Montlake Community Club

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Neighborhood meeting to address Portage Bay Bridge construction and impacts

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Please join your neighbors Thursday December 8 at 6:15 to learn more about upcoming construction of the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid. Meeting is at the Montlake Playfield Recreation Center. The meeting will include an update on the WSDOT SR 520 construction and discussion of ways to include community input in the process.

BREAKING NEWS

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SR 520 Land Use Permit Applications (Updated)

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The Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is currently reviewing WSDOT’s permit applications, and has listed the permit numbers in their 9/15/11 Land Use Bulletin Notice. The Coalition for a Sustainable 520‘s original response to the WSDOT filing is below.

 

On Friday, WSDOT posted permit applications to build the second Montlake Bridge,
the Portage Bay Bridge, and the west approach.  This is ridiculous; the
legislature has not approved construction or funded these segments, the money
is not available, and construction is probably years away.   We want to
avoid WSDOT coming in and cutting down trees, and then leaving the area.
This morning we sent the attached letter to the mayor and city council
transportation leaders, and we ask you to follow through with city officials,
telling them not to process these permit applications until the 520 west side
is funded and approved.    You can find all their email
addresses here: http://www.sustainable520.org/p/politician-contact-info.html

WSDOT is trying to make its alternative seem inevitable, to make us all give
up.   But we are standing strong together, and we are working the
political and legal angles with tenacity.  Remember, this project is short
not only the $2 billion that WSDOT acknowledges, but also another $1.6 billion
in funding from tolls which may be wiped out by Eyman’s initiative 1125, and
future federal grants which may not materialize.   WSDOT is going
ahead as if all this were in place, and that can’t last forever.

You can read out letter to the city council here: http://montlake.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Coalititon-Letter-to-Mayor-520-permitting.pdf

Fran Conley
CoOrdinator
Coalition for a Sustainable SR 520

 

SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and HOV Project

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August 4 2011
Click HERE to read the WSDOT newsletter with information on:
Federal environmental approval received for I-5 to Medina project
Public involvement opportunity: Urban design of SR 520 in Seattle
A busy month ahead for Eastside construction
SR 520 and I-90 closures this weekend
SR 520 pontoon construction update
May 31 2011
Montlake Community Club has signed the WSDOT final programmatic agreement. Following  the advice of our attorney, we have sent the document with a cover letter stating our concerns and recommendations as a
condition of approval. You can read this cover letter HERE.  The full programmatic agreement were posted here on May 6, 2011. (See below).  Signing the document allows us to continue as a consulting party with WSDOT.
WSDOT will be issuing the final Environment Impact Statement for State approval in late June. This statement and the Historic Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, if approved by the State, will conclude the review process as part of Record of Decision.
In reviewing the EIS there are major concerns, expressed by the City of Seattle Dept. of Transportation as well as the affected communities, including Montlake, of the transportation analysis in terms of the volume of traffic and it’s impact. The analysis is very inaccurate in terms of projected volumes and the peak periods of the day when congestion will occur.  Our community must take action working with our other affected communities and the City of Seattle to resolve this issue.
The Montlake Board of Directors will be adressing these issues and will develop a plan of action.  All inputs are welcome;  please send your comments and recommendations to President@Montlake.net or Board@Montlake.net .
Click on the links to view the latest updates to the Programmatic Agreement:
The MCC Board unaminously passed a motion to sign the document to be returned to WSDOT on May 20th.  Attached will be a cover letter stating our concerns and recommendations as a condition of approval.  If this document were not signed MCC could no longer be a consultant party with WSDOT.
Letter to Jon Decker May 5, 2011
110502_Final_Section106PA
110502_Final_Section106PA_redlines (Shows the changes to the April 21 document)
110502_Final_106PA_Appendices_Combined  (Contains some blank pages)
April 21 2011
Below is the final programmatic agreement, together with attached documents, received today from Randy Everett for our review and approval. Our signed copy is scheduled for return on May 20th.
We have been advised by our attorney, Melody McCutcheon, to return the document with a cover letter stating our concerns and recommendations as a condition of approval.
Please review the document and return to me your comments.
Thanks everyone for all of your effort and contributions to this process.
Jon
jdecker@deckerarchitects.com
Click on the links to view:
Letter to MCC from US Dept of Transportation
http://montlake.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Letter-to-MCC-from-US-Dept-of-Transportation.pdf
110420_Final_PA_Appendices_AllCombined (Note: Contains some blank pages)
http://montlake.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/110420_Final_PA_Appendices_AllCombined.pdf
April 8  2011
To the Board and members of the community who have contributed so much in the process, the letter is to you.
Thanks again,
Jon Decker
From: Randolph.Everett@dot.gov [mailto:Randolph.Everett@dot.gov]
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 3:32 PM
To: jdecker@deckerarchitects.com
Cc: lsebastian@srifoundation.org; ArcherS@wsdot.wa.gov
Subject: Comments on PA
Hi Jon:
I wanted to personally thank you for your thoughtful comments on the latest version of the SR 520 Programmatic Agreement.  In particular, the WSDOT Team and I appreciated your efforts in developing the 20 suggested measures associated with Page 18, Line 30 of the document.  I wanted to let you know that, although these measures will not be inserted directly in the PA itself, we thought you proposed some excellent ideas, and they will be considered in detail as we continue to develop CCMP stipulations in the near future.  Many of your ideas within the list are exactly what we are looking for from the communities as we develop the CCMP.  Thank you again.
Randy Everett
Seattle Major Projects Oversight Manager
Federal Highway Administration
April 4  2011 – MCC and Neighborhood response to latest WSDOT Programmatic Agreement
Click HERE to view the MCC Response
Click HERE to view The Neighborhood Response, Attachment A to the above.
The following is an outline summary of the Section 106 process items, organized on a chronological basis, with the goal of setting a schedule in terms of the decisions necessary to resolve any potential conflicts with WSDOT related to the protection of our neighborhood from the 520 Project, under the terms and conditions of the federal and state regulations.
1. Meet and review the “Final version of the PA” once received – 4/18
2. Determine if the PA should be signed by MCC as a Consulting Party – 5/12
3. Return the PA to WSDOT – 5/18
4. Confirm that all required signatories have approved the PA document – 6/1
5. Consider other measures including legal action to resolve aspects of the PA that are not acceptable to the Board and or the Community – 6/15
March 19 2011 – WSDOT Draft 2 of the Programmatic Agreement
Jon Decker will prepare a response to WSDOT which is due April 4th.  All comments are welcome and should be sent to jdecker@deckerarchitects.com by March 30th.
There will be a review meeting at the WSDOT offices on March 22nd.  All are welcome – contact Jon Decker for information
Click HERE to read the document
March 17 2011 – Latest WSDOT Newsletter – Click HERE to view
March 7 2011 – Geotechnical Work along 520 corridor thru fall 2011.
WSDOT is drilling to test soil conditions, sometimes at night.
Variance permits are being applied for if noise will exceed Seattle city ordinances.
Click HERE to view the WSDOT flyer.
February 18, 2011 – WSDOT Flyer.  Click HERE to view
Sign up and get ten bucks in free SR 520 Bridge tolls
Pontoon project breaks ground, construction begins in Aberdeen!
Closures and congestion this weekend on SR 520 in Redmond
Coming to a Seattle neighborhood near you: SR 520 drop-in information sessions continue
February 10, 2011 – MCC Response to WSDOT first draft of the Programmatic Agreement: Click below to read:
MCC PA Response 2-10-11
MCC Neighborhood Response 2-10-11
HCMP Attachment B 2-10-11
Attachment C – PA Draft – 2-10-11
SR 520 Program – Library – Fact Sheets and FoliosSR 520 – latest updates, click below to view:
Enhancing safety and reliabilty on SR 520 January 2011 (pdf 2.6 mb)
SR 520 haul route information for Seattle construction January 2011 (pdf 1.28 mb)
Building pontoons for a stronger, safer SR 520 bridge January 2011 (pdf 2 mb)
Improved bicycle and pedestrian connections throughout the SR 520 corridor January 2011 (pdf 515 kb)
Building a new, safer floating bridge December 2010 (pdf 1.6 mb)
Final Environmental Impact Statement Fact Sheet December 2010 (pdf 210 kb)
Transit on the new SR 520: More options and reliability December 2010 (pdf 907 kb)
Safer, more reliable floating bridge and roadway November 2010 (pdf 1.7 mb)
Safety and reliability improvements on the Eastside November 2010 (pdf 3.0 mb)
WSDOT hires Kiewit-General for Pontoon Construction Project April 2010 (pdf 624 kb)
Opportunities in pontoon construction March 2010 (pdf 628 kb)
Innovative pontoon construction testing begins in 2009 March 2010 (pdf 628 kb)
Making environmentally sound decisions December 2009 (pdf 216 kb)
December 2009 (pdf 216 kb)Programmatic Agreement first draft 1-10-11 – Comments due Feb 10, 2011
Montlake will be represented at the next consulting parties meeting on Tuesday Jan 25th.  If you have questions or would like to have an issue raised at this meeting contact Jon Decker at jdecker@deckerarchitects.com
Read the letter to consulting parties HERE.  Read the document HERE.
Plan ahead: Nighttime 520 bridge closures begin Monday January 10th
If you use the SR 520 floating bridge at night, plan ahead for major closures and detours for the next five weeks. WSDOT crews will start by closing all eastbound lanes of SR 520 nightly Jan. 10 through 14 between 92nd Avenue NE and Montlake Boulevard. The closures are scheduled from 11:59 p.m. to 4 a.m. each night. During the closures crews will install equipment for a toll collection system above the lanes in preparation for tolling on the SR 520 bridge beginning this spring.
The work requires more complete closures in coming weeks, and crews will alternate closing either all of the eastbound or westbound lanes of the floating bridge as needed to install tolling equipment. Drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes across or around the lake via I-90, SR 522, I-405 and I-5. The latest construction schedule is online.
ESSB 6392 Workgroup Final Reports – Dec 22, 2010
High Capacity Transit Planning and Financial Findings  and Recomendations
Washington Park Arboretum Mitigation Plan
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/6392workgroup.htm#report
Send your comments to WSDOT: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YQ3QW8B

 

UPDATE November 25, 2010: Cultural Resourse Assessment and Discipline Report
Montlake Community Consulting Party Submittal
Montlake has been given 6 seats at the Section 106 meetings with WSDOT and will be represented by neighbors from five areas of Montlake.  If after reading the committee’s combined response, you have something to add please contact through email the correct representative. If you are unsure whom you should contact, please email Jon Decker.
Jon Decker, Chair,  jdecker@deckerarchitects.com
Dick Dunn,   richardrdunn@comcast.net Shelby Hamlin both east and west of 24th.
Lester Gray, lestg@comcast.net The area west of 24th that includes Boyer, 19th and Lynn
Theo Angelis, theo.angelis@klgates.com Saint Demetrius Church
Anita Bowers, anita_m_bowers@hotmail.com,Montlake Business District,  Montlake School  and 24th Avenue/Montlake Blvd.
East Lake Washington area and the North Ave. ramps,  (not determined at this time).
CLICK BELOW TO READ THE DOCUMENT
Of particular interest is Chapter 7 of the WSDOT document published in October 2010 with details, drawings, and before and after photo depictions.  There are also details about the staging areas, haul routes through Montlake and road diversions.  A blow-up map of the haul routes is also available.
Also of interest are the Montlake Community Club Assessment of Adverse Effects and other responses to the WSDOT documents.
BELOW ARE FILES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO SR520 AND MONTLAKE
Click on any file to open it; you may save the file to your computer.
NOTE: You need Adobe Reader to access these files, some of which are large and may take a while to download – be patient!
Draft Cultural Resources Assessment and Discipline Report – October 2010
This is Chapter 7 of the full 3996 page report detailing how the project affects Montlake with details, drawings, and before and after photo depictions.  There are also details about the staging areas, haul routes through Montlake and road diversions.  A blow-up map of the haul routes is also available
Montlake Haul Routes
This is an excerpt from Chapter 7 of the above document showing the haul routes in more detail.
Montlake Community CRDR Review – August 16, 2010
This is a review, prepared by the Montlake Community Club, of the Cultural Resource Draft report of September 2009 and subsequent meetings in October 2009.
Response to the Supplemental Draft Impact Statement – April 15, 2010
This is the Montlake Community Club response to WSDOT SDEIS of January 2010.
This Section contains links to other relevant sites and documents
WSDOT Website – Updated November 2010
Why WSDOT is not considering the tunnel as an alternative to the bridge – posted November 18, 2010:
Range of Alternatives Discipline Report pages 19-21.
SDEIS, Chapter. 1.8, pages 1-22

 

The CRDR report response is scheduled to be delivered to the Washintton State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on November 29th, 2010.  The report response is a result of the MCC 520 Committee meeting on November 4th to develop the response based on the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and the National Transportation Act, both enforced by the federal government.
The next meeting will be with WSDOT on December 8th to review our response and discuss mitigation for the adverse effects based on the above historic and transportation laws.

WSDOT Draft Programmatic Agreement

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SR 520 Drop-In Information Sessions

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Meeting on 520 Haul Routes

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January 20th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at Montlake Community Center

WSDOT will host a discussion on how haul routes are identified, the importance of these routes, information on likely routes, opportunities  for public input and next steps.

WSDOT will have more information about construction effects available to share with community organizations in spring 2011.

UW Station Design Update: Community Meeting

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Sound Transit, University of Washington and Washington State Department of Transportation are hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. Come and see the latest design of the pedestrian connection from the UW Station to campus:

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.)
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI – McCurdy Gallery)
2700 24th Avenue E.
Seattle, WA 98112

For more information, contact Wilbert Santos at 206-370-5516 or wilbert.santos@soundtransit.org.  You can also visit http://www.soundtransit.org/UWstation.

SR520 – Coalition Summer Update

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Summertime 2010, and our 520 work goes on…

The Coalition for a Sustainable SR 520 continues to work steadily to prevent the current awful plans from happening.    The “preferred alternative” would add congestion, noise, and health problems to our area without solving the underlying need to get people more easily to their destinations.

We have done a lot of work on the prospects for financing SR 520.  Look for interesting results in the near future!   The Gogerty Marriott firm is helping us with how best to present this information to the public.

Coalition members have been active in interviewing candidates for various public offices.  We ask you all to get involved in the upcoming elections; make sure that candidates in your area are opposed to the preferred alternative, and will only support a solution which is financially feasible, which limits lanes 5 and 6 to bus and/or light rail, which has adequate lids and noise protection, and which has 4 lanes only from Montlake to I-5.  These features would take care of most of the issues.

The traffic issues are central to all our communities, and the proposed plans would congeal Montlake, Portage Bay, Roanoke Park, and north Capitol Hill.  They would also prevent people in Laurelhurst and Madison Park from being able to get to and from their neighborhoods.   We have defined the issues for the city, and asked the mayor to take a strong stand.  We will continue working with the city.  Our lawyer is also working to make sure that the city and state don’t swap properties in advance of the final environmental review.

The taking of open space and parks is another central issue.   We may be forced into lawsuits once the final environmental review is published, but meanwhile we continue to talk with elected officials on the need to preserve our heritage … bays, trees, parkland, open space.   The historic site issues are being worked by Roanoke Park, Montlake, and the boating communities.  They’ve done fine, steady work but not much to report now.

The legislature formed three workgroups which will be addressing issues related to SR 520.   The city council will be holding hearings, and we will be asking you to come to some of those hearings.

We have had zero response to our comments on the SDEIS.   They are on record in case we need them for lawsuits later,  and it’s unfortunate that no one seems to have read them… they contain a lot of information that would be useful to  city, state, and federal officials.

So there is a great deal of work going on, laying foundations we will use later.   Thanks once more for your support!

Fran Conley,coordinator,206- 328-4444; Ted Lane, President Roanoke Park /Portage Bay Community Council ; Anita Bowers, Jonathan Dubman, and Robert Rosencrantz, Montlake Community Council; Maurice Cooper, Madison Park Community Council; Colleen McAleer and Jean Amick, Laurelhurst Community Club;  Nancy Brainard, North Capitol Hill Neighborhood Association; Gary Stone, boating community. Fundraising chair Mabry DeBuys. Treasurer Mary Ann Mundy

MCC June Meeting

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Our last General Meeting before our summer break will end the year just as we began it, with the SR520 Bridge Rebuild.

We had an incredible turnout at our last General Meeting to address WSDOT’s announcement of the preferred alternative for the west side.  The design plans we were given to review at the meeting were more renditions than technical and Jonathan did a great job, as usual, in explaining the plan to us.

 You had far more questions than we were able to answer or even hear, so we have asked WSDOT to return.  Ethan Bancroft, WSDOT Communications, will make a presentation and will answer your questions and take your comments.

When the presentation is over and everyone has been given the opportunity to speak, we need to determine not only the components of the plan we cannot live with but also we need to have viable suggestions for change.