Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway - 2 Way Update

(received October 12th: apologies for delay in posting. AFT)
Dear Neighbors,

Many of you have written in and I want to begin by thanking you for your organized efforts. We appreciate your feedback regarding the traffic changes planned for 21st Ave E between E Aloha St and E Roy St as well as on 21st Ave E between E Republican St and E John St.

I apologize for the delay in responding, however, after having received so many emails I wanted to ensure that those internal to SDOT were aware of your concerns and that we were able to respond accordingly. That being said, I’d like to start out by clarifying a few key points that may help to ease some of the concerns we’ve heard.

21st Ave E between E Aloha and E Roy Streets
The change on 21st Ave E between E Aloha and E Roy streets is intended to allow for two-way bike traffic on the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. It will not remove parking and is also not intended to change the current operational movement of vehicles. In order to achieve this we plan to keep the “Do Not Enter” signs currently in place at E Roy St to prevent northbound vehicles from entering, and we will remove the “One Way” sign at E Aloha, so southbound drivers are aware that bicyclists may be coming northbound. Because there are no driveways along this stretch of 21st Avenue E, our expectation is that there should be no northbound vehicle traffic movement.

We have heard your concerns regarding coordination with Holy Names and have had conversations with the school as recently as September. We have done our best to keep them informed and involved in both the route selection and design of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. When we met last month and discussed the changes described above, Holy Names administrators and faculty understand that for drivers, the street will continue to operate as it does today.

21st Ave E between E John and E Republican Streets
The traffic change on 21st Ave E between E John St and E Republican St will again not remove any on street parking. The “Do Not Enter” sign and curb bulb at E John Street will remain in place to prevent northbound traffic from entering. In addition and after hearing your concerns, our traffic management team has decided instead of removing the existing “Do Not Enter” sign at E Thomas St, that we will leave the signage and add “except bicycles” to be placed underneath the “Do Not Enter” sign. This will keep vehicular traffic traveling southbound only, as it does today.  In sum, 21st Ave E between E John and E Republican streets will be one-way southbound for vehicles and two-way for bicycles.

We are working with the new Meany Middle School, which shares the greenway goal of reducing vehicle traffic and promoting walking and biking, to incorporate the Greenway design into their traffic operations plan. We are also working with Seattle World School, who currently occupy the Meany site, to relay information about the changes for bikes to faculty, students and staff. 

Thank you again for being in touch. Your feedback helps us make Seattle’s greenways work for everyone. If I’ve missed anyone on this email that you know would be interested in knowing about this project or the topic at hand, your help forwarding this on would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,


Maribel Cruz


Maribel Cruz
Sr. Communications Advisor
City of Seattle Department of Transportation
O: 206.684.7963 | F: 206.615.1237 | maribel.cruz@seattle.gov


23rd Ave construction update: Major detour changes begin November 30, Cherry St work this Saturday


Major construction detour changes begin November 30
On Monday, November 30, crews will extend the northbound closure of 23rd Ave from E Cherry St to E Union St (Zone B) as construction progresses north. This means northbound 23rd Ave will be closed from S Jackson St to E Union St with detours to Martin Luther King Jr Way. Southbound traffic will be maintained in Zones A and B. 23rd Ave will remain open to traffic in both directions from E Union St to E John St. Read the latest construction notice for more information, including a map of the upcoming detour configuration.
Schedule update
Crews have made good progress rebuilding 23rd Ave since construction began in June, and the project is on schedule for completion in early 2017. However, the timing and phasing of the northbound detour has changed from original plans and now includes some overlap between Zone A and B. This overlap is needed to keep the overall project on schedule as a result of construction challenges encountered in Zone A with the planned locations for the new trolley poles.
Here is the latest schedule by zone:
Zone A (S Jackson St to E Cherry St)
  • Full northbound detour began June 2015 and is expected through spring 2016
Zone B (E Cherry St to E Union St)
  • Full northbound detour to begin November 30 and continue through summer 2016
Zone C (E Union St to E John St)
  • Early utility work is underway now through January 2016
  • Full northbound detour is anticipated to begin in spring or summer 2016 and extend through early 2017
We know construction can be difficult, and we appreciate your patience as we construct important safety and mobility improvements. For more information about the schedule update, read the new Frequently Asked Questions document on the website.
Intersection closure at E Cherry St November 21
Crews plan to close the E Cherry St and 23rd Ave intersection this Saturday from 7 AM to 10 PM to continue storm drainage and electrical work, though this work is weather dependent. View the detour routes for the intersection closure here. Don’t forget you can enter local access areas to get to businesses and residences near the intersection.
Mark your calendars for our December drop-in session
Tuesday, December 8, 4:30-6:30 PM
Garfield Community Center Multipurpose Room
2323 E Cherry Street, Seattle, WA 98122
Other construction activities
  • Crews will conduct night work near the intersection of E Pike St and 23rd Ave on November 20 – 21 in order to make temporary water main connections. Neighbors should expect construction activities throughout the night and into Saturday morning. This work will coincide with temporary water service interruptions.
  • On November 12, crews closed Garfield High School's southern driveway on 23rd Ave for up to two weeks in order to demolish and pave a nearby section of 23rd Ave. During this closure, school buses are using a temporary load zone on E Alder St between 23rd and 25th avenues. Expect increased bus traffic and travel delays long E Alder St during school pick-up and drop-off times.
  • Crews continue replacing the water main in Zone C. During this work, drivers can travel both north and south on 23rd Ave, though travel is reduced to one lane in each direction.
  • Crews continue to demolish and repave sidewalks from S Jackson St to E Yesler Way on the east and west sides of 23rd Ave. Please use caution and pay attention to sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours.

For more information

Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm
Email: 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov
Call the 24-hour project hotline: 206-727-8857

SEEKING CLUES IN THE CASE OF THE MISSING PARK BENCH


Have you seen a green park bench painted "miller park neighborhood"?

A couple of weeks ago, some parents were waiting our usual 5-20 minutes for the elementary school bus to reach its stop at 19th/republican.  We thought about how nice it would be to have a place to sit.  Feeling inspired and neighborly, a park bench was procured and placed in the dirt patch at 19th/republican, by the utility pole.  It was painted "miller park neighborhood".

It disappeared overnight.

The next day it was found along Republican, presumably by mistake/prank, and brought back to 19th/republican where it was secured by a heavy-duty cable & lock.

Within 24 hours, it disappeared again!

There was no evidence of the presumed cut cable, lock, or bench.  I erroneously assumed the adjacent property owner (apartment) was involved, but the manager/owner confirmed no.

Any information leading to recovery of this donated community resource would be much appreciated. It can live somewhere else if needed, I would just like to know where it is and why it was offensive in its prior location.

Thanks!
Stephanie


Thursday, October 15, 2015

How should Seattle grow over the next 20 years?



The Seattle Department of Planning and Development has prepared a Draft Plan and we have some Key Proposals we’d like your feedback on!

Come check out the Key Proposals at one of our upcoming open houses. At the meetings you can learn more about what’s proposed, and chat with staff to share your thoughts and ask questions. We’ll also have information available about the potential expansion of our urban villages, and the City’s proposed Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda.


Open House Dates and Locations


  • October 19, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
  • Miller Community Center (multipurpose room)

  • November 5, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
    Leif Erikson Hall
    2245 NW 57th St. (Google Map)
  • November 7, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.(presentation at 10:00 a.m.)
    Filipino Community Center (ballroom)
    5740 MLK Jr Way S. (Google Map)
  • November 12, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
    Senior Center of West Seattle (Hatten Hall)
    4217 SW Oregon St. (Google Map)
  • November 14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.(presentation at 10:00 a.m.)
    North Seattle College (Old Cafeteria)
    9600 College Way N. (Google Map)

Can't make it to an open house? No problem. 

You can submit your comments on the Draft Plan through November 20. Here’s how:
  1. Join the Seattle 2035 Online Community Conversation atseattle2035.consider.it and discuss the potential pros and cons of Key Proposals with your fellow Seattleites
  2. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
  3. Send us your comments by November 20, 2015:
    1. Email: 2035@seattle.gov
    2. Mail comments to the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development, Attn: Seattle 2035, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, PO Box 34019, Seattle WA 98124-4019.
Your feedback will help shape the Mayor's Recommended Plan, which will be sent to City Council in early 2016.

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming open houses. Thank you for taking the time to participate in the Seattle 2035 conversation!

23rd Ave construction update: Cherry intersection work October 17 and 24


E Cherry St intersection closed this Saturday and next
The E Cherry St and 23rd Ave intersection closure this weekend will be Saturday only, from 6 AM to 10 PM. Crews will likely follow the same schedule for next weekend’s work on October 24 as they continue to install storm drainage. Please see the construction flyer for a map of the detour routes, and don’t forget that you can drive or walk into the local access areas to reach homes and businesses near the intersection.
Additional weekend closures will be required for demolition and paving work in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for updates. 
Other construction activities
  • Remember—early utility work in Zone C is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 26. On that date, crews will extend their work area north of E Union St to continue replacing the water main. Crews are currently working on the water main in Zone B, between E Cherry St and E Union St. During this work, drivers can travel both north and south on 23rd Ave, though travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
  • Crews are working to demolish and repave sidewalks from S Jackson St to E Yesler Way on the east and west sides of 23rd Ave. Please use caution and pay attention to sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours.

For more information

Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm
Email: 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov
Call the 24-hour project hotline: 206-727-8857

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Detours and Travel Delays at 23rd Avenue and East Cherry Street intersection during multiple upcoming weekend closures

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

October 14, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:               Norm Mah, Senior Public Relations Specialist, 206-684-8114

Detours and Travel Delays at 23rd Avenue and East Cherry Street intersection during multiple upcoming weekend closures

SEATTLE - The Seattle Department of Transportation advises travelers of weekend construction, detours, and a full closure of the East Cherry Street and 23rd Avenue intersection while crews install storm drainage as part of the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project. The intersection will be closed over two consecutive weekends beginning Saturday, October 17, with multiple additional closures to follow. Local access will be provided for residents and businesses.

On Saturday, October 17 from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m., travelers can expect the following:
•             The East Cherry Street and 23rd Avenue intersection will be closed to traffic in all directions.
•             East Cherry Street will be open only for local access from 21st Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr Way.
•             23rd Avenue will be open only for local access between East Union Street and East Cherry Street in both directions; one-way southbound access will resume south of East Jefferson Street; northbound 23rd Avenue remains closed between South Jackson and East Cherry Street.
•             Detours around the intersection of East Cherry Street at 23rd Avenue include:

o             For southbound 23rd Avenue traffic, drivers will follow a detour via East Union Street to 14th Avenue, with a left on East Jefferson Street to return to 23rd Avenue.
o             For northbound 23rd Avenue traffic, drivers will follow the regular construction detour on South Jackson Street to Martin Luther King Jr Way but continue to East Union Street, where they can return to 23rd Avenue.
o             For westbound East Cherry Street traffic, drivers will take Martin Luther King Jr Way to East Union Street. To return to East Cherry Street, use 14th Avenue.
o             For eastbound East Cherry Street traffic, drivers will take 21st Avenue to East Jefferson Street, following 23rd Avenue south to East Yesler Way.

For information about bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops, see Metro Online, www.kingcounty.gov/metro, or call 206-553-3000.

Flaggers and uniformed police officers will be present to manage traffic and assist pedestrians.

Pedestrian crossings will be maintained and businesses will remain open and accessible.

Please visit the website for more information and to view a map of the detours: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm.




Norm Mah
Senior Public Relations Specialist
O: 206.684.8114 | M: 206.255.9389

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Central Area Greenways to make 21st Avenue TWO WAY!

This announcement has just arrived, with the surprising news that parts of 21st Ave. E. are destined to become two-way!!!

You may recall that we all discussed this with the City back in 2013 and 2014, and asked them at the time how 2-way bike traffic on the Greenway would be handled on the 1-way streets. Their answer back then (I asked several times) was that the car traffic on the street would be unaffected.

(Link to all the blog Greenway posts)

Now, at this rather late stage, everything has changed. I invite you all to submit comments to the City (and add them as comments to this blog post or E-mail them to me). I have appended copies of messages that neighbors have already sent to the City. (The plans obvious bring up many questions about narrow streets, parking, school bus traffic, etc).

Please let me know if you would like us, as a neighborhood, to have a meeting with the Greenways officials.

Andrew Taylor, andrew_taylor@me.com

People to contact:


Sandy Lam

Central Area Neighborhood Greenway Construction Communications Officer
206-504-1454



Contact Maribel Cruz at Maribel.cruz@seattle.gov or (206) 684-7963.

AND/OR  try the Director of Department of Transportation:

******************************Greenways Announcement**********************

It’s official! Phase 1 of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway is ready for your use. With new curb ramps, bicycle pavement markings, speed humps, signage, rapid flashing beacons, stop signs on cross streets, and an enhanced pedestrian crossing signal at 22nd Ave E and E Union St, you may now enjoy the benefits of a safer and more comfortable environment for walking and riding bikes along residential streets adjacent to 23rd Ave between S Jackson St and E John St.

Thank you for your patience during this work, and please note that, over the next several weeks, you may notice crews putting finishing touches on the route.

Implementation of Phases 2 and 3 (at the south and north ends of the greenway, respectively) is expected to begin the week of October 12. Project elements will be similar to those in Phase 1. We recently sent a mailer to residents and businesses along the greenway route with more details. If you did not receive it, you may view the attachment to this email.

Since the selection of the greenway route last summer, additional input and analysis have led to the following refinements:

Phase 2:
·         The greenway will run along 25th Ave S (rather than 24th Ave S) between S Grand St and S Massachusetts St.
·         The greenway will run along 25th Ave S (rather than 26th Ave S) between S Norman St and S Charles St.
Phase 3:
·         The one-way portion of 21st Ave E between E Aloha St and E Roy St will be converted to allow two-way traffic.
·         The one-way portion of 21st Ave E between E John St and E Republican St will be converted to allow two-way traffic.

Phases 2 and 3 of the greenway are expected to reach substantial completion by the end of the year.
  
If you would like more information about the project, please visit our project webpage at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/centralgreenway.htm.

If you have questions or concerns regarding construction, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thank you again for your continued support and patience, and enjoy your new greenway!

Sincerely,

Sandy Lam
Central Area Neighborhood Greenway Construction Communications Officer
206-504-1454
***********Letter from Holy Names Academy
Holy Names Academy does not agree with the change to alter 21st Ave E between E Aloha and E Roy streets to accommodate two-way traffic.  We only learned of the change when we called the City for an update in mid-September on the timing of Phase 3 of the Central Area Neighborhood Greenway. During this conversation, we were surprised to learn that 21st Ave E would now be converted to a two-way street, and we immediately requested a meeting with the City to convey our concerns.  We appreciated the City’s responsiveness, and subsequently met with communications officers Maribel Cruz and Sandy Lam, and senior civil engineers Norene Pen and Carol McMahan.  At the meeting we expressed our serious concerns about making 21st Ave East a two-street for cars, and we shared with them the neighborhood agreement from 1989 that established the street as one-way.  The one-way traffic has been a successful strategy for 26 years, and we believe that a two-way street would not be workable.  The current one-way street preserves parking, reduces congestion, and improves the safety and flow of traffic.

At our meeting with the City officials, we recommended that they consider altering the Greenway to utilize the existing one-way streets on 20th Ave E and 21st Ave E so that both bicycles and cars are moving in the same direction.   This suggestion was not entertained.  Instead, the officials indicated that although the one-way signs will come down on 21st Ave E, the street would remain a de facto one-way street by leaving the signs “Do Not Enter” on the south end of the street.   We have concerns that drivers will not see the signs, and we asked that if the City proceeds with this plan, placement and size of the “Do Not Enter” signs be explored.

Holy Names Academy remains concerned with the change of 21st Ave E from a one-way to a two-way street, and furthermore, we do not support any changes that would reduce parking or change the current neighborhood agreement.  We welcome a meeting with the neighborhood and City officials to discuss this situation further.

Elizabeth Swift
Head of School
Holy Names Academy

**************Letter from Guillaume, MIller Park Neighbors Chair********
I wanted to weigh in because -- although I understand the concerns -- I am not 100% in agreement with some of the comments that have been voiced on this thread.
But before weighing in with my two cents, I also wanted to point out that there might be some potential compromises. Two thoughts:
(1) Could the school buses be moved to 19th Ave instead of 21st Ave? On 19th the buses would crowd the street less and their exhaust would be farther from nearby residences. As it currently stands, I can often smell their exhaust inside our house when they park across the street. I don't worry so much for myself, but I do worry about how this pollution affects our two young daughters.
(2) Could we institute an RPZ for the neighborhood? This would likely solve many of the parking concerns, and could possibly help make the intersections safer -- currently many of the corners are blind because cars are parked right up to each intersection. This is dangerous for bikes as well as for cars.
---
FWIW, here are my opinions:
First, I am really excited that our street is going to become a greenway -- I think it will be wonderful for our street and for our neighborhood.
Second, one thing that I think is true is that the school buses make it unlikely that our street would be viable (or safe) with two-way traffic. As it stands there is often only just enough room to squeeze by when buses are parked on the west side of the street.
Third, although I think it's true that parking can sometimes be difficult to find in our neighborhood (nothing like other parts of capitol hill, but nonetheless challenging at times), I don't agree that this means we need to sacrifice other progressive transportation reforms at the behest of requests for ample parking. I think we can all agree that some people will always need to get around by car, but that better transportation alternatives might allow the rest of us to be less car reliant.
Cheers,
Guillaume

**********Neighbors' Letters below (and in the comments section)********

23rd Ave construction update: E Union St intersection closure this weekend, upcoming work at E Cherry St and in Zone C


Reminder: Intersection closure at E Union St this weekend
This weekend, crews will close the intersection of E Union St and 23rd Ave to traffic to continue working on the water main under the street. The work will begin at 1 PM on Saturday, October 10 and the intersection will reopen no later than 6 AM on Monday, October 12. There will be detours, changes to bus service, and temporary water service interruptions in connection with this work: please see the construction notice for details.

Important note – if you’re trying to reach homes, businesses, and churches near the intersection during a closure, you are allowed to drive into the areas marked for local access. Pedestrian access will also be maintained throughout the work.

We expect to complete the water main work at E Union St during this weekend’s closure. Additional weekend closures will be required for drainage, demolition, and paving work, but have not yet been scheduled.
Upcoming closures at E Cherry St intersection
Starting the weekend of October 16 – 19, crews will close the intersection of E Cherry St and 23rd Ave for two consecutive weekends to work on the storm drain and begin
demolition and paving work. Additional weekends of work will be required this fall. As some of the work is weather dependent, we will provide weekly updates on any changes to the schedule. Please see the construction flyer for more information about the closures.
Later start to early water main work in Zone C
To those of you who received our flyer about water main work starting this weekend between E Union St and E Madison St, the start date for work in Zone C has been pushed out to Monday, October 26. We will share an updated work notice on our website and in next week’s email when the new work details are confirmed.

As we mentioned last week, construction activities will be extending north of E Union St so that crews can continue replacing the water main throughout the corridor. Work on the water main is currently underway in Zone B.
Other ongoing construction activities
  • Crews are working to demolish and repave sidewalks from S Jackson St to E Yesler Way on the east and west sides of 23rd Ave. Please use caution and pay attention to sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours.

For more information

Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm
Email: 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov
Call the 24-hour project hotline: 206-727-8857

If you need this information translated, or to request an interpreter, please call 206-727-8857.

Miller Community Center Advisory Council: care to volunteer?

Activities at Miller Community Center are guided by a volunteer Advisory Council.

The present small, but diligent, group of volunteers would be overjoyed if you would care to join the group.

 Next meeting is Wednesday October 14th from 6:30 to 8 PM at Miller Community Center, 330 - 19th Ave. E.

 More details are available from Center Director Lori Van Norman, (206) 684-4753

BTW: here's  a class you might enjoy:

New Fitness Class at Miller Community Center
Come and realize your own body strength and get fit. Miller is excited to explore new fitness options with a certified instructor who will teach you how to work-out in a safe way, no matter what your fitness level is. We will work together to find the right level for all participants in the class as we begin to build a class where all are comfortable. Join us this Wednesday from 7-8 p.m.
Wednesdays 7:00-8:00 p.m. $40 for the month of October or $15 drop in fee.

Register at the community center or online https://class.seattle.gov/parks/Start/Start.asp

Barcodes: October 138710, November 138711, December 138712


Mapping noise complaints

(Let me know if you are interested in this. andrew_taylor@me.com)


Hope you’re having a great week! I recently came across your site and see that you have provided a great resource for individuals interested in Miller Park.
Trulia’s Lead Geospatial Engineer recently researched areas in Seattle with the highest noise complaints. We found that Capitol Hill and the University District are quite dense in noise complaints. You can check out the article here: http://www.trulia.com/blog/trends/noise-complaint-maps/
If you’d like you can utilize this content for your website or I can create custom content for your site specifically.
You can also check out the full Seattle animated map here: https://cartodb-trulia.cartodb.com/viz/0c43fbca-5b25-11e5-9a6e-0e73ffd62169/embed_map


Yvonne Lee <Yvlee@trulia.com>

23rd Ave construction update: E Union St work update, E James St intersection closure this weekend


E Union St water main work update
The first weekend of water main work at the E Union St and 23rd Ave intersection went well, which means the next closure at this intersection will be the weekend of October 9 – 12. We’ll share a reminder in our email next week with any updates regarding the closure.
Crews work to install a new section of the water main at the intersection of E Union St and 23rd Ave on Saturday, September 26.
Upcoming E James St intersection closure
Our contractor has confirmed that beginning 6 AM this Saturday, October 3, crews will close the E James St and 23rd Ave intersection to complete work on the storm drain. The intersection will reopen no later than 6 AM on Monday, October 5. Southbound travelers, please follow the signed detour on 21st Ave and avoid cutting through on neighborhood streets. 

King County Metro routes 3, 4, and 48 and their bus stops will be affected by this work; look for posted Rider Alerts and learn more by calling Metro at 206-553-3000.


For more information about the work, including a map of the detour route, please see theconstruction notice.
Upcoming construction activities
  • Construction crews are working to demolish and repave sidewalks from S Jackson St to E Yesler Way on the east and west sides of 23rd Ave. Please use caution and pay attention to sidewalk closures and pedestrian detours.
  • Traffic revisions and temporary side street closures will continue as crews replace the water main between E Cherry St and E Union St. During this work, drivers can still travel both north and south on 23rd Ave, though travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Check out the construction notice for details. This work will continue north of E Union St around mid-October – more information coming soon.

For more information

Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/23rd_Ave.htm
Email: 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov
Call the 24-hour project hotline: 206-727-8857