimmer mauled in vicious attack by ‘ruthless’ river otter: ‘It just kept coming’- Are otters at the top of the list of animals we underestimate? What other cute and cuddly creatures are out there just waiting for their chance to attack?

Tyson Foods is looking to sell its Pasco-area beef processing facility, raising new concerns about the future of Washington agriculture and food processing. The facility handles roughly 2,000 cattle per day and processes most of the fed cattle in the Pacific Northwest. Washington cattle industry leaders say the announcement sent immediate shockwaves through the market while stressing that the plant remains operational as Tyson searches for a buyer. The development comes as farmers continue raising concerns about Washington's high production costs, taxes and regulatory environment. Meanwhile, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing growing pressure over public safety. Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle is questioning the mayor's approach to crime, prostitution and gun violence along North Aurora Avenue as recent polling shows Wilson's support falling sharply — including among progressives and liberal Democrats. And Sound Transit is pushing the expected opening of the West Seattle Link extension back another three years to 2035. The project was originally promised for 2030 when voters approved Sound Transit 3 in 2016. The latest delay comes as the agency works through a nearly $35 billion gap in its long-range financial plan. Watch Washington in Focus Daily for the latest on Washington politics, government accountability, taxes, business, public safety and transportation. #Washington #WashingtonPolitics #WAPolitics #TysonFoods #WashingtonFarmers #Agriculture #KatieWilson #Seattle #SeattleCrime #SeattlePolitics #SoundTransit #WestSeattle #LightRail #WashingtonNews #TheCenterSquare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charles Prestrud of the Washington Policy Center examines Puget Sound transit data showing a 31% drop in passenger-miles from 2015 to 2024, even as the region's population grew by more than a half million. Transit funding rose from $2.6 billion to over $4.7 billion in that same period, yet light rail carries less than 1% of regional trips today. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-transit-ridership-trends-are-dismal-but-regional-plans-are-oblivious/ #Opinion #Transportation #SoundTransit #LightRail #PugetSound #TransitPolicy #WashingtonPolicyCenter #PublicTransit #WashingtonState #PacificNorthwest

KING 5 has another biased anti-ICE story. Rep. Baumgartner moves to ban wildfire betting after Spokane arson case. Sound Transit is once again delaying the West Seattle light rail extension. // New polling spells bad news for Democrats in the Michigan Senate race. // Chelsea Handler once again exposes she has no clue what she’s talking about.

Seattle residents react to the Katie Wilson recall effort. Luigi Mangione has plead guilty. A father of US servicemember gives an update on what he’s hearing about the state of play in the region. // LongForm: GUEST: KIRO News Radio's Chris Sullivan on Sound Transit delaying the West Seattle light rail extenstion yet again and the traffic calamity coming to those that use Deception Pass. // Quick Hit: A doctor claims Trump doesn’t look healthy.

Sound Transit says the West Seattle Light Rail line will be completed later than expected, Seattle approves money to assist transgender and queer Seattleites, and 80 cats are headed to Tacoma Humane Society from two separate incidents. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle progressives launch rival voter guide accusing The Stranger of selling them out. Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton apologized for saying men shouldn’t compete in women’s sports. Starbucks drops its fall menu with new cider-chai drink, food, and cake pop. Sound Transit might install fare gates at busy light rail stations. // The Trump Admin announced they are no longer pursuing charges of a suspected reflecting pool vandal and Trump isn’t happy with Jeanine Pirro. // Apparently everyone on Earth saw the new Spiderman movie.

Jim Ryan on how parents are preparing for school // Meteorologist Scott Sistek on the forecast for August and continued wildfire dangers in the state // Rob McKenna on a fight over the description of I-645 to repeal the state income tax // Charlie Harger Commentary on Sound Transit's plan to instill gates at some light rail stations // Longtime Tattoo Shop Owner April Cornell on the Seattle Tattoo Expo // Gee Scott on the second episode of HBO's Hard Knocks

A suspect has been arrested for first-degree arson in the Old Trails Fire in Spokane. Seattle’s biggest venues to Mayor Katie Wilson: turn the surveillance cameras back on. Sound Transit might install fare gates at busy light rail stations. // The likely Democratic nominee for governor is completely crazy and thinks we should abolish Thanksgiving. // Apparently everyone on Earth saw the new Spiderman movie.

Mayor Wilson announces new interim police chief, Sound Transit releases timeline for light rail to Ballard, and fire season in the PNW is off to a roaring start. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4pm - GUEST - CARLEEN JOHNSON - THE CENTER SQUARE // State fails to investigate daycares with no children despite media reports // San Francisco’s BART Fare Gates have been a huge success // Sound Transit light rail’s 15-hour suspension caused by train hatch failure // John pulls his hair out over the South Lake Union Trolly // Purple bong, shouting and arrest turn Cranford meeting into chaos

Clark County Today editor Ken Vance argues that Vancouver officials pushing to replace C-TRAN's Bus Rapid Transit system with light rail are ignoring three voter rejections, buses running below 20% capacity, and the looming 2029 bankruptcy of Portland's TriMet — while Sound Transit's expansion has ballooned $35 billion over budget. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-clark-county-does-not-have-a-need-for-light-rail/ #LightRail #CTRAN #Vancouver #ClarkCounty #Transportation #TriMet #SoundTransit #PublicTransit #WashingtonState #Opinion

WA man arrested in connection with White House attack plot, WA is on the brink of merging its carbon market with California and Quebec, and Sound Transit just had its busiest day ever on light rail. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Transit lays out next steps on the plan to eventually reach Ballard, Seattle braces for a heatwave, and fans of Mexico's national soccer team turn out at watch parties in Seattle. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle residents near Aurora Avenue performed a big march demanding change as the crime crisis spirals out of control. Sound Transit might start a fare gate pilot program at select locations. President Trump raised some eyebrows with his appointment of Bill Pulte as Acting Director of DNI. // LongForm: GUEST: Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank on a crazy investigation into a high school displaying vials of testosterone for Pride Month. // Quick Hit: Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner says nobody deserves to be a billionaire. Trump stormed off set in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press.

4pm - Spencer Pratt’s L.A. Mayor Hopes Fade as He Slips Into Third Place // GOP cries foul in California as Pratt misses Los Angeles runoff // Senator Josh Hawley: AI Will Control Us If We Do Not Control It // Meta’s AI rules let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info // Country music star responds to allegations he used AI for latest song // Seattle’s daily light rail ridership jumps to No. 1 in U.S. // ‘Only suckers pay’: Seattle’s heated transit fares debate // Sound Transit study suggests fare gates at 14 busy stations by 2030 // It may be soon possible to get some of the benefits of sleep without having to nod off // The myth of the eight-hour sleep

6pm - I WAS THINKING: Should Voting be an Inalienable Right? // Seattle’s daily light rail ridership jumps to No. 1 in U.S. // ‘Only suckers pay’: Seattle’s heated transit fares debate // Sound Transit study suggests fare gates at 14 busy stations by 2030 // It may be soon possible to get some of the benefits of sleep without having to nod off // The myth of the eight-hour sleep

Rachel is back on the mic! She recaps her recent work travels and, as always, updates you on the news of the week.Top Stories:1. Ben & Jerry's coming to the waterfront2. Melinda French Gates joins Kraken ownership group3. Data center potentially coming to Bed Bath & Beyond space downtown4. Sound Transit pushes aside Ballard lineAbout host Rachel Horgan:Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.Contact:Email: info@theweeklyseattle.comInstagram: @theweeklyseattleWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

Tacoma City Councilmember Kristina Walker sits on the board of Sound Transit and Pierce Transit. In this episode, we check in on what’s happening with Sound Transit, including the future of light rail connection to Tacoma. We also preview Pierce Transit, a possible ballot initiative in November, and finish up with Tacoma’s grown bike and pedestrian network. Enjoy! Links Channel 253 membership  

3pm - Breaking: Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson greenlights Stadium District cameras during World Cup // Will L.A.’s homeless population move to Seattle if Spencer Pratt wins? Mayor Katie Wilson reacts // Sound Transit study suggests fare gates at 14 busy stations by 2030 // Out of the audience, into the orchestra: Aspiring musician saves the show 

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss the Seattle Council's push for an emergency street closure ordinance to deal with gun violence on Aurora Avenue North, fallout from the recent Sound Transit light rail decision, a shakeup in Mayor Wilson's leadership team, a vacancy in city leadership that's rankling some affordable housing providers, and a new transit ballot measure that's double the cost of its predecessor. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!

Senior Citizens in Capitol Hill are complaining about the chaos erupting on the streets every night. Homelessness has ticked up in Snohomish County. Seattle’s office collapse hits a trophy tower, and the price tag is brutal. // Big Local: Wild Waves in Federal Way is being replaced by the most boring thing imaginable. Police have released body cam footage of Longview Schools Superintendent Karen Cloninger’s arrest. Tacoma residents are thrilled that Sound Transit still plans to build a light rail line. // You Pick the Topic: A New York landlord is in the middle of a 9-year legal battle with a squatter.

The dream of light rail to Ballard just took a big hit. The Sound Transit Board voted last week on how to move forward with expanding the system and how to cover a $34 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next two decades. After a marathon voting session, the board moved forward with several major projects. Those include: finishing rail to Everett and Tacoma, building a West Seattle extension, adding a new station at Graham Street, and making a new line between Issaquah and Kirkland (though, the delivery target is now 2050). You may have heard the board did not, however, prioritize getting light rail to Ballard. Instead, under the new plan, the line will stop at Seattle Center. Guest: Seattle City Council Member Dan Strauss Relevant Links: The Urbanist: Sound Transit Board OKs Major ST3 Update, Casting Ballard into Limbo KUOW: Sound Transit board shelves Ballard extension, saves South Seattle stations Seattle Times: Ballard light rail idea rejected while Sound Transit OKs other lines Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback. Also, if you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound transit board members made painful cuts to account for the agency’s multi-billion-dollar shortfall. Seattle Times transportation reporter Mike Lindbloom is here to talk about which projects are still on track and which ones have been derailed. Read Mike's reporting here. And make sure to join us this Saturday for a live taping of Seattle Now… where I’ll interview King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at the cascade PBS ideas festival. Get tickets here. Use promo code SEATTLENOW to access a 20% discount Get tickets to Cascade PBS’s Ideas Festival. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin on the need to pause construction on AI data centers in Seattle // Casey McNerthney on how "toy" guns are prosecuted differently than real guns // Crime and Punishment" — a weekly crime report with Casey McNerthney at the King County Prosecutor's Office // Charlie Commentary on why members of the Sound Transit board are in control of so much tax revenue // Steven Portnoy on several legal battles for President Trump // Gee Scott on preparations for World Cup matches in Seattle

Why does Sound Transit have a massive advertising budget if it’s so deep in debt? We Heart Seattle volunteer finds homeless man living with 100 jugs of urine inside Discovery Park. Bill Maher calls out members of his own party for being too afraid to talk to people who might ask them tough questions. //  Big Local: A man in Pierce County led state troopers on a high-speed chase in a Corvette was also charged for theft of the same Corvette weeks later. A Bellevue dad invented a World Cup board game. // You Pick the Topic: Teens today are drinking less than previous generations, but not for a good reason.

On the latest episode, we cut through the fig leafs and happy talk from Sound Transit officials to lay bare the hardball political realities underlying their decision to kill the long-promised light line extension to Ballard, which has been left unfunded and postponed indefinitely. Who to blame? Erica says it is a systemic failure, pointing to ST's excessively slow, expensive, and politicized planning process, noting that it took approximately 30 years just to fund the relatively simple Graham Street Station. Sandeep argues that executives from Pierce and Snohomish County strategically outmaneuvered Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay to get their priorities addressed, at Seattle's expense. This successful political power play ensured the Everett and Tacoma segments of the Sound Transit spine were fully funded while leaving the high-ridership Ballard extension dead in the water.Can some newly passed amendments promising to explore new approaches and find cost-saving measures somehow save the Ballard line? Or is this more political "bullshit" that will not address the agency's deeply flawed and entrenched status quo institutional culture or do anything significant to mitigate the multi-billion-dollar cost overruns plaguing Sound Transit projects? Neither Erica or Sandeep see much cause for optimism, though David suggests that will largely depends on whether the County Executive and Mayor follow through and turn the heat up on Sound Transit to deliver.   The discussion then shifts to the latest "defenestration” in Mayor Katie Wilson's office, with the forced resignation of her housing and homelessness advisor Jon Grant, the latest fallout from the breakdown in relations between the mayor's office and the Council. While critics on the right claim this is evidence of chaos at the top, we all give the mayor credit for demonstrating decisive—if "cold-blooded"—leadership by prioritizing her office's performance over personal loyalty as she moves to repair the seriously frayed relationships with councilmembers. And we suggest this is an indication of a shifting power balance within the mayor's office away from activist outsiders to more experienced city hands. Our editor is Quinn Waller.Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails realseattlenice@gmail.comThanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.comSupport the showYour support on Patreon helps pay for editing, production, live events and the unique, hard-hitting local journalism and commentary you hear weekly on Seattle Nice. 

Sound Transit shelves Ballard extension, Seattle city council explores street closures to deter gun violence, and Alaska Airlines is fined for allowing intoxicated passengers on board. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sound Transit Board is voting on potential expansion as the cloud of its $34.5 billion budget deficit hangs overhead. There’s been a surprising shakeup to Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s staff. The battle of lewd behavior at Seattle’s Denny Blaine Park has gone to court. // Guest: State Rep. and GOP Chair Jim Walsh says Bob Ferguson’s promise to not lower the threshold on the state income tax is baloney. // Why has the Left gotten so violent?

URSULA'S TOP STORIES: Corwin Haeck reports from Longview // Everett cracks down on prostitution // Politically homeless Washingtonians // Chris Sullivan explains what Sound Transit is planning for the next 25 years // FLEX FRIDAY!!!

On this week-in-review, Crystal Fincher and Robert Cruickshank discuss: ☕ Mayor Wilson, Starbucks, and business lobbying

Sound Transit is facing a $35 billion budget gap and the long-promised light rail extension to Ballard is at severe risk of being cut. Scott Kubly, former Director of Seattle's Department of Transportation, joins us to unpack how the region landed in this mess and shares a plan to cut costs and save the Ballard line.   The headline number is jaw-dropping: Sound Transit projects cost two to three times more than comparable transit built almost anywhere else on Earth. Why? Kubly walks us through the regulatory traps, the agency culture, and the political dysfunction that have made building anything in Seattle and most of urban America agonizingly slow and absurdly expensive. Kubly's solution for Seattle borrows from Copenhagen. The idea involves shorter trains, modular stations, and other fixes that could save $10 to $15 billion on the Ballard line alone and move more riders than the current plan. The question is whether anyone on the Sound Transit board is willing to listen.  Send us a text! Note that we can only respond directly to emails realseattlenice@gmail.comThanks to Uncle Ike's pot shop for sponsoring this week's episode! If you want to advertise please contact us at realseattlenice@gmail.comSupport the showYour support on Patreon helps pay for editing, production, live events and the unique, hard-hitting local journalism and commentary you hear weekly on Seattle Nice. 

Why does Sound Transit have a massive advertising budget if it’s so deep in debt? We Heart Seattle volunteer finds homeless man living with 100 jugs of urine inside Discovery Park. Bill Maher calls out members of his own party for being too afraid to talk to people who might ask them tough questions. // Big Local: Students at Bothell HS walked out of class today to protest the school board’s decision to end their SRO program. There are some nerds that are very upset with Funko in Everett. // You Pick the Topic: LA Mayor Karen Bass promises free teeth to meth heads.

Sound Transit’s park and ride garages are popular, especially during the morning rush. Many reach at least 90% capacity every weekday. Now the agency is trying to control the rush by implementing paid parking for some garages, with plans to expand. Seattle Times Transportation Reporter Nick DeShais will tell us more about Sound Transit’s plans, and what this says about our light rail system. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn about the latest in local public affairs in about the time it takes for a coffee break! Brian Callanan of Seattle Channel and David Kroman of the Seattle Times discuss a troubling report on the Seattle Police Department's crowd control policies, Seattle's World Cup spending, Sound Transit's failure to reach the Ballard neighborhood, a rift in Seattle City Council/Mayor relations, and a new step towards shaping Seattle's AI policy. If you like this podcast, please support it on Patreon!This episode of Seattle News, Views & Brews is presented by Phillips Law Firm. Injured? Their Seattle personal injury lawyers will fight for what you really deserve. 

Starbucks lays off more employees, efforts ramp up to stop Sound Transit from delaying stations in the south end, and Seattle hotels are seeing slow bookings for the World Cup. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ICE gives fiery response after WA sues over blocked inspections at Tacoma facility. Magnuson and Golden Gardens parks are getting security. AOC says black people invented American democracy. This one everyday food could help prevent Alzheimer’s. // LongForm: GUEST: Chris Sullivan on Mother’s Day traffic, Sound Transit inaction, and WSDOT incompetence. // Quick Hit: Lucky Strike bowling alley is being sued for being too expensive.

Republicans’ midterms got a huge boost after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the Democrats’ redistricting scheme. Sound Transit attempts to close their massive budget deficit. // Apple’s AirPods have a new AI feature. // A new poll shows John Braun leading Marie Gluesenkamp Perez by 7 in WA-03. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s congressional office may be hemorrhaging staff at alarming rate ahead of 2026 race.  

Seattle gas prices hit all-time record overnight; Mayor Katie Wilson in hot seat after video of 77-year-old beaten in downtown Seattle goes viral // GUEST: Chris Sullivan with what's going on with the Sound Transit board // WOULD YOU RATHER

Sound Transit is rolling out free parking permits for people who carpool. Who is to blame for Spirit Airline’s demise? A UFO expert is issuing a warning about strange aircraft that are outmaneuvering the military in restricted airspace. // Big Local: Some WA schools are exploring how to employ AI in the classroom. A high school teacher in Mill Creek was hired despite disturbing text messages with a student that were sexual in nature. // You Pick the Topic: A teacher was banned for chugging gin and throwing up while on the job.

Sound Transit is looking at potential cuts and readjustments to its ST3 plan. Voters approved the vision for the next phase of regional transit nearly a decade ago. But last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between 30 and 40 billion dollars in the hole. At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma. So what happens next? And how will affected communities respond? Guest: Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of the Sound Transit Board Rider Experience and Operations Committee, and chair of Pierce Transit Mark Mullet, Issaquah Mayor David Scott, board chair of Seattle Subway Relevant Links: The Urbanist: Three More Takeaways from a Pivotal Sound Transit Board Retreat The Urbanist: Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

VIDEO GUEST - CHRIS “SULLY YOUR CONDUIT” SULLIVAN // Sound Transit’s ‘Sophie’s Choice’: Bleed to death or start requiring fares from riders // Harger: King County hired 30 fare enforcement officers. They worked 40K hours, issued 8 citations, and voided all of them // Meet the beta Starbucks app in ChatGPT: A new way to discover your next favorite drink // Is Starbucks breaking up with Seattle? 

This week on the GeekWire Podcast: we take the show on the road — or rather, on the rails — recording on Sound Transit's 2 Line as we ride the world's first light rail on a floating bridge from Seattle's Northgate neighborhood to Microsoft's campus in Redmond. Along the way, we talk tech news, chat with fellow passengers, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the engineering from Sound Transit's Henry Bendon. After arriving in Redmond, we sit down with Microsoft President Brad Smith to talk about the company's two-decade role in making the Crosslake Connection a reality — and hit him with a trivia question he didn't see coming. We also discuss Anduril's autonomous warship facility on Seattle's ship canal, golf star Bryson DeChambeau's acquisition of Bellevue-based Sportsbox AI ahead of the Masters, and more. With GeekWire's John Cook, Todd Bishop, and Kurt Schlosser. Edited by Curt Milton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the 1 and 2 Lines connected across Lake Washington, Sound Transit is looking to its next major projects. Trains to West Seattle, Ballard, and Tacoma have all been approved by voters. But it’s not all smooth sailing. We’ll get into what we know about West Seattle's light rail journey with West Seattle Blog's Tracy Record. Read some of her recent reporting on this here and here. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Gray whales died over the last few days, Tacoma wants Sound Transit to expand light rail service south, and the fire season forecast is smoky. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democrat-led DHS shutdown continues. Are we any closer to a deal? Sound Transit is hoping to increase their police presence for the opening of the crosslake light rail. // Why Seattle is so liberal — and why nothing seems to change it. // Tiger Woods has been arrested on suspicion of a DUI after getting in a rollover crash. 

Sound Transit may cut projects as costs rise, a pregnant woman is detained by federal agents in the U-District, and Dick's Drive-In workers file a class action lawsuit. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.