Showing posts with label sound transit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sound transit. Show all posts

Entrance to Ridgecrest Park to close to vehicles during Sound Transit construction

Monday, September 18, 2023

NE 161st St. restoration and Ridgecrest Park parking lot closure

Starting as early as Monday, October 2, 2023 Sound Transit will be closing the west end of NE 161st St for road restoration.

The daytime construction is expected to last to October 6. 

As a result, the driveway to the Ridgecrest Park parking lot will be closed, so vehicles won’t have access to the park. However, pedestrians will still have access.

Residents who live in the construction area will still have access.


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Road closure of 5th Ave from NE 145th to NE 148th St including NE 145th to NB I-5 on-ramp for night work

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

5th Ave from NE 145th Street to
NE 148th Street will be closed at night
As early as Monday, September 11, 2023 Sound Transit will begin closing 5th Ave NE from NE 145th Street to NE 148th Street, including the closure of the NE 145th to Northbound I-5 on-ramp for island removal and storm drain connection. 

This work is part of the future Lynnwood Link Extension light rail project.
 
What:
  • Sound Transit will be performing this work at night to reduce traffic impacts.
  • Local access will be provided to residents who are located inside the road closure area on 5th Ave NE. 
  • Work may involve typical construction noise and vibration activities to adjacent neighbors.
  • This activity will consist of (4) working nights to complete, if the work becomes delayed or takes longer than expected, more road closures will be scheduled and a new flyer will be distributed. 
When:
  • Monday, September 11th through Thursday, September 14th from 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m. the following morning                                                                                
Where:
  • 5th Ave from NE 145th Street to NE 148th Street.

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Sound Transit is gracious but Lake Forest Park residents are not impressed with response to concerns

Friday, August 18, 2023

Standing room only for Lake Forest Park meeting with Sound Transit
Photo by Mike Remarcke
By Diane Hettrick

On Wednesday August 2, 2023, Sound Transit's Stride project team held an informational community meeting regarding plans for the S3 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line along SR 522 / Bothell Way through Lake Forest Park.

The meeting was preceded by a rally held by the Tree Coalition
Photo by Mike Remarcke

A 400+ standing room only crowd filled the gym at Lake Forest Park Elementary School to hear what the Sound Transit team had to say.

Sound Transit plans to build a dedicated bus lane, which they estimate will save commuters 15 minutes on their way to the Lynnwood Link 148th light rail station.

The new bus lane will save an estimated 15 minutes on the commute to the 148th Link station

The new 1.2-mile, dedicated eastbound bus lane through Lake Forest Park will take property on both sides of the road, including an estimated 400 mature trees, and necessitate a two-story concrete retaining wall to hold back the hillside.

People with driveways on the highway will have to back out onto a highway lane, instead of a shoulder.

Not surprising that in tree-loving Lake Forest Park, there has been a significant amount of push-back to these plans, including suggestions on alternatives to a new lane, such as the queue-jumps Sound Transit plans for 145th.

CEO Julie Timms and Bernard Van De Kamp - Program Executive
Photo by Mike Remarcke

Bernard Van De Kamp, the program executive, gave an overview of the project, with the goal of showing how Sound Transit had incorporated community feedback since the project was approved by voters in 2016, clarifying issues related to tree impacts, queue jumps, station size, retaining walls, and noise and environmental impacts.

There were many comments from residents
Photo by Mike Remarcke

The focus of the crowd was the new CEO, Julie Timm. The well-informed and knowledgeable crowd had many questions which Timm frequently stepped in to answer. 

At the end, there appeared to be no change in positions. LFP doesn't want a concrete corridor the length of their city. CEO Timm, while sympathetic to the pain, has a mandate to improve transportation options into the future.

LFP Councilmember Lorri Bodi made a statement to the crowd. Councilmembers are petitioning WSDOT to reduce the width of the bus lane and make the height of the wall slightly less (see letter). Photo by Mike Remarcke

CEO Timm was graceful and understanding of the concerns, of yards being reduced and trees being lost, but she stood firm in the belief that the regional need to move people was more important than the objections of locals in the fight against progress.

In October 2023, there will be a series of 90% design informational sessions along the entire S3 line. If you have any questions about this process, you can contact the project team at brt@soundtransit.org.


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Proposed bus routes to light rail stations - take the survey by August 27, 2023

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

View a larger version of the map here

Lynnwood Link light rail stations will open in Shoreline in 2024. So - how are you going to get to the stations?

King County Metro and Sound Transit want to hear your feedback about proposed service and routes. They made changes based on our feedback to the first plan.  

Help finalize the bus routes by taking this survey by August 27.

Shoreline / Lake Forest Park / Kenmore / Woodway will have access to three local stations: 148th, 185th, and Mountlake Terrace. Parking garages are being built at each location, but bus will be more relieable and certainly cheaper than paying for parking. 

As Link light rail extends to Lynnwood, the Lynnwood Link Connections mobility project will address changing transit needs and improve mobility options for communities in northwest King County and southwest Snohomish County. 

Metro is working with Sound Transit and Community Transit, among other partners, to coordinate bus routes based on feedback from communities.

Visit  Lynnwood Link Connections  to learn more about the potential bus route changes, take the  survey and register for an upcoming online open house.

Translated survey is available in the following languages:  ኣማርኛ | 简体中文 | 繁體字 | 日本語 | 한국어 | Русский | Soomaali | Español | Tagalog | Tiếng Việt  


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Military personnel ride Sound Transit free during Fleet Week August 1-6, 2023

Monday, July 31, 2023

Fleet Week parade 2022 photos by Jan Hansen

During Seattle Fleet Week, members and former members of the Armed Forces, including active duty, veterans and retirees, can ride free on Link light rail, Sounder commuter trains and Sound Transit Express buses.

Service members not in uniform are asked to show their military identification to the transit operator upon boarding a bus or train, or to fare inspectors if requested. 

Valid forms of military I.D. include a Uniformed Identification Card, a Veteran Health Identification Card or a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty Form (also referred to as a DD-214).

Ships from the U.S. Navy, U.S Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy are docked at piers along the Seattle waterfront for the public to tour and enjoy. 

More information on Fleet Week and the Parade of Ships is available here.

All customers riding Sound Transit to Seafair activities should plan ahead and allow plenty of time for traffic delays and road closures. Sign up for Rider Alerts or visit Sound Transit's service alerts page for the latest information.


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CORE urges attendance at rally prior to Sound Transit meeting on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 in Lake Forest Park

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Sound Transit proposes adding a bus lane with retaining walls
on Bothell Way (SR522) in Lake Forest Park

The LFP citizens' group CORE is urging LFP residents to attend the rally prior to the Sound Transit community meeting on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at Lake Forest Park Elementary School, 18500 37th Ave NE.

The rally will start at 5:30pm. The meeting is at 6pm and both Sound Transit and CORE urge all LFP residents to attend.


CORE spokespeople say that "Attending this meeting is the way for citizens of Lake Forest Park to make their experience with Sound Transit, such as they are, known to the Staff and hopefully to the Sound Transit Board of Directors."

They continue: "This is a decisive moment for our community. Attending the meeting should be a priority, if not mandatory, for those who feel left out, marginalized, and seriously concerned about Sound Transit's plans or, for that matter, feel supportive of Sound Transit's plans for SR522/145th Bus Rapid Transit project."

CORE (Citizens Organized to Rethink Expansion of HWY 522 in Lake Forest Park) is an LFP-based citizen action organization. We are pro-mass transit and pro-Light Rail in Western Washington. We are a registered 501(c)(4) organization. Our goal is to educate the residents of Lake Forest Park that there is "a better way" for Sound Transit than building a devastating dedicated eastbound bus lane through the heart of our City, a design Sound Transit is using on 145th Ave that does not include any dedicated bus lanes.

Email CORE for more information: info@lfpcore.org


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Sound Transit meeting Wednesday to respond to community concerns about the Stride 3 (S3) bus line through LFP

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Sound Transit CEO speaks to a packed house
at the LFP City Council. Photo by Mike Remarcke
On Wednesday August 2, 2023, the Stride project team will host an informational meeting on the S3 Line in Lake Forest Park. 

At this meeting, Sound Transit staff will give a 30-minute presentation to show how Sound Transit has incorporated community feedback since the project was approved by voters in 2016, clarifying issues related to tree impacts, queue jumps, station size, retaining walls, and noise and environmental impacts.

We will also share what refinements can be made at this level of design. This meeting will include an hour-long moderated question-and-answer session with the Stride project team.

When: Wednesday, August 2, 2023, from 6pm to 7:30pm.
Where: Lake Forest Park Elementary School: 18500 37th Ave NE, Lake Forest Park, WA, 98155

We will be using Slido to help collect questions in advance for our Q/A and hear your feedback. 

To send your questions ahead of the meeting, please click here or go to www.slido.com and enter 4141819.

Tips and Reminders for submitting questions
  • Questions can be submitted anonymously.
  • We encourage you to access Slido before the meeting to review and upvote what others have posted.
  • In addition, members of the public will also be able to ask questions directly to staff at the meeting via moderated Q/A.
If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact us at brt@soundtransit.org.

In October 2023, there will be a series of 90% design informational sessions along the entire S3 line



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Nora Friend to join Sound Transit as Chief Communications and Engagement Officer; Russ Arnold named Deputy CEO, Chief Service Delivery Officer

Monday, July 24, 2023

Nora Friend and Russ Arnold named to executive positions at Sound Transit

Sound Transit has announced two new executive appointments that will provide the agency with a greater focus on -- and shared responsibility for -- the care of and communication to the people and communities it serves through the advancement of its mission, vision, and organizational values.

Nora Friend will join the agency as its Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, a newly created position overseeing Government and Community Relations as well as Communications, Marketing and Engagement. Friend most recently served as Vice President of Public Affairs and Business Development at TALGO, Inc., a Spanish high-speed rail manufacturer. Friend will start her new role on August 14.

In addition, the agency announced the promotion of Russ Arnold as Deputy CEO and Chief Service Delivery Officer. In this newly created role, Arnold will oversee the rider experience through the Sound Transit system as well as external system operations and maintenance.

“Nora brings deep national-level experience collaborating with local and state stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest to congressional delegations in DC. Her leadership will push greater transparency in Sound Transit’s communications and trust-building with our riders and communities,” said Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm. 
“Russ’ proven experience driving internal change to elevate passenger-first values in Sound Transit is essential to building the trust of our riders and to the successfully activation of Link Extensions over the next several years. 
'The next several years are critical for the success of Sound Transit’s mission to connect and expand the region’s high-capacity transit network, and having leaders with this level of passion, vision, and expertise puts us ever closer to successfully completing our values-based mission.”

Friend joined Talgo in 1994 and has led the successful establishment of a subsidiary of a foreign company in the US market as a key competitor at the same levels of other original equipment manufacturers. In her most recent role as Vice President of Public Affairs and Business Development, she was responsible for all government, community and, corporate communications, media, marketing, and institutional relations as well as all client interfacing. She represented the firm at a variety of industry associations, including the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Friend started her professional career working for the City of Boston's Public Facility Department, where she oversaw the revitalization of economically depressed commercial and residential neighborhoods. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from Boston University and a postgraduate degree in Advanced Languages, English to Spanish, from Georgetown University.

“I am excited to be joining Sound Transit at such an important juncture in its growth,” said Friend. “I know from my experience how important communications and relationship building are in the industry, and I’m looking forward to working with Julie and the entire team at the Agency to deepen and extend our work in those areas.”

Russ Arnold joined Sound Transit in 2018 as the Agency’s first Chief Customer Experience Officer. In that position, he transformed the agency’s understanding and priorities associated with the daily needs of all riders and elevated our commitment for current and future services to connect people and places and to improve lives. 

He has led numerous changes in Sound Transit from system wayfinding and accessibility strategies to re-imagining fare compliance by creating one of the industry's most equitable and passenger-centric policies. He enters every room with a strong and undeterred voice to advocate for the needs of riders and future operations in all of Sound Transit’s planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance activities.

Prior to Sound Transit, Arnold held management-level experience at transit agencies around the Country, including as Director of Marketing and Communications with the San Mateo County Transit District. 

Earlier in his career, Arnold worked in marketing at the University of Oregon and The Ohio State University. He earned a master’s in marketing and communication from Franklin University and a bachelor’s in visual communications from Ohio Dominican College.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to take our focus on how our operations affect our riders to the next level,” said Arnold. “As our system grows and we increasingly become an operating agency, we need to ensure that we are prepared to deliver the quality service that we want our riders to have.”

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Protests in Lake Forest Park over Sound Transit design for new bus lane through the city

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Protesters rally in front of LFP City Hall
By Diane Hettrick
Photos by Mike Remarcke except as noted

Over 100 people gathered in front of Lake Forest Park City Hall on Thursday, July 13, 2023 in advance of an appearance by a Sound Transit executive at the City Council meeting.

CORE speakers rally the crowd

The protestors, anchored by the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation and a new citizen committee called Citizens Organized to Rethink Expansion (CORE) mobilized in response to Sound Transit's plan to expand Bothell Way through Lake Forest Park to add a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane through the length of the city.

The planned transit lane would require acquisition of private property along Bothell Way, removal of 490 trees alongside the road, and construction of a variable height concrete retaining wall along the west side of the street.

Signs say "A Better Way" "Save Our Trees" "Save our LFP"
Photo by Janet Way

Protesters held signs and chanted "JUST SAY NO to removing 500 trees!"

Protesters move into the council chamber to witness the presentation by Sound Transit

As the meeting was ready to begin, most of the demonstrators filed into the council chamber, filling all the available seats. The overflow went into a conference room where they viewed the meeting on a large screen.

Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm addresses the LFP Council.
Timm joined Sound Transit in September 2022.

They question the need for a dedicated bus lane, saying that it will take years of construction and millions of dollars just to save potentially 15 minutes on the route from Woodinville to the station at 148th.

The crowd overflow watched the meeting from a conference room.

The Stewardship Foundation pointed out that: 

LFP is only a small fraction of the overall Bus Rapid Transit route that links Seattle to Kenmore, Bothell, and beyond. 
Yet the inherent inequity between impacts to our city and our neighbors is stark and undeniable: the small stretch within LFP will bear well over 50% of the project’s environmental and property impacts, and represents 40% of the overall budget. 
Modifications will save time, taxpayer money and reduce impacts to the environment.

Benji made his own sign. Photo by Janet Way

The BRT route turns west onto NE 145th and continues to the 148th Shoreline South Transit Station. Yet no similar modifications are planned for 145th.

CORE wants Sound Transit to change the plan and use the design planned for 145th with queue bypass lane segments and bus transit signal priorities. 

Sound Transit data shows this design on 145th, one that does not use any lengthy dedicated bus lanes, saves up to 60% of the 15.6-minute shorter bus ride from the Shoreline Light Rail station all the way to the Bothell UW Campus, during the weekday afternoon rush hour. 

Applying this design in Lake Forest benefits everyone: It is less costly, takes less time to build, will still provide Bus Riders passing through LFP a faster transit, save money and cause far less devastating impact of the City Of Lake Forest Park.

A sell-out crowd observed the proceedings.

From the Stewardship Foundation:

Along with our City administration, City Council, and other concerned community groups, the Stewardship Foundation requests that Sound Transit adopt design refinements to reduce harm to the environment, limit property takings and better preserve our quality of life.


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Take the Lynnwood Link Connections Survey

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Elevated Link train crossing over roadway
with Metro bus on it
As Link light rail extends to Lynnwood, the Lynnwood Link Connections mobility project will address changing transit needs and improve mobility options for communities in northwest King County and southwest Snohomish County. 

Metro is working with Sound Transit and Community Transit, among other partners, to coordinate bus routes based on feedback from communities.

Get ready for changes to your neighborhood bus routes! 

To support the opening of Lynnwood Link light rail in 2024, King County Metro and Sound Transit are creating new service plans. 

Help finalize these bus routes by taking the survey by August 27.

Visit Lynnwood Link Connections to learn more about the potential bus route changes, take the survey and register for an upcoming online open house.


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CORE rally at LFP City Hall on Thursday, July 13, 2023

Sunday, July 9, 2023


Bothell Way now and in BRT design view

CORE (Citizens Organized to Rethink the Expansion of HWY 522 through Lake Forest Park)
is a registered, 501(c)(4) entity, composed of Lake Forest Park residents. email info@corelfp.org

The group is concerned about the Sound Transit plan to add a dedicated bus lane and concrete retaining walls along SR 522 / Bothell Way through Lake Forest Park for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to the 148th South Shoreline transit station.

They are planning a community rally on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 6:30pm, prior to the LFP city council meeting with Sound Transit's CEO. Lake Forest Park City Hall at Town Center, 17425 Ballinger Way NE.

Their ask of Sound Transit:

Use the design planned for 145th from the new South Shoreline Light Rail Station by I-5 to Bothell Way: queue bypass lane segments and bus transit signal priorities. 

Sound Transit data shows this design on 145th, one that does not use any lengthy dedicated bus lanes, saves up to 60% of the 15.6-minute shorter bus ride from the Shoreline Light Rail station all the way to the Bothell UW Campus, during the weekday afternoon rush hour. 

Applying this design in Lake Forest Park benefits everyone: It is less costly, takes less time to build, will still provide Bus Riders passing through LFP a faster transit, save money and cause far less devastating impact of the City Of Lake Forest Park.

Update: "Ask" paragraphs revised


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Daytime Sound Transit construction at SR 104 interchange, NE 185th, NE 157th, NE 145th on Monday June 19, 2023

Friday, June 16, 2023

Noise, possible delays, but no road closures for daytime work at four Sound Transit locations along the Lynnwood Link on Monday, June 19th.

As early as Monday, June 19, Sound Transit’s contractor will work at the SR 104 interchange in Shoreline for sub-grade preparation and material transportation. 

The contractor has obtained a temporary noise variance to complete this work.
  • What: Construction at the SR 104 interchange.
  • When: Monday, June 19, from 7am until 4pm
  • Where: SR 104 interchange in Shoreline.
  • More: Plan ahead and budget extra time to reach your destination.

Monday, June 19th, contractors will be performing early morning as a part of the Light Rail Lynnwood Link Extension project. 

The work will consist of 
  • Utility Work at NE 185th St and 8th Ave NE, 
  • Roadway Demolition and Export at 185th and 5th Ave NE, 
  • Bio-Retention Wall Work 8th Ave NE, with 
  • various other activities performed inside the NE 185th St Station/Garage.
  • When: Monday, June 19, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Where: 
    • NE 185th St Station Garage.
    • 8th Ave NE between NE 185th St. and NE 188th St.
    • NE 185th St from 8th Ave NE to 5th Ave NE.

Early construction at 1st Ave NE between NE 157th St. and NE 159th St.

On Monday, June 19th, contractors will be performing early morning work as part of the Lynnwood Link Extension. Crews will be working on storm drains on 1st Ave NE from NE 157th to NE 159th St.
  • What: Neighbors should expect construction noise from heavy equipment vehicles such as work trucks, an excavator, a backhoe, loaders, forklifts, a roller, light plants/generators, and various other construction equipment.
  • When: Monday, June 19, from 7am to 5pm
  • Where: 1st Ave NE between NE 157th and NE 159th St.

On Monday, June 19, contractors will be working on the NE 145th Station Garage
as a part of the Lynnwood Link Extension.

  • What: Neighbors should expect construction noise from heavy equipment vehicles such as work trucks, excavator, backhoe, loaders, forklifts, roller, light plants/generators, and various other construction related equipment.
  • When: Monday, June 19, from 7am to 5pm
  • Where: NE 145th Station Garage between NE 149th St. and NE 145th St.


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LFP City Council Special Meeting, Thursday, May 18, 6:30pm re Retaining Wall Guidelines

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Above current view of Bothell Way
Below: Design view of planned retaining wall

The Lake Forest Park City Council has scheduled a special meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2023, beginning at 6:30pm, immediately following the Budget and Finance Committee meeting, which will run from 6:00 to 6:30pm.

The topic of the special meeting is: Continued discussion regarding Retaining Wall Guidelines.

This meeting will be held in the hybrid format, both in person at City Hall and via Zoom. Zoom participation instructions are on the agenda.

No public comment will be taken at the special meeting. The next opportunity for public comment on this topic is the regular meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2023.

Agenda link: City Council Special Meeting Agenda – May 18, 2023



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LFP Public Hearing: Proposed Code Amendments regarding Retaining Walls

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Bothell Way in Lake Forest Park -
current view and with proposed retaining walls for Bus Rapid Transit
City of Lake Forest ParkPUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 – 7:00 P.M.
Proposed Code Amendments regarding Retaining Walls

For links to retaining wall discussions at city council meetings, see Sound Transit BRT page.

The City of Lake Forest Park City Council has been reviewing proposed amendments to the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code (LFPMC) code regarding Retaining Walls for adoption under Ordinance Number 23-1263. This ordinance proposes to amend Title 12, Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Places, of the LFPMC by creating a new Chapter 12.50, Retaining Walls.

The public hearing will be conducted during the City Council’s regular meeting on May 11, 2023. The meeting will begin at 7:00pm. and the public hearing will commence thereafter. The public hearing will be held in person at the City Council Chambers and virtually. 

Instructions for how to participate in the virtual public hearing may be found on the agenda for the meeting. Written testimony will be accepted prior to the meeting and distributed to the City Council and verbal testimony will be accepted during the public hearing.

Written comments should be submitted to City Clerk Matt McLean at mmclean@cityoflfp.com no later than 5:00pm local time on the date of the hearing. 

Any person wishing to provide oral testimony at the hearing is encouraged to register via the Remote Public Comment Sign-in Form on the City’s Hybrid City Council Meetings webpage by 5:00pm on the date of the meeting.

Persons who have not signed up on the online public hearing sign-in sheet will be called upon to raise their hand through the Zoom meeting webinar feature and will be added to the speakers’ queue by the City Clerk, to be called upon by the Meeting Chair or designee. A request to speak can also be made by phone directly to the City Clerk at 206-368-5540 prior to 5:00pm on the date of the meeting.


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Sound Transit: Online open house about Stride bus rapid transit through April 8

Monday, March 20, 2023

Rendering of the Shoreline/Seattle 15th Ave NE westbound platform

Sound Transit wants to hear from you! 

Since releasing the Stride S3 Line 60% draft design plans in November 2022, the project team has worked to finalize the 60% designs. 

Sound Transit also finalized the Stride S1 and S2 Line 60% designs. Learn about the latest designs and share your thoughts about construction between February 22 and April 8, 2023. 

The online open house is available in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. 

Stop by an in-person drop-in session 

The project team is hosting in-person drop-in sessions for each city along the Stride S3 Line project corridor. We hope you will attend to learn about the latest designs. Subject matter experts will be present to answer questions. 


The S3 line segment along NE 145th St includes BRT stations at the Shoreline South/148th light rail station and on NE 145th Street at 15th Ave NE and 30th Ave NE. 

There will also be roadway widening for bus lanes and new sidewalks westbound between 8th Ave NE and 6th Ave NE, and in both directions between approximately 12th Ave NE and 17th Ave NE. Sidewalk upgrades are also associated with the station located at 30th Ave NE.

Design refinements include:
  • Roadway, driveway, and sidewalk/planting strip refinements to reduce property and tree impacts.
  • Utility design and relocation.
  • Design of stormwater management systems.
  • Pavement design and signage.

The dates and times for the in-person drop-in sessions are: 
If you have questions about the latest designs for Stride S1 and S2, please email brt@soundtransit.org.  



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Give your feedback about the Stride S3 bus rapid transit route and design in in-person sessions

Monday, March 13, 2023

Photo courtesy Sound Transit
Join us at an in-person drop-in session to learn about Stride S3’s 60% design plans for cities along the SR 522 corridor.

*Since sharing the preliminary 60% design plans in November 2022, we’ve collaborated with transit partners, members of the public, and city jurisdictions to continue advancing the designs.

Stride S3 in-person drop-in sessions

A drop-in session is an opportunity for people in the community to have their questions answered by subject-matter experts. 

This session is a highly effective way to gather feedback from community members that have variety of concerns ranging from property owner affects to seeing specific design plans. 
  • Community members will be able to speak one-on-one with project staff and responses will be recorded and summarized. 
  • Subject-matter experts will be available to answer questions about the project’s background, design plans, and the property acquisition process. 
  • Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the latest segment designs and take a pre-construction survey focused on what the project team should keep in mind about their community as construction plans are developed.
The dates and times for the in-person drop-in sessions are:
If you have questions about the latest designs for Stride S3, please email brt@soundtransit.org



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Executive Constantine proposes a new eight block civic campus in downtown Seattle

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

King county administration building
Photo courtesy King County
King County Executive Dow Constantine delivered his 2023 State of the County address to the King County Council Tuesday, March 7, 2023 that highlighted progress in the last year and continued work ahead, including the need for action in the state Legislature to avoid budget cuts this fall.

In his address, Executive Constantine launched the Civic Campus initiative, a proposal to reimagine the courthouse neighborhood, and proposed building a Sound Transit light rail station on the site of the King County Administration Building. 

He also urged the legislature to remove the 1% cap on the county’s primary funding source, and build statewide solutions to behavioral health.

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Op-Ed: Sound Transit bus lane through LFP would deforest Bothell Way and shift the road west into 110 properties

Saturday, March 4, 2023

CORE is a group of concerned neighbors who live in LFP, sharing information about ST3 and its impacts on our community. Contact: info@lfpcore.org or see www.lfpcore.org
----


Lake Forest Park prides itself on its mature trees and green entry along Bothell Way, SR 522, its central transit corridor. This contributes to the city’s character as a green village. 

These trees and our environment, the very identity of Lake Forest Park, are at threat. 


Sound Transit plans to construct a 1.2-mile, dedicated eastbound bus lane through Lake Forest Park as part of their SR522/145th BRT (bus rapid transit) project. 

This will remove 490 trees, deforesting Bothell Way in the city. Also, it will widen the road, shifting it west, cutting into the properties of 110 residents. 

Tall concrete retaining walls, requiring extensive road construction, will be built to support the new steep cuts. This will destroy the character of Lake Forest Park, turning our city entry into a concrete corridor. 

NE 165th Before - A green village
NE 165th After - A concrete corridor

Luckily, there is a better way and it is not too late to spare our city’s trees and environment while still achieving important regional transit goals.

We are a small community of nearly 14,000 residents. Many of us live here because we value a close relationship with nature. 

Sound Transit has avoided providing community transparency, meaningful analysis, and meaningful community outreach during their design process for the SR522/145th BRT project in Lake Forest Park. 
This project, currently at the 60% design stage, could have serious negative consequences on our community. We ask Sound Transit to modify the design, reducing impacts and costs.

Between 2019 and June 2020, Sound Transit dramatically changed the alignment, shifting Bothell Way to the west, implementing the “West Shift.” This shift impacts 110 property owners and the greater Lake Forest Park Community. 

Sound Transit never informed us of the magnitude of this shift or the impacts created by this “West Shift.” The “West Shift” changes the character of our community, affecting residential housing disproportionately.

Sound Transit has focused solely on creating a Business Access and Transit (BAT) lane, disregarding all other factors. Their plan does not address the concerns of our community. 

Nor does it consider the most likely alternative to the BAT lane: Queue Jumps. Queue Jumps are dedicated lanes and signal priority at busy intersections that allow transit to get a head start on traffic. Sound Transit designed Queue Jumps for NE 145th Street, where Seattle prohibited BAT lanes. 


We ask Sound Transit to modify the design and compare the cost and efficiency of Queue Jumps to the dedicated BAT lane. This will substantially reduce the amount of tree removals, the need for walls, property acquisitions, and overall cost. Queue jumps would achieve nearly the same transit time savings, which with the BAT build, is only 2.3 minutes during the three-hour, eastbound, afternoon rush hour.

The current plan removes 490 trees along the alignment, deforesting Bothell Way. With this expansion, the highway moves approximately 10’-12’ closer to the west side homes, removing the landscaping from 60,000 square feet of our neighbors’ backyards. 

There is no plan for noise mitigation. Instead, on the west side of Bothell Way, there are concrete retaining walls, up to 16’ tall, along nearly the length of the alignment. These retaining walls create a concrete corridor that will send sound up these faces and also eastward, across the highway. On the new sidewalk next to the highway, the sound will exceed 80 decibels.

Buses will run every 10 minutes, up and down both sides of Bothell Way, totaling 220 trips daily. 


Sound Transit’s SR522 Noise and Vibration Study did not sample sound along the alignment at the most impacted residential areas. In fact, the report was completed before the “West Shift.” Also, an outside agency never completed an Environmental Impact Statement, as typically required by Washington State.

Sound Transit’s plan for widening the highway on the east side of Bothell Way shows that at Bsche’tla creek, the steep banks of the creek and the buffer zones are “cleared and grubbed,” removing over 28 trees, clearing the understory, making this slide-prone area more unstable. 

This construction impacts habitat and nearby businesses, requiring even more property acquisitions on the east side of Bothell Way, south of 155th Street NE.

Regarding budget, this project has the most expensive cost per mile in ST3. The price tag for ST3 ranges from $626 million to $651 million. Of the 205 total property acquisitions, 110 are in Lake Forest Park. 

Sound Transit budgeted $83 million for the property acquisition costs in LFP. The overall cost for SR522 / NE 145 BRT is over $250 million, or 40% of the total ST3 budget.

We support transit. 

We request a more equitable, environmentally healthy, sustainable, and contextual design that we can all be proud of when this Project is completed and it becomes our legacy for the next 100 years. The best way to achieve these goals is to modify Sound Transit’s current plan utilizing queue jumps instead of a dedicated eastbound BAT lane.

What You Can Do:


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Sound Transit hosting online open house and in-person drop in sessions about Stride 3 bus rapid transit (BRT)

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Proposed bus stop design for Stride 3 on Bothell Way

Sound Transit has launched an online open house for the Stride bus rapid transit (BRT) project through April 8, 2023 at https://stridebrt.participate.online 

The public can learn more about the latest design for the project and provide comment through an online survey. In addition to English, the online open house is available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Sound Transit will also be hosting the following public meeting drop-in sessions for the public to learn more about the design, ask questions and share thoughts on future construction.

March 15: Lake Forest Park
Brookside Elementary School
17447 37th Ave NE

3pm – 7pm

March 22: Shoreline/Seattle
Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church
14724 1st Ave NE

3pm – 7pm

March 28: Kenmore
Kenmore City Hall
18120 68th Ave NE

4pm – 8pm

The Stride program is now at 60% design. The 30% design phase was completed in 2021 and 2022. At final design, the plans are finalized and made ready for construction.  Sound Transit anticipates starting construction in 2024-2025 and starting service on some lines as early as 2026-2027.

With buses running as often as every 10 minutes, Stride will be a fast, frequent, and reliable bus service connecting to light rail and to communities north, east, and south of Lake Washington. Similar to light rail service, Stride is designed for convenient travel with fast arrivals and departures, including off-board fare payment and multiple-door entry and exit. New bus lanes and transit priority improvements will help riders avoid traffic.

The Stride bus fleet will include battery electric buses (BEBs) for a cleaner, more sustainable way to travel in the region.


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Upcoming 60% design engagement for Stride S3 Line bus

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Expect changes to Route 522
and to Bothell Way
From Sound Transit

We released the Stride S3 Line 60% draft design plans for Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore in November 2022. 

(Stride S3 is the bus rapid transit line from Woodinville to the Sound Transit stations on the Lynnwood Link.)

Since then, we have continued to advance the designs. Later this spring, an online open house will be available to learn more about the 60% designs for the Stride S3 Line as well as the S1 Line and S2 Line. 

Information about partner agency projects will also be available.

The project team will host drop-in sessions in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore where the public can speak with subject matter experts and learn more about design refinements. 

Look for another project update soon with additional details on the online open house and drop-in sessions.



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