Add your voice to traffic concerns

This information is provided by our friends at the Portage Bay/Roanoke Park Community Council. Updated August 16, 2022

See the WSDOT proposal:

https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/sr-520-portage-bay-and-roanoke-lid-project

YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED ABOUT 520 LOCAL TRUCK HAUL ROUTE PLANS BY AUGUST 26

INFORMATIONAL MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 7P-8P QUEEN CITY YACHT CLUB, 2608 BOYER AVE. E.

HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS, OF 520 CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS ARE COMING TO LOCAL STREETS IN THE MONTLAKE & PORTAGE BAY/ROANOKE PARK NEIGHBORHOODS.   The impacts can be better managed and/ or drastically reduced if enough people submit comments Map Sources, WSDOT NTMP 2022, Neighborhood Task Force

We need neighbors to send individually written comments about WSDOT’s planned ‘Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan’ by August 26        
Email: SR520NTMP@wsdot.wa.gov ATT: Shoshana Wineburg
•          Mail: 999 3rd Avenue, Suite 2300 Seattle, WA 98104    

Scroll down for background YOU can use for your individually written comment to minimize impacts from hundreds of haul route trucks through our neighborhoods…  

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE COMMITTED NEIGHBORS WHO ARE CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT SR520 PORTAGE BAY BRIDGE AND DEMAR LID CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS, TO DEVELOP THE FOLLOWING 3,000 WORD DOCUMENT WITH CONTENT YOU CAN USE TO COMMENT ABOUT WSDOT’S MONTLAKE, PORTAGE BAY AND ROANOKE PARK CONSTRUCTION TRUCK HAUL ROUTES.

TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF WSDOT’S SR520 NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN, THEN COMMENT!

WSDOT is proposing to haul almost all construction materials (thousands of trucks) on neighborhood streets to the work bridge landing on Boyer Avenue and the Delmar Lid construction site.

The impacts can be better managed and/ or drastically reduced if enough people demand action.  What can you do?  You can submit a comment by August 26 on the WSDOT/SDOT draft Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP).  

THINK ABOUT HAUL ROUTE IMPACTS    

Imagine life in Portage Bay area construction zone for the six-year reconstruction of SR 520 Portage Bay Bridge at the same time as the construction of the Delmar Lid.

•         Roaring heavy construction trucks going by every few minutes sometimes well into the night. No worries just put on your WSDOT supplied ear plugs.

•         Periodic shaking from pile driving. Not to worry you don’t need to buy that massage chair, just don’t forget to take the pictures off the wall.

•         Random street and sidewalk closures. Make sure to check the web every day so you can figure out how to get to the store or home.

•         Bicyclers get to risk their lives sharing the road with heavy construction vehicles on the bike/construction vehicle haul route. What a thrilling reminder of the fragility of life. No worries, a few blasts of the air horn will get those pesky bicycles out of the way.

•         Dramatic increase in the use of compression brakes on the viaduct. No problem it is illegal, so it didn’t happen.

•         Generators and jackhammers outside your bedroom window at 7:00 AM. No problem just call the WSDOT noise hot line, they will be sure to ignore you.

•         Oops no Amazon or mail delivery this week, the road is closed, or they can’t figure out the detours. At least we don’t have to worry about stolen packages.

•         Shoot no garbage pickup this week. Good, love that urban ambiance and smell.

•         Hard to park? I guess they had to remove all those parking spaces to get the oversize loads in and accommodate detours. Hey, get over it we all need to make sacrifices for the greater good.

•         Foundation and walls cracked?  No problem just sue the contractor they will be happy to have you prove it to their lawyers.

•         Trying to sell or rent? Well, property values and rents may plummet, but it will all be better in 6 years.

PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE AUGUST 26!!
We need neighbors to send individually written comments about WSDOT’s planned ‘Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan’ by August 26        
Email: SR520NTMP@wsdot.wa.gov ATT: Shoshana Wineburg
•          Mail: 999 3rd Avenue, Suite 2300 Seattle, WA 98104    

WSDOT is bringing all this without necessary mitigation measures. 

WSDOT is proposing to haul almost all construction materials (thousands of trucks) on neighborhood streets to the work bridge landing on Boyer Avenue and the Delmar Lid construction site. The impacts can be better managed and/ or drastically reduced if enough people demand action.  What can you do?  You can submit a comment by August 26 on the WSDOT/SDOT draft Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP).  

The plan was developed to manage the situation, but this plan is very far from adequate.    Comments need to be submitted by next week which unfortunately is during our typical summer vacation time.  The deadline is Friday, August 26.  During a similar period, last year, our residents submitted more than 80 individual comments on the need for shoreline permit area mitigation.  Largely, as a result of our effort, WSDOT must now provide $700,000 for that mitigation.  Submitting a substantial number of individually worded comments is again needed to make this plan relevant.

Please provide comments using your own thoughts and wording.  Comments that you can you make to improve the plan are listed below.  However, first read through the information provided below this listing. This information will enable you to make more informed comments.

•         That the use of barges, in place of work bridges for Portage Bay bridge reconstruction, will substantially reduce haul vehicle traffic. The existing bridge was constructed in 1963 only using barges.  Instead WSDOT now is only considering reconstructing the bridge primarily using two work bridges

•         The NTMP needs to include existing traffic counts and traffic capacity projections for our neighborhood arterials at different times of the day.

•         The NTMP needs to use construction vehicle street use forecasts plus traffic detour projections to determine street operational capability 

•         A determination must be made if any arterial intersections, including the existing street calming intersections for Fuhrman-Boyer Avenue, need to be modified.

•         A determination is needed where parking needs to be restricted for construction haul vehicle passage.

•         The frequent bicycle and pedestrian usage of Fuhrman-Boyer and 19th Avenue East (which WSDOT has stated will replace the Bill Dawson Trail during construction) needs consideration.

•         WSDOT has stated that both weekend and nighttime (after 7 PM) haul routes are needed.  At a minimum, restrictions on haul truck traffic after 10 PM need to be included.                

 Additionally, the revised Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) should be available for additional neighborhood review.

DRAFT 520 NTMP attached for review. Here’s what should have been included-

Transportation management plan strategies include road traffic use forecasts, impacts of construction traffic, the need for construction traffic work hour restrictions, detours, parking restrictions, temporary traffic control measures and devices, public information and outreach, and operational strategies such as travel demand management, signal retiming, and traffic incident management

WSDOT Design Manual requirements NOT included:

“One of the most important tasks in developing a Traffic Management Plan for construction is assessing all of the project impacts to mobility and safety.  Impacts that are not identified and addressed in the TMP will undoubtedly become issues during the construction phase of the project. … A complete and accurate impacts assessment will allow for the development of an effective TMP that should only need minor modifications to address construction issues. The Traffic Manual provides information on how to determine expected work zone congestion along with mobility management strategies.” Source: WSDOT Draft Design Manual 1010.05 Developing TMP Strategies, 1010.05(2) Impacts Assessment https://www.google.com/search?  q=WSDOT+TMP+template&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS985US985&oq=WSDOT+TMP+template&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160.11166j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

What is in this Draft Plan?

The most relevant features of the draft plan are on Pages 18 and 19.  This information is copied in the next section below.  The entire plan is very briefly summarized below:

1.       Executive Summary (pages 4-7)   It is stated on page 4 that “The primary objectives of this NTMP are to:

•          Identify traffic and mobility-related concerns in the Portage Bay neighborhood based on public feedback

•          Propose traffic management measures to address these concerns before, during and after Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke (Delmar) Lid Projects construction

•          Describe long-term city of Seattle plans to approve mobility in the Portage Bay area. “

2.       Background information (pages 7-10) 

3.       A review of public involvement (pages 11-14), On page 11 it is noted that WSDOT maintains a database of public comments.  An online survey completed June 3 to 24 had 35 responses.  On page 34 it is noted that 22 were concerned about construction closures of local streets. 20 were concerned about safety for pedestrians, walking biking and running.

4.       A list of SR 520 projects completed or underway (pages 15-23)

5.       A listing of our residential street improvements (pages 24-30).  These improvements would typically be identified as part of a community planning process.  WSDOT committed to provide funding for some of the improvements on page 25.

6.       A request for comments on the NTMP (page 31)

7.        Appendix A lists the individual written responses submitted for the June survey

This plan objective, discussed in the Executive summary, is to identify neighborhood concerns and propose traffic measures for them in the Portage Bay area. The June survey, which appears to be the primary source, only had 35 respondents.  The NTMP does not identify any improvements in the Montlake neighborhood that is also impacted by proposed haul routes.  (The 19th Avenue/Lynn Street intersection improvement has already been completed.)

The severe impact of 6+years of site construction, plus haul vehicle and detour traffic, are not identified.  The draft plan does even not include existing primary data of neighborhood traffic counts, traffic projections, or arterial vehicle capacity.   Likewise, it does not include estimates of the number of construction haul vehicles.  Several thousand haul vehicle truck loads are needed to access the proposed work bridges for Portage Bay Bridge reconstruction.   Additional haul vehicle truck loads are needed for the Delmar Lid area construction.

All this vital information is needed to determine both when and where appropriate traffic control measures such as using flaggers must be implemented.  Also, this primary information is needed to determine where modifications of the existing arterial street components must be considered.   These include parking availability and intersection turn widths plus essential traffic calming measures that include street bumps, traffic circles and medians. 

The draft plan’s most relevant traffic construction control measures:

“Hauling The contractor will need to haul construction materials to and from construction sites and work areas. To reduce these effects, WSDOT has identified specified haul routes that the contractor must use … I-5 and SR 520 will be the primary routes; any hauling required on local streets must occur on designated secondary haul routes (Delmar Drive East, East Roanoke Street, Boyer/Fuhrman Avenue East, Lake Washington Boulevard, 19^th Ave, East, East Lynn St, and West Montlake Place East). Roadway surfaces will be repaired and maintained before, during, and after construction. (Note: WSDOT has only identified two construction mobilization sites.  Both sites must use our neighborhood arterials for access.)

Parking The contractor and its employees will not be allowed to use on-street parking in the project area for their personal vehicles.  The contractor will provide its own parking spaces for employee vehicles.  If certain vehicles require special access to the project, temporary exceptions may be made. However, if this happens, neighbors will receive notification in advance.

Street and trail closures “Constructing the Roanoke Lid will require temporary street, crossing, sidewalk and trail closures. 10th Avenue East, Delmar Drive East, and East Roanoke Street will be closed at certain points during construction. The contract will specify that these closures must take place during times with the lowest traffic volumes, which is usually nights and weekends. WSDOT and the contractor will notify neighbors, in advance, about street, sidewalk or trail closures, and will provide details about alternate routes. For safety reasons, the Bill Dawson Trail will need to be closed all through construction. A detour route will be provided.”  (When and where???)

As previously stated, these measures are minimal. They do not contain any specific time and location measures that are needed to address the project’s ongoing construction traffic impacts.  Traffic impacts that can also create very significant ongoing noise and vibration impacts.  

Examples of relevant comments that you can expand upon are outlined below See Deeper Plan Review Section:

·         The NTMP needs to include existing traffic counts and traffic capacity projections for our neighborhood arterials at different times of the day. 

·         The NTMP needs to have construction vehicle street use forecasts plus traffic detour projections.

·         A determination must be made if any arterial intersections, including the existing street calming intersections for Fuhrman-Boyer Avenue, need to be modified.

·         A determination is needed where parking needs to be restricted for construction haul vehicle passage.

·         The frequent bicycle and pedestrian usage of Fuhrman-Boyer and 19^th Avenue East (which WSDOT has stated will replace the Bill Dawson Trail during construction) needs consideration.   

·         WSDOT has stated that both weekend and nighttime (after 7 PM) haul routes are needed.  At a minimum, restrictions on haul truck traffic after 10 PM need to be included.

·         The need and location for flaggers or other traffic control measure needs to be included.

Your comments should also note:

 Deeper Plan Review for SR 520 Frontliners to Haul Routes, Staging Areas and Construction Corridor:

There is a great likelihood of several thousand construction haul vehicles trips on our neighborhood arterials during 6+ year of SR 520 construction.  Please read this information on how you can comment on a draft neighborhood traffic management plan. (NTMP) that is supposed to manage the situation.

The entire plan is attached for your review.  The information provided below can help you make useful comments.  Please provide comments using your own thoughts and wording.   Comments need to be submitted in next week which unfortunately is during our typical summer vacation time.  The deadline is Friday, August 26.  During a similar period, last year, our residents submitted more than 80 individual comments on the need for shoreline permit area mitigation.  Largely as a result of our effort, WSDOT must now provide $700,000 for that mitigation.  Submitting a substantial number of individually worded comments is again needed to make this plan relevant.

What should be included in a Traffic Management Plan (TMP)?

Transportation management plan strategies include road traffic use forecasts, impacts of construction traffic, the need for construction traffic work hour restrictions, detours, parking restrictions, temporary traffic control measures and devices, public information and outreach, and operational strategies such as travel demand management, signal retiming, and traffic incident management

This draft plan does not meet these WSDOT Design Manual requirements:

“One of the most important tasks in developing a Traffic Management Plan for construction is assessing all of the project impacts to mobility and safety.  Impacts that are not identified and addressed in the TMP will undoubtedly become issues during the construction phase of the project. … A complete and accurate impacts assessment will allow for the development of an effective TMP that should only need minor modifications to address construction issues. The Traffic Manual provides information on how to determine expected work zone congestion along with mobility management strategies.” Source: WSDOT Draft Deign Manual 1010.05 Developing TMP Strategies, 1010.05(2) Impacts Assessment https://www.google.com/search?  q=WSDOT+TMP+template&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS985US985&oq=WSDOT+TMP+template&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160.11166j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

What is in this Draft Plan?

The most relevant features of the draft plan are on Pages 18 and 19.  This information is copied below:  The rest of the plan includes:

·         background information (pages 7-10),  

·         a review of public involvement (pages 11-14),  

·         a listing of SR 520 project construction components (pages 15-23)

·         a listing of our residential street improvements (pages 24-31).  Improvements more typically would be part of a community planning process

The severe impact of 6+years of site construction, plus haul vehicle and detour traffic, are not identified.  The draft plan does even not include existing primary data of neighborhood traffic counts, traffic projections, or arterial vehicle capacity.   Likewise, it does not include estimates of the number of construction haul vehicles.  Several thousand haul vehicle truck loads are needed to access the proposed work bridges for Portage Bay Bridge reconstruction.   Additional haul vehicle truck loads are needed for the Delmar Lid area construction. All this vital information is needed to determine both when and where appropriate traffic control measures such as using flaggers must be implemented.  Also, this primary information is needed to determine where modifications of the existing arterial street components must be considered.   These include parking availability and intersection turn widths plus essential traffic calming measures that include street bumps, traffic circles and medians.  

The draft plan’s most relevant traffic construction control measures:

“Hauling The contractor will need to haul construction materials to and from construction sites and work areas. To reduce these effects, WSDOT has identified specified haul routes that the contractor must use … I-5 and SR 520 will be the primary routes; any hauling required on local streets must occur on designated secondary haul routes (Delmar Drive East, East Roanoke Street, Boyer/Fuhrman Avenue East, Lake Washington Boulevard, 19^th Avenue East, East Lynn St. and West Montlake Place East). Roadway surfaces will be repaired and maintained before, during, and after construction. (Note: WSDOT has only identified two construction mobilization sites.  Both sites must use our neighborhood arterials for access.)

Parking The contractor and its employees will not be allowed to use on-street parking in the project area for their personal vehicles.  The contractor will provide its own parking spaces for employee vehicles.  If certain vehicles require special access to the project, temporary exceptions may be made. However, if this happens, neighbors will receive notification in advance.

Street and trail closures Constructing the Roanoke Lid will require temporary street, crossing, sidewalk and trail closures. 10th Avenue East, Delmar Drive East, and East Roanoke Street will be closed at certain points during construction. The contract will specify that these closures must take place during times with the lowest traffic volumes, which is usually nights and weekends. WSDOT and the contractor will notify neighbors, in advance, about street, sidewalk or trail closures, and will provide details about alternate routes. For safety reasons, the Bill Dawson Trail will need to be closed all through construction. A detour route will be provided.”  (When and where???)

As previously stated, these measures are minimal. They do not contain any specific time and location measures that are needed to address the project’s ongoing construction traffic impacts.  Traffic impacts that can also create very significant ongoing noise and vibration impacts.