admin – Page 81 – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Tell Legislators to Preserve Bus Service to Downtown

Via Downtown Seattle Association Public Policy Advocacy

[message type=”warning”]

Action Requested:

Contact King County legislators using the link below, and urge them to develop a solution for funding King County Metro and pass a comprehensive state transportation package:

Move King County Now contact link

[/message]

King County Metro transit service is at risk. The special session in Olympia has provided another chance to secure a funding package that will preserve transit service, but that window will soon close. We’ve reached a critical period in which we need to impress upon lawmakers how important Metro service is to the Downtown, and regional, economy and the ability for tens of thousands of commuters to get between work and home each day.

Commuters and employers alike stand to be severely impacted if the state legislature does not adopt a transportation package. Faced with a budget shortfall, Metro cuts will amount to a loss of 17 percent of service, affecting eight out of every 10 riders, with more than 70 routes eliminated completely – click on the map to get a visual depiction of the massive scale of the route reduction:

Reductions in bus service will place an estimated additional 30,000 vehicles on our roadways each day and make getting around King County more difficult, whether you’re in a car, bus or truck.

What’s at Risk Without a Funding Solution:

74 routes eliminated across the county (35% of Metro system)
107 routes will have services reduced or revised (50% of system)
Only 33 routes unchanged but would likely become more crowded (15% of system)
600,000 service hours to be reduced
17% cuts to transit will affect 8 out of every 10 transit riders and make it harder to get to work
All areas of the county will be impacted (kingcounty.gov/am/future/)
Cuts would mean a loss of 14 million rides annually
Of the impacted routes, 43% are peak, 56% are all day and 1% are “night owl” routes
Metro’s level of service will be the same as in 1997, despite adding 360,000 more King County residents
An estimated 30,000 additional vehicles will be put back on the road due to transit service reductions
This is not just a King County problem; failure to pass a funding package will put our state at a competitive disadvantage

DSA Public Policy Advocacy Since DSA was founded in 1958, we have been a leader in the revitalization and development of Downtown into a thriving, world-class destination, business center and collection of neighborhoods. Successful leadership and partnerships have earned DSA its reputation as an expert on issues facing Downtown. The strength of our advocacy program is driven by the work and support of distinguished volunteers who lend their expertise to the achievement of our mission to champion a healthy, vibrant urban core. Read our strategic plan.

Seawall construction starts week of November 18

From Waterfront Seattle:

Seawall Construction Materials (PDF)

After years of careful planning and coordination, we’re ready to begin seawall construction! Starting the week of November 18, you’ll see construction begin in earnest on the waterfront. The first step is to build a new roadway beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct that will carry all north/south traffic during construction of the new seawall. To make way for this, angled parking spaces under the viaduct, as well as those spaces between Pike and Virginia streets will be removed and traffic will be shifted to the east. Read below for additional information. For questions about Seawall construction send us an email at seawall@waterfrontseattle.org or call our 24-hour hotline at 206.618.8584.

Seawall construction starts the week of November 18

Near term activities will include:

Mobilization of equipment and materials.
Placement of safety fencing at the perimeter of the work area.
Removal of angled parking adjacent to and under the Alaskan Way Viaduct between Madison and Pike streets initially, and later all the way to Virginia Street.
Posting “No Park” signs as early as November 14.
Removal of trees and signal poles on the west side of Alaskan Way (in the sidewalk area).
Construction of the temporary roadway beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Ongoing utility and telecommunications relocation work.

What you can expect:

Construction hours will be Monday through Saturday, both day and night. The noisiest work will stop each day by 10 pm and resume at 8 am.
No work is expected on major holidays.
One lane in each direction maintained on Alaskan Way.
Access to east side businesses maintained on the access road immediately east of the viaduct.
The multi-use path on the west side of the viaduct will be open, with interim closures and detours in the vicinity of Pike Street.
Increased noise, dust, and vibration.
Increased truck and oversized vehicle traffic moving equipment and materials.
Contractors can park work vehicles within the construction work zone, but are not allowed to park in on-street, short-term parking.
Flaggers will be present at different locations within the work zone to manage construction traffic and public access though the construction area.

Construction snapshot activities over the next week

Seawall

On Friday, November 8 underground utility work will take place on the east side of Alaskan Way between Pike and Union streets. Here’s what to expect:

Working hours will be 8 am to 3 pm.
On-street parking restrictions will be in place for the duration of the work.
Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.
Two-way traffic will be maintained at all times.
Work will include pavement removal, jackhammering and excavation.

Waterfront Seattle

Union Street utility investigations started yesterday near Western Avenue and Post Alley. Pedestrian and local access will be maintained throughout the work. Working hours are weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm.

Starting Monday, November 4, crews will be performing geotechnical investigations under the viaduct between Pine and Lenora streets. The work is necessary to gather information about the soil as the design for the future Elliott Way connection over the BNSF railroad progresses. Work will occur weekdays between 7 am and 6 pm and last approximately two weeks. See the attached flyer for more information.

For questions about Seawall construction, send us an email at seawall@waterfrontseattle.org or call our 24-hour hotline at 206.618.8584.

Update to the Neighborhood – November 2013

Wow, is it really November? I find myself reflecting on this past year and how much has been accomplished. Pioneer Square has enjoyed many successes as well as trials during 2013. Such is the hard work of building and improving a neighborhood. Our thanks to each of you who have stepped up and joined us in making Pioneer Square better for everyone. When looking forward, we anticipate continuing our critical work to improve street disorder and safety with whomever is the victor in the Mayor’s race. Improving street civility and reducing suffering is critical to the future of Pioneer Square and all of downtown.

The Alliance is engaged in a year-end fund raising campaign to start 2014 even stronger than ever. If you haven’t contributed in the past or in this past year, now is the time to show your support for the Alliance and our work in the neighborhood. It’s all real easy, just click here.

And remember, we are a source of information about the ever challenging presence of the future coming at us as construction continues and expands: the tunnel, the gas main, street car lines and now the seawall replacement as well. (link to alliance website here) If you want to know about new restaurants and offerings, check out what Karen is saying. And then there are the events, parades, cooking classes, and fancy meals in the mall. There is always so much going on in our ever changing, complex neighborhood.

Once again, thank you for hanging in with Pioneer Square as we move into the future. See you in the neighborhood!

Leslie Smith

Executive Director

Alliance for Pioneer Square