Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts

Bridge to Edmonds and other bike projects considered by Shoreline city council

Monday, April 22, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

The Shoreline city council heard public comments on the city’s proposed Transportation Improvement Plan at a public hearing on April 15, 2024.

This is the third article of four covering comments from the council about this year’s proposed plan for the next six-years of transportation projects.


An aerial map prepared by advocates from interurbangap.org shows possible locations of a bike bridge connecting the Interurban Trail between Shoreline and Edmonds

The council heard comments from bicycle advocates in support of a bike bridge over NE 205th St (SR 104) connecting the Interurban Trail from Shoreline to Edmonds.

Council member John Ramsdell spoke in favor of adding the bike bridge project to the city’s transportation plan and said, “I’m a cyclist myself, crossing SR 104 is scary as a cyclist”.

A screenshot shows council member John Ramsdell expressing support for adding a bike bridge to Edmonds to the city’s list of transportation projects 

According to data received from WSDOT, the intersection where the Interurban Trail crosses SR 104 has been the site of two recent serious injury collisions involving bicyclists.

If the council chooses to include the Edmonds bike bridge to the Transportation Improvement Plan, it would be added to a long list of other bike and pedestrian projects already on the plan.

In comments about the plan, councilmember Keith Scully said, “I want to say how delighted I am that we have a list of projects and not a single one of them is solely motor vehicle…”, he said.

Ten of the nineteen projects listed in the Transportation Improvement Plan will primarily benefit vehicle traffic - such as the Road Surface Maintenance Program (#4), the roundabouts on 145th (#7), and the 145th (#6) and 175th (#11) corridor projects.

Voters approved a sales tax in 2018 to pay for new sidewalks (#2) which will pay for nine new sidewalks across the city.

The sidewalk rehabilitation program (#1) is paid for with vehicle license fees and will improve existing sidewalks.

A map of projects included in the Transportation Improvement Plan shows locations of additional pedestrian and bicycle projects that might be included

New sidewalks are planned on Ballinger Way (#15) and 200th (#14) and new bike lanes are planned on Meridian between 175th and 200th (#13).

Two projects funded by Sound Transit will likely be included in future versions of the Transportation Improvement Plan.

Sound Transit will pay for a new sidewalk on 30th Ave NE between NE 145th St to NE 147th St.

Sound Transit also will pay for a project the city is calling the “28th Ave NE Bikeway” to paint sharrows on 28th between 145th and 150th.

The city is calling a network of sharrows on streets running parallel to 145th the “Westside Street Off-Corridor Bike Network” which will connect to the 148th Street Non-Motorized Bridge (#8).

An Eastside Off-Corridor Bike Network (#12) is in early stages of planning.

Studies on the safety of sharrows have been inconclusive with some studies finding them to be ineffective at improving safety for bicyclists.

The city envisions a Trail Along the Rail (#9), a shared-use path running parallel to the light rail line, but has not allocated funding to purchase property to fill gaps.

Some gaps north of the 148th bike bridge could be filled by the 3rd Ave NE Connectors project (#19) but other gaps will be send bicyclists and pedestrians onto nearby streets.

The council will vote on whether to adopt the Transportation Improvement Plan on May 13.


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175th tests Shoreline’s commitment to bike lanes and tree preservation

Saturday, April 20, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

This is the second article of four covering comments from the city council about Shoreline’s proposed Transportation Improvement Plan that was reviewed on April 15.


A map from the WSDOT crash data portal shows ten years
of fatal and serious injury collisions along 175th 

According to data from WSDOT, in the past ten years, there have been eleven serious injury crashes and one fatal crash along 175th street, making it one of Shoreline’s most dangerous roads.

The transportation improvement plan lists two very different projects for 175th street - one on the east side of I-5 and one on the west.

The proposed safety changes on the east side would put 175th between 5th and 15th on a road diet - narrowing the four-lane road to three while adding bike lanes without widening the road (or removing trees). The east side project is unfunded and could cost an estimated $2.3 million.

The west side projects would widen the road to add more capacity for vehicles, mitigate earthquake risks and make room for shared use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists. The west side portion is partially funded, has a projected cost of over $88 million and will require the removal of 274 trees.

A screen shot shows Council member Annette Ademasu saying, “I would like to see options where we can see reduced width sidewalks”

Councilmember Annette Ademasu told city engineers to provide options with narrower sidewalks. “I would like to see options where we can see reduced width sidewalks and have less impervious surfaces and be able to save more trees and go around trees,“ she said.

Ademasu also indicated she prefers continuing to keep 175th bike-free. “I really like how you’re doing the bike corridors on the slower paced roads because that will help with bike safety,” she said.

Bike lanes on 175th have been part of Shoreline’s Bike Plan since at least 2011 and the new Transportation Element of Shoreline’s Comprehensive Plan envisions protected biked lanes that would be safe enough for children to ride on.

A screen shot shows Council member Keith Scully saying, “what compromises can we make in order to save trees? And the test for me is 175th.”

Councilmember Keith Scully told city staff, “so instead of saying: ‘how wide do we need it to move pedestrians most efficiently? How protected does the bike lane need to be for maximum safety?’… Let’s start by saying what sacrifices can we make, what compromises can we make in order to save trees. And the test for me is 175th.“
An aerial view shows the 175th and Meridian intersection, the location of phase-one of the 175th corridor project and the site where a collapse could be caused by an earthquake 

The 175th project will be completed in phases starting with phase one which includes seismic mitigations and improvements to the intersection of 175th and Meridian Ave.

The city says an earthquake could cause portions of 175th street adjacent to Ronald Bog to collapse and has applied for grants to pay for the mitigations.

Scully and Ademasu worked together to bring the 175th street project back for discussion again at the June 3rd city council meeting.


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Staff shortages and cooling real estate revenue slowing Shoreline’s transportation plans

Friday, April 19, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

The Shoreline city council heard public comments on the city’s proposed Transportation Improvement Plan at a public hearing on April 15, 2024.

This is the first article of four covering comments from the council about that plan.

A chart from the last page of the Transportation Improvement Plan shows funded and unfunded projects 

The six-year transportation plan and the public hearing are both mandated by state law. The plan must be updated every year by the city to give residents visibility into which transportation projects will be funded (and not funded) between 2025-2030.

The estimated total cost for all the projects listed in the plan could come to $360 million but $163 million of that is currently unfunded.

A screenshot shows Mayor Chris Roberts saying,
“Shoreline is the little city that could”
Mayor Chris Roberts expressed optimism about the city’s ability to find ways to get projects funded. 

“I like to say Shoreline is the little city that could. 

"I mean, look at some of the projects that we have accomplished over the last 20 years,” Roberts said in reference to the $140 million Aurora corridor project completed in 2017 and the recently funded 145th corridor, I5 interchange and 148th non-motorized bridge projects which together will cost $157 million.

The city is asking the council to provide more money from its general fund for transportation projects because it has already spent most of its funds to match federal grants for large transportation projects.

These matching funds come from Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET) which are declining with the cooling of the real estate market. 

A screenshot shows Councilmember Eben Pobee
questioning the city’s strategy for funding
transportation projects with declining REET revenues 
Councilmember Eben Pobee questioned the city’s request to draw money from the general fund. 

“In the last quarter of 2023 when we looked at our projections… what we saw was that there was a huge reduction in the cash inflow specifically for that” Pobee said, 

“I’m wondering how strategically it’s going to be, for our general fund to continue to match these grants… “

Without money from the general funds, the city will be unable to take on smaller traffic safety projects according to city staff. 

But even with money, the city’s transportation plans are slowed down by staff shortages. 

In response to questions from Roberts, city staff said that in addition to budgetary constraints, the city is understaffed and does not have sufficient engineers and project managers to drive all its transportation projects.

The city has five vacant engineering positions and is trying to fill a term limited position to complete a sidewalk on NE 200th to serve nearby Cascade K-8 school. 


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Shoreline city council to discuss goals and transportation plan

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Back row from left: Councilmembers John Ramsdell, Betsy Robertson, Annette Ademasu, Eben Pobee, Keith Scully Front row from left: Mayor Chris Roberts, Deputy Mayor Laura Mork

By Oliver Moffat

On Monday, April 15, 2024 at 7pm the Shoreline city council will be discussing the City Council Goals and Work Plan and holding a Public Hearing and Discussion of the Transportation Improvement Plan. The public can attend in person at Shoreline City Hall or virtually online. Details on attending and providing public comment are available on the city’s website.

A map from the 2025-2030 Transportation Improvement Plan shows
funded and unfunded projects across the city.

What’s new in the city’s Transportation Improvement Plan?


The city’s transportation improvement plan is updated every year and serves as a six-year roadmap for which transportation projects will be funded and which projects will not be funded.

Here’s a brief summary of what is new in this year’s transportation improvement plan compared to last year’s.

All five unfunded projects in the plan are on the east-side of town (NE 175th, NE 185th, Ballinger Way, 15th NE and 3rd NE).

A map from the city’s Transportation Impact Fee Rate Study shows
High Activity Areas to receive focused planning

What’s new in the city’s Goals and Work Plan?


Each year the council sets goals to direct the work the city does. Here are some highlights from this year’s goals that are new compared to last year’s goals.

  • The city says they will amend the tree code to “streamline administration and improve outcomes”.
  • The city will conduct focused planning on its high activity areas and neighborhood commercial centers and corridors.
  • In 2025, the city plans to build sidewalks along 8th Ave NW from Richmond Beach Road to Sunset Park and along 19th Ave NE between 196th and 205th streets in the Ballinger neighborhood.
  • The city plans to design and consider construction of new parks including Westminster Park, Rotary, West Echo Lake, 192nd/Hemlock, Edwin Pratt, South Ronald Bog and South Twin Ponds.
  • A new action was added to develop a city asset management program.
  • New parking enforcement is planned across the city.
  • The city plans to develop an “equity needs map” for analysis and to inform decision making.
  • The city will implement the recently approved Human Services Strategic Plan.
  • And new this year is a goal to enhance the city’s emergency management plans.

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Celebrating 30 years of Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service and looking to the future

Monday, April 8, 2024

Two new Amtrak engine to be built by Siemens
Rendering courtesy WSDOT

OLYMPIA – Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service celebrated its 30-year anniversary on April 1, 2024. On this date in 1994, the Washington State Department of Transportation and Amtrak launched a single daily roundtrip between Seattle and Portland. This train supplemented the nationally funded long distance and regional service that had operated in the Pacific Northwest since Amtrak was formed in 1971.

Today the state-funded Amtrak Cascades system serves 18 cities in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Since its inception in April 1994, Amtrak Cascades has carried more than 18 million passengers. Its most popular stops along the 461-mile route include Seattle’s King Street Station, Portland’s Union Station, and Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“This 30-year milestone was made possible through the collaborative efforts of many partners, communities, elected officials and our valued passengers,” said Jason Biggs, director of WSDOT’s Rail, Freight, and Ports Division. “We’ve progressed significantly over the last three decades to meet the growing population and economy of our region, but today we reflect on where it all started.”

Train interior. Image courtesy WSDOT

Six months after the first train left Seattle, the service further expanded in October 1994 when the Oregon Department of Transportation and Amtrak added a daily train between Eugene and Portland. In May 1995 the service grew further to include trips between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Since that time, Washington and Oregon have worked together to schedule more daily trips. Today there are a total of 12 daily trains between Seattle and Portland; four between Portland and Eugene; and four between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. 

In 2024, WSDOT anticipates ridership on Amtrak Cascades to approach one million passengers annually.

“We’re thrilled to see so many people continuing to ride and support Amtrak Cascades over the years,” said Suzanne Carlson, administrator of ODOT’s Public Transportation Division. 
“As a regular Amtrak Cascades rider, I know how important this option is for all of us. We are fortunate to have an environmentally friendly, relaxing way to travel – and that’s going to become even more important as we look to grow and improve our service in the Pacific Northwest.”

Image courtesy WSDOT

As Amtrak Cascades looks toward the future, Amtrak and the states of Washington and Oregon are introducing a new fleet of state-of-the art trains that are scheduled to debut in 2026. 

The new trains, funded through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, are part of a nationwide transformation designed to revolutionize the passenger rail experience. 

The first Amtrak Airo trains will go to the Amtrak Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest. Both Washington and Oregon also are developing Amtrak Cascades service development plans to add more frequent and reliable daily service in the years ahead. WSDOT’s preliminary plan is available for comment through April 18, 2024.

“Today we pause to remember that it all began as a strategic decision to invest in passenger rail service by visionary leaders in the 1990s. We honor their foresight,” said Biggs. “We are grateful for the support received from so many people and organizations over the past 30 years and look forward to the decades ahead for even greater advances for passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest.”

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Shoreline seeks input on future of transportation

Monday, March 25, 2024

An image from survey shows a mockup of what the mobility hub at 185th and Aurora might look like

The city of Shoreline is looking for public input on the future of transportation in Shoreline.

The city posted a survey titled “Shoreline's Transportation Future: Walk Ride Roll!” which seeks input on car-free and electric transportation in Shoreline.

A map from the survey shows possible locations of shared use mobility hubs being considered by the city of Shoreline

The survey includes information on the city’s plan to pilot scooter and bike share programs this summer and also includes concepts for public spaces that support car-free and electric transportation called “Shared-Use Mobility Hubs”. It also asks for input on electric vehicle charging and car sharing.

The survey comes ahead of a Monday April 15, 2024 public hearing on the city’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The city updates this plan each year and serves as the six-year roadmap for what transportation projects Shoreline will fund (and not fund).

--Oliver Moffat


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Here Comes the Train! Sound Transit update at CityLearn - in person and on Zoom Wednesday March 13, 2024

Monday, March 11, 2024

Photo courtesy Sound Transit
Sound Transit Update
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 7 - 8:30 pm

In-person in Council Chambers at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133
or online on Zoom

After many years of planning, two light rail stations open in Shoreline in 2024. What can residents expect in these last months of construction and testing?
 
City of Shoreline staff Juniper Nammi, Lynnwood Link Extension Light Rail Project Manager, is joined by a representative from Sound Transit to share project updates and answer questions.

Test run through Shoreline at NE 195th overpass
Photo by Steve Treseler

Also on the agenda: Walk, Ride, and Roll thru Shoreline

The State of Washington enacted the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law in 1991 to encourage less fuel-consumption, less congestion, and more breathable air. 

It is time for the City to update its CTR Plan. City staff will explain the overall program with goals to encourage fewer “drive-alone” trips. 

Find out how you can be an instrumental part of this plan update and provide feedback on this as well as specific programs such as scooter/bike-share, shared-use mobility hubs, and EV car share all of which will be coming soon to Shoreline.


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Shoreline wants bus base out of Ridgecrest; Metro wants more time

Friday, February 2, 2024

Sixty Metro Access vans are parked under the Cascades Bingo sign in the middle of a weekday in January Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

At the Monday, January 22, 2024 City Council meeting, the council changed Shoreline’s zoning laws to forbid bus bases in the Ridgecrest neighborhood, the current location of Metro Transit’s Access bus base and maintenance garage.

As previously reported in Shoreline Area News, the current owners of the property want to sell the site and Metro wants to buy it. The city says the bus base has never been legally permitted; vehicle storage has been forbidden at the site since 2008, four years before the base opened. 

Metro says they need the site to provide paratransit services in North King County and is threatening the city with legal action. Metro is asking for six years to find another site despite already owning a bus maintenance garage and two underutilized parking lots in the city. The city is eyeing the site to build a community arts and performance space with affordable housing for local artists.

Michelle Allison, Metro Transit’s General Manager,
said Metro’s question to the city is “why?”
and threatened further legal action
According to written public comments from Michelle Allison, Metro’s General Manager, without the Ridgecrest bus base, Metro would need to deploy buses from South Park, Bellevue or Kent bases which would increase expenses, congestion, travel time and decrease reliability. 

This makes the site an essential public facility in Metro’s view and contends it would be illegal under the state’s Growth Management Act if the city forced the bus base out. Given the cost and complexity of buying property in the region, Metro wants at least six years to move to a new site.

According to Metro’s public comments, there is nowhere else in Shoreline for the bus base to go because the other sites where bus bases would be allowed under the new zoning rules are either not for sale, would displace retail stores, are slated for other development, or aren’t big enough.

At the January 22 meeting, Councilmember John Ramsdell asked why the sites Metro already owns in Shoreline could not be used to park Metro’s vans. 
“I haven’t heard much of a reason why from Metro why none of those three other sites… would be unworkable.” He said, 
“I think it’s a little bit dishonest that we were told there is no other option in North King County that would accommodate the one hundred access vans.”

According to a staff report, Metro Transit owns three sites in Shoreline that would be permitted to be used as a bus base. Metro owns two park-and-ride parking lots in Shoreline (the 5.34 acre Shoreline Park and Ride Lot on the corner of 192nd & Aurora and 211 spaces at the Aurora Village Transit Center east of Costco) 

Both sites are expected to be underutilized once the Sound Transit Light Rail stations open later this year. Metro also owns the 12.53 acre King County Metro North Base located west of I-5 which is currently used as a bus base and maintenance garage but does not have room for the Access vans, according to Metro.

In an emailed response to questions, a spokesperson for Metro said, “The three sites identified as options each have limitations and tradeoffs. A fuller evaluation is needed to address whether those limitations can be overcome or if they cannot, and additional time will then be needed to make an alternate site—if found to meet the necessary criteria—operational.”

In written public comments, Allison pleaded with the city to negotiate a solution without further legal conflict and said, “Metro’s question to the city is ‘why?’”

In a letter sent to Metro obtained through a public records request the city told Metro that the site was in violation of the city’s zoning laws because it had never received a permit to operate as a bus base. The city cannot permit Metro to use the site as bus base because it would be in violation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, according to the city.

A map of the Ridgecrest Commercial Planned Area as designated in 2008; the zoning area includes the Metro bus base in the south-west parcel. Map data from OpenStreetMap 

In 2008, four years before the site was put to use as a bus base, the city passed ordinance 492 which created the Ridgecrest Commercial Planned Area incorporating the six parcels at the corner of 5th Ave NE and NE 165th St. 

The zoning rules allowed greater density while enforcing rules to improve the livability of the neighborhood and encourage retail businesses. One of the rules explicitly forbids vehicle storage on any of the six parcels - including the site currently in use as a bus base.

However, in 2012, the city granted a permit to remodel the property into a bus base and garage. A permit search result shows the city reviewed and approved the plan for compliance with city zoning rules in 2012.

Councilmember Keith Scully speaking in favor of the
Ordnance said,“that is Metro's problem, not ours.”
Photo by Oliver Moffat

In public comments at the January 22 council meeting, Councilmember Keith Scully made his feelings on the matter clear: 

“We have tolerated for over 10 years, the facility that is not in compliance with our code in a neighborhood where it does not belong. 
"And we have bent over backwards, extending the period of time that facility was allowed to operate. 
'"We have bent over backwards, trying to find an alternate location in Shoreline. 
"Nothing about this ordinance bans transit access. Nothing in this ordinance has anything to do with the operation of the busses,” he said. “That is Metro's problem, not ours.”

Artspace Mt. Baker Lofts in Seattle. Photo Credit: Artspace
ShoreLake Arts recommends something similar at the Ridgecrest bus base -

In 2022, the city provided funds to ShoreLake Arts to conduct a market study on a project presented by ArtSpace to build a permanent home for ShoreLake Arts including classrooms, a performance space, art installations, and 40 to 70 units of affordable housing for artists. 

ArtSpace has completed similar mixed-use live-work spaces for artists in the region: the Mt. Baker Lofts in Seattle and the Schack Art Center Lofts in Everett. 

ArtSpace recommended the former “Bingo Hall,”,now in use as a Metro bus base in Ridgecrest as the preferred location in the 2022 study.


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Shoreline School District Friday January 19, 2023

Friday, January 19, 2024

Shoreline SD: 
  • Normal start times; 
  • buses on snow routes in AM and PM (ssd412.org/snowroutes). 
  • No out-of-district transportation and no activity buses. 

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Shoreline Schools two hours late on Wednesday and afternoon buses on snow routes

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Because of weather and anticipated road conditions, Shoreline Schools will start two hours late on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - and afternoon buses will be on snow routes.

Late start details here

Buses on Snow Routes Afternoon of Jan. 17

Due to current road conditions, afternoon buses on Wednesday, January 17 will run on snow routes for all Shoreline School District schools.

There will be no afternoon activity buses today (middle schools only).

We anticipate schools will operate on normal schedules on Thursday, January 18; however, buses will operate on snow routes on Thursday.

Find your child's snow route stop and drop-off time at: ssd412.org/snowroutes.


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Corrected: Shoreline City Council meetings Monday, January 22, 2024

stock photo
January 22, 2024 City Council Workshop Dinner Meeting

A Shoreline City Council Workshop Dinner Meeting will be held in Conference Room 303 on Monday, January 22, 2024 using a hybrid format where both in-person and online attendance is allowed. 

You may attend the meeting in person, join via Zoom webinar, or listen to the meeting over the telephone.
Date: 01/22/2024 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Location: Shoreline City Hall Conference Room 303
17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

Link to Meeting Agenda

This Dinner Meeting will be with representatives from the City’s three primary human services partners in the Shoreline community: 
  • Hopelink, 
  • the Center for Human Services, and 
  • Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness.
This will furnish an opportunity for each organization to provide information about their organization, their impact in the Shoreline community and information on the changing human services landscape.

January 22, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting

Following the Dinner Meeting, the Shoreline City Council Regular Meeting will be held at 7:00pm in the Council Chamber using a hybrid format where both in-person and online attendance is allowed. You may attend the meeting in person, join via Zoom webinar, or listen to the meeting over the telephone.
Council is providing opportunities for public comment in person, remotely, or by submitting written comment
The Consent Calendar includes, among other routine items,

c) Adoption of Resolution No. 517 - Amending the Council Rules of Procedure.

The following changes will be made:

Regarding General Decorum:

Any person making disruptive, impertinent, slanderous or threatening remarks while addressing the Council during public comment or public testimony that disrupt, disturb, or otherwise renders orderly conduct of the meeting unfeasible shall be asked to leave the Council Chambers by the Presiding Officer and barred from further audience before the Council for that meeting. If the person is participating in the meeting remotely, the Presiding Officer shall ask the City Clerk to remove them from their permission to talk in the videoconferencing application.

Regarding Public Testimony:

Members of the public may address the City Council in-person in the Council Chambers or remotely through the telephone or online at the beginning of any Regular Meeting under Agenda Item 6 Public Comment.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, individuals may speak to agenda items or any other topic matter pertaining to City business except those scheduled for a Public Hearing or pertaining to a quasi- judicial action.

There is one Action Item
: (a) Action on Ordinance No. 999 - Amending Chapters 20.20, 20.30 and 20.40 of the Shoreline Municipal Code to Establish Permanent Regulations for Major and Minor Fleet Bases

There is one Study Item: (a) Discussion of Ordinance No. 1005 - Fee Schedule for Transportation Impact Fees

Although the Fee schedule has been adjusted since its July 2014 establishment, this ordinance will include an updated rate schedule.

Link to Agenda:
https://shoreline.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=1535

--Pam Cross

Corrected: in the section Consent Calendar, the formatting showing the changes to General Decorum and Public Testimony was lost in transmission in the original story.


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Link light rail passengers need to prepare for Link service disruptions from January 13 to February 4

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Link Light Rail photo courtesy Sound Transit
Link light rail passengers should prepare for three weeks of disruptions starting Saturday, January 13, 2024 as Sound Transit undertakes several projects to improve service.

Starting Saturday, January 13, through the end of service on Sunday, February 4:
  • On weekdays, 1 Line trains will run only every 26 minutes between Northgate and Angle Lake. Additional weekday trains will run between Northgate–University of Washington, and between Stadium–Angle Lake, for combined service every 13 minutes in these areas.
  • On weekends during this period, trains will run every 15 minutes between Northgate–Capitol Hill and between SODO–Angle Lake. Bus shuttles every 10-15 minutes will replace trains between Capitol Hill–SODO and serve all closed stations.
During weekdays, passengers who board at stations outside of Capitol Hill or downtown Seattle will need to stay alert to which train they choose. Half of the trains will serve all stations along the 1 Line, while the other half will terminate at either University of Washington or Stadium stations. 

If your destination is downtown or Capitol Hill, you may wait for the full-service train, or ride the additional service train to UW or Stadium stations, and then wait 13 minutes to transfer to the next train that goes all the way through.

The work is essential to improve the state of the system and prepare for the growth that is coming later this year and beyond. By scheduling these projects during the time of year when ridership is at its lowest, the hope is to limit impact on riders. Staff will be at stations throughout the disruption to answer questions and help passengers get to their destinations.

Making necessary repairs

The four downtown Seattle stations — Westlake, University Street, Pioneer Square, and Int’l Dist./Chinatown — are nearly 20 years older than the Link system itself. 

They opened for bus operations in 1990, and they were built to accommodate both buses and trains at the same time. This legacy of bus operations required design decisions that continue to make repairs to these stations much more disruptive than our more recently built stations.

For example, because buses and trains ran together in the tunnel between 2009 and 2019, Sound Transit embedded the rails into the tunnel roadway, rather than on top, as they are in all our other tunnel stations. As a result, replacing any rails in those stations requires substantial demolition and rebuilding work.

During this disruption, they will be completing two major projects at the same time: They will replace 500 feet of northbound track between University Street and Westlake at the sharpest curve in the entire Link system. These rails are worn and have made for a bumpy ride for passengers for years. Without replacement, the worn rails will eventually become a safety hazard.

They will replace 58 “bond boxes,” which provide signal connections to the tracks. All of these are located in between the rails. These bond boxes were progressively damaged by buses between 2009 and 2019, leading to occasional signal failures and train delays. Replacing the bond boxes requires that no trains run through those sections until replacement is complete.

Besides providing staff ambassadors at stations during the disruption period to assist passengers, Sound Transit has a webpage dedicated to the upcoming service disruption, which includes station-specific information. The agency has also published tips for riders as they prepare for the upcoming disruption.

Passengers can access PDFs of train schedules for this period on line.

Through the service disruption, the agency will continue to provide additional information to passengers to help them navigate the changes to their ride.


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HistoryLink: On this day in 1928, interurban train service between Seattle and Tacoma ended

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Seattle-Tacoma interurban streetcar, Kent, ca. 1909
Photo by Asahel Curtis, Courtesy MOHAI (2002.3.1435)

HistoryLink File 2671

On December 30, 1928, the last electric interurban railcar leaves Seattle for Tacoma. This marks the end of 26 years of regional interurban service between the two cities.

Down in the Valley

Interurban service between the two cities began in 1902, following Puget Sound Traction, Light & Power Company's acquisition of an incomplete railway launched by Henry Bucey in 1901. PSTL&P completed the line, which it called the Puget Sound Electric Railway, and inaugurated service on September 25, 1902.

The Seattle-Tacoma line extended from downtown Seattle along 1st Avenue to Georgetown. From there, it roughly paralleled the Duwamish River to Tukwila. A branch line veered east toward Renton, while the main track shot straight down the valley through Kent and Auburn. At the Pierce County line, the tracks turned west, heading fairly straight into downtown Tacoma.

The Seattle-Tacoma interurban was a godsend to farmers in the Kent Valley. Prior to the rail line, goods had to be transported to the cities by horse teams and wagons over rough roads. The electric trains allowed for quick transport of milk and produce. One of the line's freight trains became known as the Spud Daily, due to its service to the valley's potato farmers.

End of the Line

Although the Seattle-Tacoma interurban served the two cities well, by the late 1920s the line was suffering from financial difficulties. New roads networked throughout the valley, and many farmers and commuters were buying trucks and cars. Highway 99 was under construction, and the Seattle-Tacoma link was completed on October 18, 1928. This spelled the demise of the interurban.

Motorman Roy Kelly left Seattle with the last interurban on the night of December 30. After reaching Tacoma, he returned the train to Kent on schedule. From there, he and his crew were sent out to pick up all remaining freight cars, and in the early hours of December 31, the power was shut off. Thus ended 26 years of interurban service.

Source:

Warren Wing, To Tacoma by Trolley (Edmonds, WA: Pacific Fast Mail, 1995).


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Ride fare-free from football to fireworks this New Year’s Eve on King County Metro, Sound Transit, and regional transit agencies

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other regional transit partners are teaming up to provide free rides for one of the busiest New Year’s Eves in years. 

Photo courtesy Metro
Beginning on December 31, 2023 riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Water Taxi, Metro Flex, Sound Transit Link, Sounder trains, Community Transit, Everett Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar.

Whether you’re headed to see the Seattle Seahawks fight for the playoffs at Lumen Field, are a hockey fan making their way to the NHL Winter Classic Fan Village, joining the large crowds for the fireworks at the Space Needle or going out to other events throughout the region transit’s got you covered.

The fareboxes and ORCA card readers on Metro buses will be covered to remind customers not to pay. The Transit GO mobile ticketing app will not allow activations during this period for all Metro services, the Seattle Streetcar, and Sound Transit.

Photo courtesy Sound Transit
Regional transit agencies will be operating on the following schedules on Sunday, Dec. 31, to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve rides:
  • King County Metro
    • Buses will operate on their regular Sunday schedule and be fare-free from 3am Sunday, Dec. 31, through 3am Monday, Jan. 1. 
    • Other Metro services operating fare-free include DART, Metro Flex, Community Van, and Access service.
  • Sound Transit
    • Link light rail and Sound Transit Express buses are fare-free from 5am Sunday, Dec. 31, to 3am Monday., Jan. 1. 
    • The Sounder Game Train will be available for the Seahawks game and will be fare-free.
    • Sound Transit will operate extended 1 Line rail service on New Year’s Eve, with 15-minute, late-night service. 
    • For New Years Eve, For more information go to the Sound Transit website.
New Year’s Day service

On Monday, Jan. 1, transit customers are reminded that King County Metro buses, Metro Flex, DART, Community Van and Access, Sound Transit Express buses, Link light rail, and Tacoma Link will operate on Sunday schedules, and regular, valid fare will be required on all services beginning at 3am, Jan. 1. 

The Sounder Game Train will be in service for the NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1. Details are posted on Metro’s and Sound Transit’s holiday and reduced service pages.


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Gingerbread ferry

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Gingerbread ferry and photo by Lauryth O. Johns
Courtesy Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries reports that a frequent rider recently got in the holiday spirit and made a gingerbread ferry!

Lauryth O. Johns designed the boat, which includes gingerbread, M&M’s, candy canes, chocolate chips & gumdrops.

There's even a car deck, loading dock & road going to the rest of Lauryth’s decorations!


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Ordinance could drive Metro Access Bus Base from Ridgecrest neighborhood - litigation ongoing

The old Cascades Bingo sign still stands over the King County Metro Access bus base in the Ridgecrest neighborhood. The city has moved to block the sale of the site to King County Metro. Photo by Oliver Moffat.

By Oliver Moffat

The future of the Metro Access bus base in the heart of the Ridgecrest neighborhood is unclear. The owners offered to sell the site to King County Metro. The city issued a code violation which was appealed and litigation is ongoing. 

The city is proposing an ordinance that would drive the base from Ridgecrest to some other location. The city says they offered to help Metro find another location but Metro says services for disabled and elderly riders could be disrupted because there is nowhere else for the base to go. 
 
In another display of the complex growing pains Shoreline faces, the last agenda item of the final City Council meeting of 2023 was an update on the city’s efforts to drive the Metro Access bus base from the Ridgecrest neighborhood to another location. 

Proving again there is no such thing as simple issues in local government, representatives of the two Alaskan Native tribes who own the bus base property claimed in public comments the city’s actions will harm their members - many of whom live in poverty. 

Metro’s previous public comments have warned the city’s actions could disrupt services for disabled and elderly passengers in the Shoreline and North King County region because there is nowhere else for the bus base to go.

The property at the southwest corner of NE 165th and 5th NE includes a 24,000 square foot building on a two-and-a-half acre lot. Longtime Shoreline residents might remember the property as the Cascades Bingo Hall across the street from the Crest Cinema and Café Aroma

According to King County property records, the current owners purchased the property ten years ago in 2013 and local news at the time reported that the current tenants signed a ten-year lease for the property. City leaders at the time welcomed the bus base because it would bring good paying jobs to the neighborhood. 

The site is currently used as a bus base and maintenance garage by King County Metro’s Access Transportation which provides accessible vans for the elderly and anyone who has a disability that prevents them from riding traditional buses and trains. The base is operated by MV Transportation, a subcontractor.

A screen shot from the Shoreline city staff report shows the location of the city’s two current bus bases. Metro’s North Base would not be impacted. Only the Access Van Site in the Ridgecrest neighborhood will be impacted by the proposed zoning changes. 


According to city staff, the current code governing transit bus bases is an out of date relic from a bygone era that does not align with Shoreline’s comprehensive plan and vision for the coming decades. 

Much of Shoreline’s municipal code has not been reviewed and updated since before the city first incorporated nearly 30 years ago in 1995. A lot has changed in three decades and now the Planning Commission and the City Council are working to update the code.

In July of 2023, the City Council adopted a temporary moratorium blocking new bus bases until January of 2024. The City Council is reviewing a proposed ordinance, which, if enacted, would disallow bus bases in the Ridgecrest neighborhood while allowing bus bases in other areas of the city. 

The city also issued a code violation order against the bus base claiming the owners had not secured proper permits when the base was established. That order has been appealed by Metro and MV Transportation, the subcontractor that operates the base.

In response to emailed questions, Eric Bratton, the city’s Communications Program Manager, said “The City is in no way trying to push this service out of Shoreline. In fact, we have offered to work with Metro and MV Transportation in support of their efforts to find a new site…. There will definitely be places within our community where a transit bus base could operate with the new code changes.”

According to public comments from King County Metro, the site is essential for its paratransit operations and would be exceedingly hard to replace because of its unique size and location. 

Because there aren’t a lot of big, vacant parking lots in the region available for sale, King County Metro says the proposed zoning rule not only would place thousands of disabled riders in jeopardy, but it would also hurt the good-paying jobs of the drivers and maintenance staff who have worked at the site for more than a decade.

According to public comments from Black Brandt LLC, who are the owners of the property, the possible sale of the property to King County Metro was the impetus for the city's actions against the bus base. The owners of the property are Alaska Native Corporations who manage investments on behalf of 50,000 Alaska Native indigenous shareholder members, many of whom live in poverty. 

Profits from the investment directly support education, welfare, cultural programs, burial assistance and other needs of tribal members who have lived in remote western Alaska since time immemorial.

In written public comments, the owners said that when the city learned the owners had decided to put the property up for sale, the council suddenly moved to block the sale by passing an emergency moratorium on permits allowing property to be used as a bus base. 

These actions, the owners said, have potentially devalued the property and blocked their ability to sell it, thereby injuring their tribal members.

Maps from a staff report show where bus bases would be allowed if the city passes the proposed ordinance. Notably excluded is the current Metro Access bus bases in Ridgecrest. Full sized maps can be found in the published staff report.


City staff showed the council a draft proposal of the new zoning law along with maps showing where bus bases are currently located in Shoreline and where, if the law is passed, bus bases would be allowed. 

Excluding the Shoreline School District’s bus base by Ridgecrest elementary, there are currently two bus bases in Shoreline: Metro’s North Base along I-5 by the King County solid waste transfer station and the Metro Access van site in the Ridgecrest neighborhood. 

Maps shared by city staff showed a patchwork of sites where bus bases would be allowed if the zoning rule was enacted along Aurora Ave, Bothell Way, and Ballinger Way. The existing Metro North Base on I-5 would also be allowed, but notably, the Ridgecrest site would not.

Councilmember Chris Roberts raised concerns about the proposed ordinance


Councilmember Chris Roberts questioned why the School District’s bus base would not be impacted by the zoning change saying, “the principle, I would presume, would be the same...  

"I have concerns about this ordinance,” continued Roberts, “I think that we need to be careful about pushing uses out of the city, and out of established places where there are established businesses… And I would recommend this coming back with conditional uses for other areas of the city.”

The council has limited some discussion of the ordinance to executive sessions which are not held in public because of possible litigation. State law allows the council to hold executive sessions that are closed to the public when discussing issues such as buying or selling property, personnel matters, litigation or pending litigation. 

Bratton, the city’s Communications Program Manager, said the city cannot comment on ongoing litigation.

Stay tuned… more details and public debate should emerge in the new year when the temporary ordinance expires and the city must take action. City Council meeting agendas, minutes and videos are posted online. The public can attend regular council meetings online and in person at City Hall on Mondays at 7pm.



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