dubious adventures involving mass transit

[sistawendy]

I have once again used every station in Seattle's light rail network. I went to Northgate last night, using as a flimsy excuse needing some cleaning supplies from Target. Things I learned:

• What was Northgate Mall still has some larger stores open.
• The new Seattle Kraken hockey team has an ice rink under construction at Northgate as well. I think I remember reading that in the paper, but I'm not exactly a fan.
• That Target is not designed for pedestrian access. Bad plan for the current environment.
• The art at Northgate station is in the mezzanine, not on the platform. I missed it. That means I have to go back again for Kizuki ramen.
• While waiting for the bus home from Roosevelt station, a fellow with a Mexican accent came up to me and this other girl and told us the price he paid for these spiffy new stations that he'd helped build: the concrete dust has given him cancer. I'd call bullshit, but he knew there were three stations in Bellevue. I'm a light rail geek and even I didn't know that. I jumped on the 62 as soon it came, even though I really wanted the 45. Of course the 45 passed me on the longer walk home because karma.

As for the concrete dust, did that fellow not wear protective gear? It didn't occur to me to ask until later. If not, why not? Was this OSHA not doing its job or construction worker machismo?