Sound Transit to Add Longer Trains to Meet Unexpected Light-Rail Demand

Seattle Times | Mike Lindblom | March 23

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/sound-transit-to-add-bigger-trains-to-meet-ridership-demands/

“Sound Transit will put some longer trains on its light rail tracks beginning Monday, to carry the unexpectedly big crowds using the new University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations. Three-car trains will alternate with the usual two-car trains, spokesman Bruce Gray said Wednesday…Greater demand is expected Monday when UW classes resume. In addition, route changes by King County Metro Transit will feed some bus passengers into UW Station, to complete their commutes downtown.”

State, Region Gain Both Jobs and Job-Seekers

Seattle Times | Blanca Torres | March 23

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/state-region-gain-both-jobs-and-job-seekers/

“Washington’s unemployment rate didn’t budge from January to February even though the state added 10,600 new jobs. That’s because along with new jobs, the state saw an influx of new workers…In the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett region, the rate inched down slightly to 5 percent in February from 5.1 percent in January. In February 2015, it was 4.4 percent.”

Uber, Lyft, Others Get Green Light for Pickups at Sea-Tac

Seattle PI | Daniel Demay | March 23

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Uber-Lyft-others-get-green-light-for-pickups-at-6975539.php

“After a long and bumpy road, Uber and its ilk will finally get the chance to legally pick up riders at Sea-Tac Airport. The Port of Seattle announced Tuesday afternoon that it will launch a one-year pilot program starting March 31, according to a news release…”It’s clear riders and drivers believe that uberX ridesharing should be a sustainable part of Sea-Tac’s transportation fabric, and today we are one step closer to that goal,” said Uber spokesperson Michael Amodeo. “We plan to review the proposal offered today closely and look forward to working with Port staff and Commissioners to expand consumer choice and driver opportunity at Sea-Tac Airport.” “

Capitol Hill, UW Light-Rail Stations Open to Big Crowds

Seattle Times | Daniel Beekman | March 19

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/capitol-hill-uw-light-rail-stations-open/

“Light-rail stations opened Saturday morning on Capitol Hill and at the University of Washington, marking a new era in transit for the congested Seattle area. There were free rides for the day anywhere on the Link system, and Sound Transit held celebrations beside both new stations as eager straphangers got their first look…The $1.8 billion subway from Westlake to Capitol Hill and the UW will change how many people in Seattle and south of the city get around. The stations that opened Saturday, along with the Angle Lake station scheduled to open in SeaTac this fall, are projected to add 45,000 weekday passengers by 2021, for a total of 80,000 along the 21-mile system.”

Silicon Valley Invasion: Seattle Job Trends Show Tech Workers Migrating North

GeekWire | Madeline Vuong | March 18

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/silicon-valley-invasion-seattle-job-trends-show-tech-workers-migrating-north/

“Employers are filling tech jobs in Seattle faster than ever, according to the chief economist of Indeed, based on her analysis of postings on the job aggregation site. And trends in the real estate market suggest that one reason is an influx of talent from the Bay Area as tech workers relocate to Seattle. “There is still a ton of demand for tech workers in Seattle,” said Indeed Chief Economist Tara Sinclair in an interview with GeekWire today. “But the percentage of open jobs is shifting, suggesting that employers are filling roles more quickly and easily than they have in the past because there is more tech talent in the area.” ”

Study: Seattle Has The 5th-Highest Concentration of Crazy-Rich Millennials

Geekwire | Monica Nickelsburg | March 18

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/seattle-5th-highest-concentration-crazy-rich-millennials-zillow-finds/

“Tech brings in big, young money. That’s according to a new report from Zillow, which ranks the top U.S. cities for wealthy millennials, based on U.S. census data. The study revealed that cities with thriving industries, like technology, had the highest concentration of young people (under 34) with a household income of more than $350,000 per year. Zillow’s hometown of Seattle tied with Silicon Valley’s Sunnyvale for number five.”

You can see the report here