Hi new followers! In addition to covering what's happening on Seattle's streets every day, I also cover 15-20 public meetings every single week so you don't have to sit in them. It's possible because I have amazing support:
Follow
Click to Follow typewriteralley
Ryan Packer
@typewriteralley
Pedestrian.
Writing at The Urbanist as Senior Editor.
Covering the Washington legislature at PubliCola.
Transportation advocate.
(they-them)
Ryan Packer’s Tweets
#Walla Walla ran aground in Rich Passage at approx. 4:30 pm enroute to Seattle from Bremerton. No reports of injuries. Tug boat on the way. Initial indications are the vessel suffered a generator failure; an official investigation will be conducted. Updates to follow.
18
111
180
#BreakingNews (1/2) #USCG crews are responding to a passenger ferry that has run aground in Rich Passage near Bainbridge Island. There are no reported injuries or any reports of pollution. Station Seattle is on scene. Partner agencies are also en route.
3
44
70
Show this thread
Seattle's new highway spur is days from its grand opening.
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
7
4
40
UPDATE: Per both people hit by drivers this morning were in stable condition (not critical) when transported to Harborview. That's all we know.
1
7
Show this thread
Currently trying to get info on the status of both people who were hit.
1
7
Show this thread
Less than 30 minutes later SFD responded to another driver hitting someone walking in Wallingford, at N 46th Street and Meridian Ave N. Another hit-and-run.
1
3
9
Show this thread
At around 1:30am this morning Seattle Fire responded to a driver hitting someone walking at 3rd Ave and University in a hit-and-run.
read image description
ALT
1
4
23
Show this thread
Seattle Fire just responded to someone crashing a scooter at 1st Ave S and S King Street, with major injuries. No indications of another vehicle involved. The scooter rider was transported to the hospital.
read image description
ALT
8
Seattle Fire is responding to someone who was hit by a train at 3rd Ave S and S Holgate Street right now.
read image description
ALT
3
2
9
The common thread is both governors want to bond for affordable housing.
read image description
ALT
1
15
Show this thread
Washington's governor wants to issue bonds to pay for affordable housing, but the legislature isn't on board.
Meanwhile Oregon's legislature wants to issue bonds to pay for its portion of the I-5 bridge expansion, but the governor isn't on board.
4
7
58
Show this thread
Without the bill, trans kids, teens seeking birth control or abortion, and anyone with abusive parents whose abuse includes denying access to health care has no ability to go to shelter, because shelters have to immediately inform their parents. PARENTS DON'T OWN THEIR KIDS./3
2
2
40
Show this thread
I-5 bridge financing upheaval: learned late today that opposes issuing a total of $1 billion in bonds to pay for Oregon's share. Some bonds are ok but not for all of it, she told Julia.
2
13
32
This collision was a driver hitting someone walking.
Quote Tweet
No visual but report of a collision on Harvard Ave at E Pike St.
5
16
Sounder S Line service is experiencing delays due to a fatality on the tracks at Sumner. Passengers can consider other options at ow.ly/ZPBR50NJLy0 Follow for the latest information.
2
8
13
I don't actually think this would be able to happen in WA given bill title rules, so it's interesting that it's allowed in Oregon.
1
1
Show this thread
Quote Tweet
You'd think OLIS could stop publishing bill summaries that are completely meaningless. This is the big @IbrProgram bill that includes $1 billion in bonding and a bunch of other really important stuff. It was "gut and stuffed" from its placeholder as a speed bump bill. 
1
4
Show this thread
Big thanks to for sharing tips on riding transit for my latest article. "I can be working, reading email, or listening to audio books. I can utilize that time in a much better way than I could if I was driving."
5
24
100
Show this thread
This is a paint bike lane in the gutter of a 5-lane state highway with a 45 (!) mph speed limit.
read image description
ALT
Quote Tweet
Bicyclist seriously injured after collision on Highway 527 - heraldnet.com/news/bicyclist
1
2
17
Bicyclist seriously injured after collision on Highway 527 -
1
8
11
And the county piece really can't be discounted. Some big "cities" in Puget Sound aren't actually cities but county land, like Silverdale.
3
1
11
Show this thread
With HB 1110 getting all the attention this year, HB 1337 might be more impactful on smaller cities, where duplexes are allowed.
1
1
14
Show this thread
The House just concurred on amendments to HB 1337, an ADU bill that requires cities to allow two ADUs on most residential lots, including in unincorporated county areas, and adds guardrails to requiring off-street parking. It's headed to the Governor's desk.
1
8
53
Show this thread
Only one vote in the House today against concurring on amendments to HB 1293, which streamlines design review processes and only allows cities to require one public design review meeting as a condition of approval.
read image description
ALT
6
10
56
With Judkins Park not opening until 2025, *surely* we will get our butts in gear and fix the I-90 ramps in time for the station's opening?
Quote Tweet
Sound Transit has updates on Link expansion. Potential openings:
- Partial East Link in Spring 2024
- Full East Link in Spring 2025
- Federal Way Link in 2025-2026
- Lynnwood Link in Summer/Fall 2024
- NE 130th Street in Summer 2026
Presentation: soundtransit.org/st_sharepoint/
Show this thread
4
8
65
Another crash overnight in north SoDo.
Quote Tweet
Collision on 4th Ave S at S Holgate St blocking the right NB lane. Use caution.
Show this thread
5
Is the Mayor's update to industrial lands policy going to make SoDo a safe place to spend time?
1
11
Show this thread
This was a hit-and-run, and the second person to be hit by a driver in the neighborhood today that SFD has responded to.
2
3
7
Show this thread
Seattle Fire just responded to a driver hitting a pedestrian at 4th Ave S and S Horton Street in SoDo.
read image description
ALT
1
4
11
Show this thread
Having been sick at home since Saturday, I walked from Pioneer Square to Capitol Hill today and it was wonderful.
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
read image description
ALT
3
1
119
I had drivers run red lights and nearly hit me both on the way to and from my bus stop at Rainier & Kenny today. I film now every time I cross to have proof if I do get hit that I had the walk signal.
8
5
61
Though King County Metro ridership numbers in March were trending slightly upward compared to last year, it certainly seems like we've settled into a new normal when it comes to ridership.
Metro says weekend ridership is 75% of pre-pandemic levels compared to 55% on weekdays.
read image description
ALT
8
4
47
That's why there was so much pressure to pass the bill last year.
Quote Tweet
notable that the largest city in the state is not required to incorporate climate change mitigation into their comp plan - when the next update comes far too late to do anything of note before 2030. twitter.com/typewriteralle…
1
1
15
Show this thread
HB 1181 was re-approved by the House today, meaning it is headed to the Governor's desk.
Washington cities updating their comp plans in 2025 (Vancouver, Bellingham, Olympia) or later will have to incorporate climate change planning.
Quote Tweet
HB 1181, updating Washington's growth management act to incorporate planning around climate change, just passed the state senate 29-20. twitter.com/typewriteralle…
Show this thread
2
8
56
Show this thread
Here’s Rep Khanh Pham just on the House floor giving a shout-out to all the transportation advocates at the capitol.
1
2
13
Show this thread
With Seattle's park district renewal, only 12,999,400 trees to go.
Quote Tweet
"An analysis of 14 WA cities & 3,500 neighborhoods shows at least 2M Washingtonians live w <50% the canopy @AmericanForests deems necessary for health & well-being, [per] @waDNR's Franz. To completely close those gaps… 13M trees will need to be planted." crosscut.com/environment/20
1
1
14
If the Interstate Bridge Replacement actually becomes aligned with both Washington and Oregon's goals around transportation and land use, it will be because of what is happening on the Oregon side.
Quote Tweet
“Right size, right now! Right size, right now! Right size, right now!”
High spirits as everyone gathers for a group photo.
Show this thread
0:09
944 views
2
2
34
This morning Seattle Fire responded to a driver hitting a pedestrian at 6th Ave S and S Holgate Street in SoDo.
read image description
ALT
1
2
7