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Notes from Shoreline Council meeting Feb 1, 2021

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Pam Cross, reporter
Shoreline City Council Meeting for
February 1, 2021
Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the remote meeting to order at 7:00pm.

All Councilmembers were present.

Proclamation
I, Will Hall, Mayor of the City of Shoreline, on behalf of the Shoreline City Council, do hereby proclaim February 2021 as BLACK HISTORY MONTH and encourage all residents to learn more about the history, contributions, and achievements of Black people past and present.

Report of the City Manager, Debbie Tarry



Our region, consisting of King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, has moved to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington Plan. That means there are a few more activities we can participate in and some restaurants can allow indoor dining.

Continued access to tennis/pickleball courts is dependent on users following the social distancing and mask wearing requirements.

We still need to meet 3 of the 4 criteria in order to remain in Phase 2, so people need to be diligent in adhering to the restrictions so we don’t see an acceleration in cases and don’t go back to Phase 1.


Please continue to protect our community and help us stay in Stage 2 by taking the following preventative measures:
  • Wear a face covering, especially indoors in public settings regardless of the distance between people.
  • Wash or sanitize your hands regularly.
  • Maintain six (6) feet of distance, indoors and outdoors.
  • Get tested at the first sign of illness. And then stay home. Do not go to work or to stores if you’re not feeling well.
  • It is safest to stay at home.

COVID-19 VACCINE
Although there is information available on Shoreline’s website, people are encouraged to go to CovidVaccineWA.org for the most up-to date information on eligibility and locations providing vaccines.

PROPOSITION 1 PRESENTATIONS
Proposition 1 for park improvements and park land acquisition will appear on the April 27 ballot. There will be factual community presentations beginning Feb 2.

Presentations will be conducted via Zoom. For more information about Proposition 1 and to get the Zoom link for the meeting go to shorelinewa.gov/prop1
Note: the remaining dates are:
  • Tuesday, February 9, 12 pm
  • Thursday, February 11, 7 pm
  • Tuesday, February 16, 7 pm
  • Thursday, February 18, 7 pm
  • Wednesday, February 24, 7 pm

Public Reminders
The Planning Commission will hold a remote meeting on Thursday Feb 4 at 7:00pm regarding the Department of Commerce Growth Management Act Briefing and the 2021 Comprehensive Plan Docket

Council Reports
Deputy Mayor Scully, standing in for Mayor Hall, met remotely with Representative Jayapal who shared with him and other elected officials what’s going on in D.C., mostly regarding Coronavirus relief. The attendees were able to express their needs and concerns.

Public Comment
Kathleen Russell, Shoreline, Save Shoreline Trees
addressed Agenda item 8a, the N 175th project, and requested the City consider saving significant trees the entire length of 175th.

Theresa LaCroix, Director of the LFP/Shoreline Senior Center
expressed her heartfelt thanks to the City, Council and residents for continuing support

Jackie Kurle, Shoreline
spoke about ensuring adequate protections around the new enhanced shelter for both the shelter residents and the neighbors

Christiano Steele, Shoreline grocery worker-
would like Council to pass $4 hazard pay for Shoreline grocery workers until a State initiative hopefully offers this.

Approval of the Agenda
Agenda adopted by unanimous consent.

Approval of the Consent Calendar
Consent Calendar approved unanimously by roll call vote.


Study Item 8(a) Discussion of the Preferred Concept for the 175th Street (Stone Avenue N to I-5) Project


The staff report was presented by
Tricia Juhnke, City Engineer
Leif Johansen, Capital Project Manager

Staff is seeking Council’s support of the Preferred Design concept. In conjunction with this, staff is looking for direction on the recommendation to include undergrounding of existing overhead utilities as part of the preferred concept.

The design team used the public’s feedback from Phase 2 to develop a preferred concept.

Shared-use path concept A
A main concern was bikes sharing the same paths as pedestrians, especially eastbound bicyclists as they head downhill while mixing with walkers and children at Meridian Park Elementary.
On the other hand, there were positive comments about encouraging families to bike out of the roadway.

Buffered bike lanes concept B
The primary concern was that even with a buffer, there was too much exposure to traffic for bikes.
There was a lot of positive feedback for separating pedestrians from bikes.

Over 50% of users rated Shared-use path as “just right; over 60% of users rated Buffered bike lanes as “just right.”

For both concepts there was concern that the corridor was too wide, and too costly.

Using these results, we have created a Hybrid Concept.


From Stone Ave N (Trader Joe’s) to Wallingford Ave N (Meridian Elementary School)

Additionally, staff propose extending the corridor about 120’ west from Stone to Midvale, in order to provide a bike connection to the Interurban Trail.


Wallingford Ave N (Meridian Elementary) to Meridian Ave N (Ronald Bog)

Both concepts attempt to protect existing street trees.
The median will be hardscaped to avoid maintenance issues.

At the intersection of 175th and Meridian both a roundabout and a signalized intersection were considered. The area is too small for a good roundabout. The signalized concept improves operations, limits impact to Ronald Bog and accommodates bike lanes on Meridian. The signalized intersection eliminates the need to purchase parks property, has a lower capital cost, and lower risk (problems with permitting in sensitive environmental area with unstable peat).This concept was preferred by 70% of users.


Signalized Intersection

The final distance is from Meridian to the I-5 Interchange.


Undergrounding Utilities


The preliminary estimate of undergrounding utilities is a wide range because we are so far out from construction. The design phase may continue into 2023. We are at only 10% of the design phase. As we move towards 30% we’ll have a much better idea of what the cost will be and the ultimate impact to ratepayers.

This project meets the undergrounding criteria. It meets City code, is eligible for the City Light Franchise agreement, and is of sufficient size.

Staff recommends moving forward to 30% design and then reevaluating and developing a better cost estimate for undergrounding.

DISCUSSION

Why should we put bike lanes here? It’s between light rail stations and a busy road.
Reply: there isn’t a good off-corridor bike route between 175th and 185th that goes from Meridian to Midvale.

Should we be discussing the speed limit at this time?
Reply: reducing speed limit won’t change the design on this corridor.

Are buses still running along there? Are the stops still planned to be in the same locations?
Reply: we are working with Metro. Yes, buses are still planned plus maybe a new route on Meridian. Metro prefers not to have pull-outs. They prefer lane stops and plan to keep the stop on 175th where there is a bus shelter.

Hybrid concept with shared lanes while bikers are going uphill and then a buffered lane downhill is a great idea.

The Roundabout would require purchase of parkland. There is no mention of parkland purchase for the signalized intersection. Where will we find the roadway width for the 15’ shared use plan on the Southside of 175th between Meridian and I-5?
Reply: this area is part of the WSDOT coordination. Will have a better idea as we progress. We don’t know at this point but it’s likely some land will have to be purchased.

So either option, we’ll have to purchase some land?
Reply: yes

Roundabouts move a lot more traffic through. I realize the area is difficult to fit a roundabout because of right-of-way concerns and so forth. What kind of a trade off are we making with a signalized intersection as respects traffic capacity?
Reply: The more we worked on this project, the more similar these two options became. There is very little difference in capacity. This location has signals and they would still be there anyway.

Did you also model the AM and PM traffic volumes?
Reply: Yes we did. There was no significant difference.

Don’t think this project needs undergrounding. Since it’s not scheduled for re-development some of the benefits don’t apply here. The parcels that will be affected are the school and the park. In Seattle the city pays for undergrounding, but in Shoreline our residents pay for undergrounding. It’s not fair that Seattle City Light singles us out. Cost of undergrounding is a concern.
Reply: there will still be a cost to relocate the utilities overhead. The cost to underground them is in addition to the cost of relocating the utilities overhead. (About $5.7M for just over 3,000 linear feet of the $43M estimate). It is this additional amount that would be paid by the rate payers.

Everybody in Shoreline will pay. Projects are listed on the utility bill. The first one doesn’t sunset until 2032. Assume we add for 175th. And then we add again for 185th. Then another. This is going to add up.
Reply: Yes. The increase applies citywide.

Is there another project that might come up where we’ll be looking at undergrounding and might regret adding it here?
Reply: For 145th Council decided to not underground. On 185th I don’t think we have a recommendation yet. All new sidewalk projects might add undergrounding.

Have you sought public input on undergrounding?
Reply: not yet.

The segment from Meridian to I-5 stops at I-5 and does not go under it. We’re going to have a Trail Along the Rail and that would make a connection to it. Also the underpass needs some pedestrian safety.
Reply: we will be looking at possible ways to get pedestrians better access under I-5. It’s a challenge because the area is tight.

The staff report states $6M for right of way acquisition. Is this just for easements? Or purchase of some property outright?
Reply: It is possible 4 parcels will be purchased outright. Plus there will be a whole lot of easements.

Where the bus stop is on 175th by the Bog, could we put walkway from Meridian going behind that bus stop so people walking down the sidewalk don’t have to go through the folks waiting at the bus stop? It would just go along the sidewalk (not over Ronald Bog) and create kind of a boardwalk look.
Reply: the sidewalk is already cantilevered because of the bog. That would be very challenging.

We need to save all the trees we can, especially the mature evergreens. The non-native street trees can be replaced by adding native street trees, rather than going to great lengths to save an individual tree (except mature evergreens).

I’m wondering about the visibility of the new pedestrian crossing at 175th and Ashworth (east of Stone). Also, it’s in the middle of a long hill where drivers don’t expect a crossing.
Reply: It will probably have a beacon for visibility and there will be the refuge in the middle of 175th where people can stop before continuing across. The existing crossing at Wallingford will also be upgraded.

Speed limits are aligned with design speed and both of those should align with the target speed. The speed limit is currently 35mph. There are few driveways and no parking. Is physical design of the current road consistent with 35mph? Would this design change that?
Reply: What you look at is a sight distance. We learned there is a surplus of sight distance for 35mph. There aren’t any modifications we plan to do that would affect the design speed of the road. It is designed for an excess of speed over the current posted speed limit.

What would be changed if we designed the corridor for 30mph?
Reply: we will look into it and advise.

What is the minimum width allowed for travel lane at 30mph?
Reply: we’ve reduced some to 10’ but Metro requires wider lanes for the lanes they use.

If designed for Metro, then the driver of a vehicle will feel comfortable speeding. There is nothing to encourage drivers to slow down. In fact, drivers may feel like they can go faster.
Reply: We have reduced interior lanes to 10’ (the minimum), and Metro let us go down to 11’. We can also look at other traffic calming tools but putting in trees and amenities in the amenity zones makes the space seem smaller so people drive slower than if it’s a wide 4 lanes with nothing in the middle.

Guidance: Should staff proceed to 30% design with undergrounding so we can refine our estimate? We have to do it now, because we can’t add it in later. We’re not sure of the cost for design up to 30% because we don’t know what kind of problems the bog will cause.

There was general consensus that this would be money well spent because Councilmembers need additional information before making a decision.


Study Item 8(b) Discussion of Ordinance No. 897 - Amending Shoreline Municipal Code Section 20.50.620, Aurora Square Community Renewal Sign Standards

Nora Gierloff, AICP, Planning Manager, made the presentation


This is about a 70 acre area with Aurora Square (renamed Shoreline Place), the old Sears store, the WSDOT offices and the NW School for Deaf Children, as well as the Alexan Apartments. Locations outside of Shoreline Place are not required to advertise Shoreline Place on their monument signs.

By better addressing the signage needs of businesses, these amendments will support the planned redevelopment of Shoreline Place into a vibrant, mixed-use town center for the City.


We looked at general changes to the sign code such as content neutral language, specified size, type and number of signs, and clarification of sign area calculation. Additionally no business can be listed on a new freestanding sign until any old freestanding sign listing that business is removed or brought into compliance. The $100/day penalty for not installing new signs by September 1, 2017 has been removed.


We also wanted to allow unique or sculptural signs, subject to administrative design review.

Monument signs, located at or slightly above the ground, allow visibility as the tree canopy grows. Pylon signs become lost in the tree growth and lose their visibility.

Due to the size of the property and number of tenants, space for more tenants is allowed.

Retail leasing signs will be allowed due to the many available spaces and the multiple owners of the site.

Allow 1 sign per 250’ of street frontage up to a maximum of 3 signs per parcel per street. Signs must be 100’ apart on same parcel, or 50’ apart from a sign on a neighboring parcel.



Deletion of changeable electronic pylon signs was requested in keeping with the planned pedestrian mixed-use environment. Reduce the percentage of pylon sign area advertising Shoreline Place vs. tenants from 25% to 15%.

Increase in height for the pylon signs from 25’ to 35’ so the existing sign structure can be reused. The current pylon signs are about 35’. There are also allocations for pylon signs which will result in the same number (4) as currently exist but allows more flexibility for their placement.

Since there will be ground floor retail with apartments above, there will be additional sign allowance for ground floor storefronts in addition to the wall signs for apartments.

Ground floor walls without entrances can have signs if they put in windows, landscaping or architectural detailing.

Wayfinding (directional) signs require a 25’ setback from the street to avoid clutter and competition with the monument and pylon signs

Temporary signs advertising special events will be limited for less clutter.

Next steps are to identify any Council proposed code changes and return to Council Feb 22. Sign design guidelines for Shoreline placed will be developed later in 2021.

DISCUSSION

This CRA (Community Renewal Area) was put into place in 2012! Wow.

Allowing signage on the backs or sides of buildings on the street is really nice - it prevents a wall of just bricks and dumpsters.

Perimeter lighting is limited. What about holiday lighting?
Reply: It is consistent with the overall sign code for the City.

It can be pretty - or it can be hideous. Best to maintain prohibition of perimeter lighting.

This will come back to Council on consent.

Meeting Adjourned.



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Ballinger Neighborhood Back in Action

Friday, April 1, 2022

Photo courtesy the Ronald Bog Blog

On Monday, April 4, 2022 at 6:30pm, in honor of Earth Day and the advent of Spring, Ballinger Neighborhood Association will host guest speakers, Brugger's Bog Native Plant Stewards Marla Tullio and Barbara Guthrie. 

They are the leaders of the restoration of our wetland habitat at Brugger's Bog Park being done in partnership with Forterra and Shoreline Green Partnership.

We invite you to come to hear about their important project and learn more about the Earth Day restoration work party at the Bog on April 24.

To join the meeting, go to our new website, https://www.BALNA.org, and add your address to our new email list. Or send an email to ballingerneighborhood@gmail.com. The Zoom meeting ID and password will be sent to you before the meeting.

Already know you would like to pitch in? Register to help now at the Earth Day event on April 24th: https://forterra.org/events/celebrate-earth-day-at-bruggers-bog-in-shoreline/

In other news, BALNA is gearing up for the return of our very popular Friendship Festival in late summer, and we are looking for neighbors interested in helping plan this year's event. Stay tuned!

BALNA Board
Stephanie Angeles, Judy Moore, Londa Jacques, Joyce Lingerfelt


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Bog Whisperer: Snow birds of Shoreline

Monday, December 5, 2022

Photo by Martin De Grazia
The snow, ice, and cold weather gave Bog Whisperer Martin De Grazia a chance to see the Bog Birds in different ways.

For example, this flock of geese, unconcerned about the snow on their backs - and they're not even Snow Geese!

Photo by Martin De Grazia
The Bog is actually quite shallow and often freezes over in cold weather. The crows don't usually spend time on lakes, so this is a novelty for them (and us!) They seem to be co-existing just fine with the killdeer in the background, who look a little puzzled at the icy footing.

Photo by Martin De Grazia
The heron sits in his usual tree, unperturbed by the snow clinging to the bark. I have to admit that when I first looked at the photo in a thumbnail version, I didn't see the bird. Even now, his feathers look much like the bark of his tree.

Martin says that the otters love the ice, swimming under it and popping up through the thin crust. Their dens have underwater entrances, so they are quite comfortable in this weather.

Ronald Bog is between I-5 and Meridian Ave N, with the entrance to the park on N 175th.

--Diane Hettrick



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Bog Whisperer - they only come out in the sun

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

Aren't bog creatures supposed to come out at night? Maybe they do, but Bog Whisperer Martin DeGrazia was out in the sunshine at Ronald Bog, N 175th and Meridian Ave N.

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

This bog creature looks like he's falling asleep. It was a nice day for a nap on a log. By the way, those are branches, not his tail.

--Diane Hettrick



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Celebrating Ronald Bog - SummerSet Arts Festival Sept 6

Saturday, August 30, 2014


Saturday September 6, 2014  Noon to 5:00pm 
The Third Annual Free
Summerset Arts Festival:  Celebrating Ronald Bog
at the corner of N 175th Street and Meridian Ave N in Shoreline


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Photo: Shoreline ponies in the snow

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Shoreline Ponies at Ronald Bog
Photo by Kevin Grossman

People have started decorating the bronze ponies at Ronald Bog on N 175th. Not sure if the Hawaiian theme was left over from warmer weather or if someone was being optimistic.

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Annual Rotary maintenance work event in the Shoreline Rotary Conifer Arboretum

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Shoreline Rotary members maintain the
Rotary Conifer Arboretum in Ronald Bog


Members of the Rotary Club of Shoreline held their annual maintenance work event at the Shoreline Rotary Conifer Arboretum in Ronald Bog Park on Saturday July 8, 2017.

The work completed by members included cleaning of the Kiosk, weeding the sedums on the Kiosk roof, trail maintenance, installation of trunk protection on newer trees, watering of trees, and general clipping and pruning of vegetation.

The weather was great and the members had an enjoyable outing. Future projects in the Arboretum were scoped out.

The Rotary Club of Shoreline, in 1991 initiated projects in the park including flower bulb and tree plantings. In 1997, the Shelter was constructed by the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary Club.

About 10 years ago, the Kiosk was constructed and there was a City of Shoreline dedication involving community leaders including Rotarians.

Over the years, many native conifer tree species have been planted in the Arboretum. Also, a walking path has been constructed throughout the site.

In collaboration with the City of Shoreline, recently a change was made on the entrance sign to include Rotary and the ‘wheel’. Rotary is now connected to the Arboretum including the Kiosk. 

Annually, Rotary volunteers maintain the Arboretum including the Kiosk.

This year volunteers included Rotarians Dick Nicholson and Diane Pottinger (Shoreline Rotary Parks / Environmental team leaders); Robert Brouillard, Ray Coffey, Bill Forney, Bob Hauck, Leonid Kisselev, Bill and Judy MacCully, Andrew Thurman, and Angie Yu.

The Community is encouraged to come out and enjoy the Arboretum located at 2301 N 175th St, Shoreline.

--Dick Nicholson




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Early morning at Ronald Bog

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

 
Photo by Martin DeGrazia

An early morning view of Ronald Bog on an overcast day. Hard to tell that this lake in the middle of the city, surrounded on three sides by very busy streets.





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Ronald Bog Park

Sunday, January 8, 2017



Text and photos by Wayne Pridemore

Stopped at the Ronald Bog Park one morning and took a few photos of the local ducks that stay there year round.

During the 1940s and 1950s the area was privately owned and peat moss was harvested for the commercial market.



In 1974 King County bought the acreage and created the park that later was given to the city of Shoreline.

There is a small parking lot for the park just west of the freeway on the south side of 175th St. It is a good place to visit and view many forms of wildlife.



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Warning: avoid the water at Echo Lake and Ronald Bog

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Blue green algae at Echo Lake
Photo by Ann Michel


The State Department of Ecology is issuing warnings about toxic algae blooms in Washington lakes.

Locally, Ronald Bog was posted on October 16, 2020 and Echo Lake was posted on October 26, 2020 for blue green algae blooms.

The City of Shoreline has issued an Avoid Contact Advisory and posted signs at the lake.

Blue green algae is present at Echo Lake and it is potentially toxic. The public is advised to avoid contact with the water: please do not wade, swim, or fish in the water. Pets should not drink from the lake - toxic algae could result in extreme illness or even death.

Shoreline's surface water staff continue to monitor local lakes and take samples but the King county laboratory testing has ended for the winter.

Blown by the north wind, the algae in Echo Lake has concentrated at the south end of the lake.


 

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Young otters at Ronald Bog

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

 
Photo by Martin DeGrazia

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

A couple of young otters were out at Ronald Bog Tuesday morning. Mom may have been nearby but she wasn't showing herself.

--Martin DeGrazia


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10/10/10 Global Work Party day - local events

Friday, October 8, 2010


The nonprofit environmental organization 350.org has planned a Global Work Party day on Sunday, 10/10/10.

More than 7,000 events have been registered with the organization, in 188 countries, "the single largest day of carbon-cutting action in the planet's history," according to 350.org's website.

The group's name indicates that the world must return to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to forestall the worst impacts of global warming.

The reasoning behind this global event is to lead, push and inspire world leaders to continue the steps to decrease carbon dioxide output to around 20% of current levels.

Volunteers are welcome at all local events:

Edmonds: People for Puget Sound will host an outdoor work party at Edmonds Marsh on Sunday, October 10 from 1:30 - 4 pm

Edmonds: Edmonds Community College is providing some energy audits and  information about their program to train people to do energy audits. 

Ballinger Garden
Ballinger: The Ballinger Neighborhood Association is having a Garden Work Party at their Community Garden site behind Aldercrest Elementary.

Mountlake Terrace: practitioners from the Sukyo Mahikari Center for Spiritual Development will be working with the city of Mountlake Terrace to conserve local wetlands at Lake Ballinger.
  
Ronald Bog: the City of Shoreline and Landau Associates will remove invasive species and plant native species at Ronald Bog Park.

South Woods
South Woods: restoration party at the park just south of Shorecrest High School on 25th NE.

Lake Forest Park: Meet and eat at Third Place Commons at 7 pm to discuss the significance of a sustainable environment to the entire world with W. Douglas Smith, Senior Compliance Investigator (Retired), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Parkwood: Community Garden Party to create a food bank garden.


SUUC has multiple events planned
Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church's Green Justice Group hosts a soup and bread lunch for a small donation. and provides information on local banking and ride sharing. Hands-on projects will work on habitat restoration and creating reusable shopping bags from fabric scraps.

New events are being added constantly. Check the 350.org website for updates.

350.org is the organization which inspired the Hands Across the Sand event in June of this year.



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Photo: Waiting for ... the hydros?

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Turtles at Ronald Bog
Photo by Jerry Pickard


Photo and (tongue in cheek) text by Jerry Pickard

Well, it took a while, but the gang finally gathered in the stands Saturday to wait for the race to start. The stands were crowded, some stood on the backs of others, but in the warm sun it was worth it.  But where were the Hydros? Oh well, it's been a long time since Hydros were last seen at Ronald Bog!



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Public meeting at Brugger's Bog on Monday, May 16

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Photo from Ronald Bog Blog
On Monday, May 16, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm there will be a public meeting at Brugger's Bog.

The city of Shoreline is proposing to replace the existing culvert and build a small bridge on the path that leads into the park. The work would take place this summer. 

The purpose of the community meeting on Monday the 16th at the park is to explain the project and to solicit public comment on the project.

Brugger's Bog Park is located at 19553 25th Avenue NE, on the south side of 25th just beyond the intersection of Ballinger Way NE and 25th.

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Dress the ponies for SummerSet Arts Festival

Monday, July 6, 2015

Winged ponies by Ann Blanch,
Lynn Ahnen Turnblom, and Sue  Williams


SummerSet Arts Festival seeks Shoreline Ponies Sculptures Enhancers

SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog 2015 invites the creative people of Shoreline to submit ideas/plans to dress the Shoreline Ponies Sculptures by Ronald Bog Park on N 175th for this year's festival on September 12th.

In 2012 this event started an annual tradition of simultaneously installing art on the street, ponies, and in the park, signifying the festival that caps a summer of outdoor fun in our area.

The winning idea/artist or team will receive an up to $250 honorarium to carry out their vision and will earn their place in Shoreline history! For more information contact Cynthia Knox 206-218-3302. Interested parties must contact Cynthia by July 20th to be considered for this opportunity.



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Mama Green Heron sporting her new do

Thursday, July 28, 2022

 
Photo by Martin De Grazia

Mama Green Heron was sporting her new do at Ronald Bog Wednesday.

Photo by Martin De Grazia

And this was her before shot.

Ronald Bog is between I-5 and Meridian Ave N at N 175th St in Shoreline. We don't have the contact info for her hairdresser - sorry.



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No easy solution to Shoreline’s 175th problems

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

More than fifty activists with Save Shoreline Trees and Tree Action Seattle rallied on 175th against the city’s plan to expand sidewalks and add bike lanes that could remove more than 274 trees
Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

175th is a problem with no easy solutions. Traffic jams and crashes are back to pre-pandemic levels and an earthquake could send the road into Ronald Bog. Metro’s new 333 bus is coming soon to the road. The city wants people to walk and bike more but pedestrians (including students) must brave crossing up to seven lanes of traffic. 

Activists want the city to narrow sidewalks to save trees and businesses have fought road diets in the past. Whatever happens, everyone in the region will be impacted for decades to come.

An arial photo shows the 75 foot crosswalk at the intersection of Meridian and 175th where pedestrians must brave five lanes of car traffic in all directions

On Sunday, May 19, 2024 more than fifty activists with Save Shoreline Trees and Tree Action Seattle turned out for a rally on 175th to protest the City's plan to widen 175th between Aurora and I-5 to make room for pedestrians and bicyclists which could cost over $88 million and require chopping down 274 trees.

With traffic jammed (as usual) on 175th street, passing drivers honked enthusiastically, showing their support for the activists’ calls to save trees by narrowing the proposed sidewalks.

Shoreline city council member Keith Scully even stopped by to show his support.

Flyers distributed by Save Shoreline Trees called on the city to reduce sidewalks to 7 feet or less and said 13 foot sidewalks are unnecessary. The group said they don’t want 175th to be “devastated” like 145th where the city removed more than 300 trees to make way for sidewalks and roundabouts to support the light rail station opening later this year.

Trees increase walkability by providing shade and mitigate urban heat islands caused by large expanses of pavement, according Sandy Shettler from Tree Action Seattle. “Walkability includes shade. These are the public’s trees and they should be saved for the good of public health” she said while waving to passing cars.

A map from the Washington State Patrol Collision Analysis Tool shows the locations of ten years of crashes along 175th between Aurora and I-5 

Plagued by traffic jams, N 175th Street between I-5 and Aurora is Shoreline’s busiest city street with more than 20,000 vehicle trips per day. It’s also one of the city’s most dangerous roads. According to data from the Washington State Patrol, collisions on N 175th Street have roared back to pre-pandemic levels: in 2019 there were 77 crashes; in 2023 there were 76.

Starting in 2019, the city collected feedback from over 1,500 residents to list their top priorities for 175th street: pedestrian walkability, solving traffic jams, and improving safety were the top three priorities. 

Although the city didn’t ask specifically about tree preservation, “landscaping character” was rated at the bottom of the wishlist just above bike lanes by Shoreline residents.

To address traffic jams, the city won’t be able to make the road much wider - it’s already a five-lane road and is over 75 feet wide. It narrows to four lanes at Wallingford where it squeezes between rock retaining walls and spreads out to seven lanes at Aurora. Because of the phenomenon known as Induced Demand, adding more lanes probably wouldn’t help.

But traffic jams are just the start of the problems. When the city started designing the project, they discovered an earthquake could cause 175th to “slip and slide” into nearby Ronald Bog and received an $8 million grant from FEMA to rebuild the road.

Flyers distributed by Save Shoreline Tree called 175th “a primary access route to I-5 and a truck route” and said because there was no light rail station, wider sidewalks weren’t necessary. But later this year, Metro’s new route 333 will provide frequent, cross-town bus service along 175th street, increasing pedestrian traffic on the road.

The city’s Transportation Element Bicycle Plan, adopted by the city council in 2022, promises bike lanes on 175th street that would be safe enough for children to ride on.

At the rally, Susanne Tsoming, co-chair of Save Shoreline Trees, when asked about the city’s plan said, “It’s a major arterial and not made for strolling… I think it’s insane to ride a bike on this road with cars.”

Parents and students, who must brave five lanes of car traffic to get to Meridian Park elementary, want the city council to do something about traffic safety on 175th. Between I-5 and Aurora there are only seven crosswalks and the road can be up to 90 feet wide.

The location of trees to be removed to make way for sidewalks and a bike lane near Meridian Park elementary are shown on a map from the arborist report 

The city’s Climate Action Plan says vehicles are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Shoreline and sets a goal to get more people to ride busses and bikes. Shoreline’s Complete Streets policy requires road projects to be designed for the safe and convenient access of all users including pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users; not just motorists.

On the other side of town, the city’s Transportation Improvement Plan calls for a road diet on the east side of I-5 that (instead of expanding the width of the road) would shrink NE 175th St from four lanes to three while adding bike lanes. 

A table shows the number of car lanes and widths of the seven crosswalks pedestrians must brave while crossing 175th street between Aurora and I-5.
That plan would cost about $2.3 million without removing trees. Although the U.S. Department of Transportation says road diets improve safety and calm traffic, twenty years ago the city council rolled back a plan to put 15th Ave NE in the North City business district on a road diet after push back from businesses.

On May 20, the city council was scheduled to vote on adoption of the Transportation Improvement Plan. And the council was scheduled to discuss a plan to roll out Scooter and Bike Sharing in the city. The Natural Environment and Transportation sections of the Comprehensive Plan were also on the agenda.

UPDATE: At the June 3rd city council meeting, the 175th street project will be back on the agenda for discussion.

A presentation from Save Shoreline Trees is no longer on the agenda. In an email, Kathleen Russell from Save Shoreline Trees said, “Although the City initially approved our application for a presentation, we are not in agreement on the guidelines and we have withdrawn our application.” 

On June 10, the much anticipated (and overdue) Annual Traffic Report will be reviewed by the city council and Traffic Enforcement Cameras will be discussed. The council will vote on whether to add Scooters and Bicycle Sharing to Shoreline’s roads.

On June 24, before the council adjourns for their summer vacation, the Commute Trip Reduction Plan will be reviewed.

5-23-2024 Save Shoreline Trees will not be making a presentation at the June 3rd council meeting.


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Bog Dweller: Goslings on the Bog

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

It's just a little too early for goslings - this family is from last year. But spring is coming and new babies with it.

Bog Dweller Martin De Grazia captured this charming photo of a family of Canadian Geese escorting their goslings around Ronald Bog in central Shoreline (N 175th and Meridian).



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Photo: Geese at Ronald Bog

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Geese at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia

It's that time of year. Cuteness abounds at every body of water in the area. Soak it up - good for your blood pressure.

DKH



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Wildlife: Otter at Ronald Bog

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Otter at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia

I suspect that Martin was up very very early to get this photo as the best time to see otters is dawn.

This guy is a fresh water otter. We have them in every body of water in Shoreline - and in McAleer Creek as well. They're versatile.

They are also elusive. People who live by the lakes see them (and sadly, people who have koi ponds see them) but the occasional visitor will never know they are there.

Considering how elusive they are, this is really an extraordinary photo. Thanks to Martin for sharing!

DKH


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