Montlake Community Club

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New 520 Off-Ramp Opens in Montlake

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OfficersMontlake traffic is in the news again. Yesterday, the new west bound 520 off-ramp opened and, based on all of the press coverage, it does not appear the first day went very well. TV news cameras captured several cars running the newly installed stop signs at the intersection of Lake Washington Blvd and 24th Ave E likely because it was dark and the new signs are a major change.

KIRO-NEWSI spoke to a KIRO news reporter who witnessed several close calls between cars and pedestrians so caution is advised. The problem is so bad the State Patrol temporarily posted officers at the intersection to help bring attention to the new four way stop. Another problem is the high volume of traffic using the exit during the afternoon rush hour resulted in cars being backed down the ramp and onto 520. This new off-ramp is just one one of many changes Montlake will experience as construction of 520 continues so please try and be patient. The Montlake Community Club along with other “safe streets” advocates will continue working with WSDOT and SDOT to try and resolve these and other problems because keeping our neighborhood a safe place is our number one goal.

Bryan Haworth
MCC President

Oct. 24 – 25 Weekend Closure of the Montlake Bridge

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2015_1013_ClosureMap

Via WSDOT

Reminder: Oct. 24-25 weekend closure of the Montlake Bridge, SR 520 ramps and local streets

From 5 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, WSDOT maintenance crews will close the Montlake Bridge in both directions, the westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard and a single lane of the eastbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard. Crews will use this closure to begin needed repairs to the bridge’s metal grid deck. Weather-permitting, crews will also intermittently close single lanes along East Park Drive East, along westbound East Lake Washington Boulevard between 24th Avenue East and Montlake Boulevard, and along northbound and southbound Montlake Boulevard between East Hamlin Street and East Roanoke Street to complete paving activities.

Closure details:

  • The SR 520 mainline will remain open, as will the westbound off-ramp to Lake Washington Boulevard and a single lane of the eastbound off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard.
  • Marine traffic will be restricted. There will be no Montlake Bridge openings for boats between 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. The bridge’s south span will open for boats (with one hour’s advance notice) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
  • The freeway transit stops along SR 520 in Montlake will remain open but local buses will be rerouted around the Montlake area during the weekend. Check the King County Metro alerts webpage to find out information on your bus route.
  • Bicycle and pedestrian access will remain open across the west side of the Montlake Bridge.
  • The Montlake Boulevard U-turn at East Hamlin Street will remain open for I-5 access.
  • Access to the Shelby-Hamlin neighborhood will remain open.

 

KOMO: Metro riders fret about service cuts near 2 light rail stations

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Via Twitter @KaraKostanich

Photo @KaraKostanich Twitter

Via KOMO News
By Kara Kostanich

SEATTLE — Metro Transit bus service could be changing around the University of Washington and Capitol Hill in preparation for two new Link light rail stations that will open next year.

Metro Bus route 25 and route 43 are lifelines for some longtime Montlake neighbors, but with Link light rail service coming to UW and Capitol Hill in March, seven bus routes are now on the chopping block.

“It is a problem for us,” said Linnea Hirst.

Metro Transit says the purposed cuts will restructure the transit network around the new light rail stops, ultimately providing more service to more riders on designated corridors.

“There are some routes that are being purposed for elimination,” said Jeremy Fichter with Metro Transit. “Most of the rides on those routes will continue to have other options available with fixed route transit routes.”

But that’s the problem for neighbors Kathy Smith-DiJulio and Hirst.

Click Here to View Video and Continue Reading.

 

City Council Hears Montlake Concern

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From left to right: Kari Olson, John O'Neil, Julee Neuhart and Lionel Job, four Montlake residents,were among the speakers at a City Council hearing requesting safety improvement for walkers and bikers in our neighborhood.

From left to right: Kari Olson, John O’Neil, Julee Neuhart and Lionel Job, four Montlake residents,were among the speakers at a City Council hearing requesting safety improvement for walkers and bikers in our neighborhood.

The Seattle City Council recently held a hearing to listen to residents supporting additional neighborhood projects that maybe funded by the 2015 budget.  Several Montlake residents spoke to the council requesting an additional  project  be added to the 23rd Avenue/24th Avenue Greenway Street Improvements Program that is now underway.  The request is a pedestrian-activated stop light at the intersection of 24th Avenue East and Interlaken Blvd.  Many bikers and walkers try to cross 24th at this location where the street is 5 lanes wide and there is no crosswalk and heavy traffic is often present.  The Montlake Community Club considers traffic calming at this location a high priority as the city seeks to improve safety in this corridor.  Adding this stop light would improve safety for bikers, walkers and drivers crossing through this busy intersection.