Montlake Community Club

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April 20th Deadline for Public Comments to 520 Construction Noise Variance

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noise featuredTomorrow, April 20th is the deadline to submit your response to WSDOT’s application for a Noise Variance during construction (click to review application).  A few highlights requested in the application:

  • The right to do construction at higher noise levels 24 hours a day, for the next 7 years, the full scope of the 520 construction.
  • City of Seattle’s current limit on nighttime noise is 45 db, WSDOT is requesting 80 db. With decibel scales, this over 15X the current limit.

Many neighbors, including the Montlake Community Club Board, are concerned about this noise variance. As such, the Montlake Community Club has submitted a letter opposing this variance. You may view the Community Club’s response to this variance request HERE or click to view other responses by Laurelhurst, North Capitol Hill, and Senator Jaime Pedersen.

The Montlake Community Club encourages all concerned neighbors to take advantage of the public comment period which ends tomorrow, Thursday, April 20th by sending an email with your comments concerning construction noise and hours of operations here:

If you prefer to view WSDOT’s noise variance docs as PDFs rather than DOCX files, go to this Dropbox folder.

You can see all WSDOT’s material and comments already filed here. (Type in 3027364 for the project number)

 

April 6th – SR 520 Construction Noise Meeting

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noiseThere is another important process & deadline upon us this week with regards to the Montlake Phase of SR 520 Construction. WSDOT has applied for a Noise Variance during construction (click to review application) and they will be holding the only public meeting this Thursday, April 6th. You may read the bulletin here: http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/ LUIB/Notice.aspx?BID=1222&NID= 24653

Many neighbors are concerned about this and are opposing any noise variance allowing for construction prior to 8 AM and later than 7 PM Monday through Friday.

Please take advantage of the public comment period which ends Thursday, April 6th Thursday, April 20th by sending an email with your comments concerning construction noise and hours of operations here:

  • prc@seattle.gov
    Reference Project # 3027364
  • Or By Mail: SDCI, PRC, P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA  98124-4019

Finally, please attend the ONLY PUBLIC MEETING on the noise variance issue:

Thursday, April 6th
4:00 to 6:30 PM
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

If you prefer to view WSDOT’s noise variance docs as PDFs rather than DOCX files, go to this Dropbox folder.

You can see all WSDOT’s material and comments already filed here. (Type in 3027364 for the project number)

 

SR 520 Update Meeting Wed Oct 5th

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SR520WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) is having a 520 West Approach Bridge North construction update on Wednesday, Oct 5th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Graham Visitors Center in the Arboretum.

The WSDOT project team for the “Montlake Phase” will provide a short presentation with key project updates.  Attendees will be also able to share thoughts regarding this next phase of SR 520 construction.

This is an opportunity to let them know how we feel about the proposed taking of the Montlake Boulevard Market and the gas station so please try to attend this important meeting.MBM

Seattle Times Article on Market, What You Can Do

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Montlake MarketThe Seattle Times published an article yesterday on the possible loss of the Montlake Boulevard Market. Get the story here.

People in Montlake are working hard to stop the closure. Your Montlake Community Club & neighbors have already:

  • started a 520 Transportation Committee
  • offered comments to the Seattle Design Commission
  • given interviews to the local TV networks and print media
  • briefed City Council members
  • offered public comments to the City Council
  • created a Change.Org petition (Click to Sign)
Here’s what YOU can do – Send the Mayor, the City Council, and state legislators your concerns by letter and/or email.  Urge your neighbors to do the same. Send your letter or email to:

What you can share with them about this devastating closure:

  • Your personal story about why the Montlake Boulevard Market is important
  • The addition of a staging area at one of the city’s busiest intersections undergoing a massive rebuild doesn’t make sense; it would simply make traffic jams worse and make commuting harder
  • Montlake has a low walk score and this takes away a critical resource that is loved in this neighborhood
  • A visually attractive & safe intersection, even during the construction phase, is needed as this is a key gateway to the city
  • WSDOT announced its decision without any advanced warning
  • The city needs to manage planning for the entire area and validate WSDOT decisions; there is a need to coordinate work done by several transport agencies and the UW.  The city has perspective and can see the 520 work in its larger context. We encourage a stronger role for the city over the next 12 years of construction and during the creation of the Design-Build contract.

 

SR 520 Open House on June 28 – Saint Demetrios Hall in Montlake

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Rest of the West WSDOTVia WSDOT:

Neighbors are invited to a public open house to learn more about the next phase of the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program in Seattle. All remaining elements of the SR 520 Program from Lake Washington to I-5 are now fully funded by the 2015 Connecting Washington package and will be constructed in phases.

The open house will focus primarily on the next phase of construction: the West Approach Bridge South (WABS) and Montlake lid and land bridge.

 The public meeting will be held:

  • Date: Tuesday, June 28
  • Time: 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Place: Saint Demetrios Hall in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood
  • Address: 2100 Boyer Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112

 At this open house, we will share the following:

  1. Updated design renderings for the Montlake lid, land bridge and West Approach Bridge South
  2. The schedule for the next phase of construction (set to begin by 2018), and how to stay informed
  3. A look ahead to future phases of the Rest of the West
  4. Other topics such as an overview of design-build contracting and environmental enhancements as part of the SR 520 Program
  5. An update on current construction of the West Approach Bridge North (WABN)

 The open house will provide an opportunity for members of the public to hear the latest about the SR 520 Program, view updated design renderings of the Montlake area, chat one-on-one with project staff, ask questions, and share feedback.

In addition to the in-person open house, we are also hosting an Online Open House, which will be available Monday, June 20th through July 8. Please visit SR520.participate.online to view design information about the next phase of construction, which includes the Montlake area and WABS, and learn about the future steps for the remaining Rest of the West project elements. This Online Open House will include a summary of the project’s design history, and an overview and details of the design character of the Montlake area and WABS. It will also include an opportunity for visitors to share their feedback.

We hope you can join us for these events! We look forward to continuing to share information with you as we move forward with building a new, safer and more reliable SR 520 corridor in Seattle.

520 Grand Opening – April 2nd & 3rd

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SR 520 will be closed across Lake Washington this weekend, April 1-3 to celebrate the grand opening of longest floating bridge in the world. The closure will begin at 11pm on Friday, April 1st with the bridge reopening at 2pm on Sunday, April 3rd.

The festivities kick-off at 7:30 am with Fun Run/Walk across the bridge.

  • The full schedule of events can be found HERE

2016-0216_Poster3

U Link Launch Day Tomorrow, March 19th

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U LinkThe University Link Light Rail opens tomorrow. Celebrations at University of Washington and Capitol Hills Stations kick-off at 9:00am.

  • The full schedule of events can be found HERE
  • Get your free ticket to ride HERE
  • And share your experience & photos with #ULink2016

 

Montlake Bridge Closed Feb 27th – Feb 28th

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Photo: Camknows, Flickr

Photo: Camknows, Flickr

VIA WSDOT:

Do your weekend plans take you to the UW campus or the Montlake neighborhood? If so, be prepared for a couple of major closures! The Montlake Bridge and the westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Montlake Boulevard East will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28.

During the closure, our maintenance crews will replace three large sections of the deck, or roadbed, across the Montlake Bridge.

Bicyclists and pedestrians will have access across the bridge.

We’ve posted a news release with more information and details on marine traffic restrictions.

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.