This week, the GeekWire Podcast featured a unique recording on Sound Transit’s 2 Line, a light rail system that traverses a floating bridge, connecting Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood to Microsoft’s campus in Redmond. The podcast hosts, Todd Bishop and John Cook, faced logistical hurdles while managing equipment on a crowded train during their journey.
Listeners can expect insights from a conversation with Henry Bendon, the Public Information Officer for Sound Transit, who detailed the engineering challenges of operating trains at 55 mph on a bridge that adapts to environmental conditions. He also highlighted a marked increase in ridership since the line’s opening on March 28.
Upon arrival in Redmond, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, discussed the company’s involvement in the project over the past twenty years, stating that the new line provides commuters with options that were previously unavailable. He emphasized the collaborative efforts of tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon in addressing local transit needs, asserting that regional cooperation transcends competition in the tech industry.