News – Page 33 – Alliance for Pioneer Square

Reynolds Work Release residents volunteer for Pioneer Square Spring Clean

The residents at Reynolds Work Release located at 410 4^th Avenue in Seattle are excited to participate in the upcoming Spring Clean-Up in Pioneer Square! The program at Reynolds encourages all residents to take pride in their surrounding community and lend a hand to the neighborhood. Reynolds Work Release helps offenders with a successful transition from prison back into their community with an array of services focused on finding and retaining employment, reconnecting with families, overcoming substance abuse and other issues, and becoming productive members of society. The program is operated by Pioneer Human Services, an entrepreneurial human service organization that provides a chance for change to people overcoming the challenges of substance abuse and criminal histories by offering treatment, housing and employment. Please go to our website if you would like additional information.

Reynolds Work Release is also seeking volunteers for two of our programs. We need one volunteer to assist in our clothing closet project on a weekly basis, and a couple of volunteers to assist with a resident game night once a month.

Reynolds Work Release residents are also looking for opportunities to volunteer in the community and to contribute by lending a hand to support approved community efforts. Please contact the following for more information: Lori Linenko, Director, 206-464-6320 | Lori.Linenko@p-h-s.com

Lori Linenko

Director, Reynolds Work Release

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project Update – February 2014

It’s been a busy start to 2014 with the opening of the South Atlantic Street overpass and crews working to get Bertha, the SR 99 tunneling machine, digging again. Here’s a recap of what we’ve been up to:

Milepost 31 Speaker Series: Learn about the South Atlantic Street overpass
On Monday, Jan. 27, we opened a new overpass to the west of Seattle’s stadiums, just south of Pioneer Square. The overpass allows traffic to bypass a busy railroad track that crosses South Atlantic Street. Before the overpass, train activity often blocked traffic for extended periods, which not only slowed truckers traveling to and from the Port of Seattle, but also created backups that stretched onto Seattle streets and Interstate 90. The overpass saves truckers as much as 20 minutes of travel time between the port and I-5 or I-90.

Visit Milepost 31 between 6 and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6 to talk to staff about how the structure is changing traffic patterns in the area. Read more about the overpass here.

Further evaluation required before tunneling can resume
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP) pushed the SR 99 tunneling machine – which had been stopped since Dec. 6 – forward approximately 2 feet. Moving the machine forward allowed crews to further test the functionality of the machine and determine if they could resume full-production mining. It also created sufficient space to build the next concrete tunnel liner ring on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

When the machine moved forward, crews saw indications of above-normal temperature readings in part of the machinery, similar to readings encountered before crews initially decided to stop mining on Dec. 6. On Wednesday, STP made adjustments and mined an additional 2 feet. The above-normal temperatures persisted, and STP made the decision to stop and perform further evaluations.

STP crews and tunnel engineers are operating the world’s largest tunneling machine in complex conditions. Although their investigations to date have provided a great deal of information, we will not be able to definitively identify the issue or issues facing the machine until tunneling experts complete their review. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Please visit our webpage for regular updates.

ADA Ramps for Pioneer Square

To address the need to make Pioneer Square’s historic streets meet 21st century ADA standards, the International Sustainability Institute (ISI) and the Alliance for Pioneer Square are working to identify sidewalks in need of curb cuts and repair. Through this program, business owner Michael Lindsey applied for the construction of an ADA accessible ramp in front of his business, Laguna Pottery (pictured right) and is the first to do so. Thanks to the Neighborhood Park & Street Fund for funding these fixes. ISI’s Active Streets Report informed and guided this process with consultant Randy Earle, neighborhood resident and founder of We Will Find a Way.