Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Transit Oriented Development at Kirkland Park and Ride

There is a proposed transit oriented development project at the South Kirkland Park and Ride.  TOD continues to be a priority of transportation choices coalition because we all know smart land use goes hand in hand with good transportation planning.

There are some upcoming workshops on that project that I'm sure will prove informative and interesting!


Thursday, January 20th
  • Workshop: 7pm at Northwest University (Health & Science Center, room 233)
  • Meet us at 6pm at the Houghton Starbucks (6733 108th Ave NE) for an informal conversation 
Tuesday, January 25th
  • Workshop: 7pm at City Hall (123 5th Avenue)
  • Meet us at 6pm at Hector’s downtown (112 Lake St. S.) for an informal conversation
Project Summary (Learn more here.)

Friday, January 14, 2011

Next Week in Olympia – Week 2

Legislative action on Transportation and Land Use will ramp up this week. There will be a public hearing on a “Complete Streets” bill, a "vulnerable users" bill, and a couple public hearings that attempt to weaken the Growth Management Act.

Rep. Moeller is sponsoring a “Complete Streets” bill that would increase safety access to all users, including bicyclists, pedestrian, motorists and transit users. His bill includes a grant program and directs WSDOT to consider “Complete Streets” design. It would be great to see you in Olympia on Monday, showing support and testifying in favor of this bill.

The Growth Management Act (GMA) is our key tool to ensure that land use policy and transportation needs of communities do not threaten farmland, forests and shorelines today and for future generations. There are a few bills that attempt to weaken the GMA that will be heard this week (HB 1094 and 1082).

Monday, 1/17/11

3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B

Work Session:
  1. Cities transportation overview.
  2. Counties transportation overview.
  3. Transportation Improvement Board introduction and current issues.
Public Hearing: HB 1071 - Creating a complete streets grant program.
  1. SB 5003 - Adding to the scenic and recreational highway system.
  2. SB 5061 - Reconciling changes made to vehicle and vessel registration and title provisions during the 2010 legislative sessions.
Tuesday, 1/18/11
3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B

Work Session:
  1. Transportation Performance Report, Office of Financial Management.
  2. Methods of Project Delivery update, Department of Transportation.
3:30 pm Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1

Work Session:
Comprehensive tolling program update, Washington State Department of Transportation.
Wednesday, 1/19/11
1:30 pm Local Government
House Hearing Rm E
Public Hearing:
  1. HB 1088 - Limiting the moratoria authority of counties and cities in the ordinary course of comprehensive plan and shoreline master program amendment processes.
  2. HB 1094 - Providing a process for county legislative authorities to withdraw from voluntary planning under the growth management act.
3:30 pm Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1
Work Session:
Mega-projects update, Washington State Department of Transportation:
  1. Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel.
  2. SR 520 bridge.
  3. I-90 Snoqualmie Pass.
  4. Columbia River Crossing.
  5. North Spokane Corridor.
  6. I-5 Tacoma HOV lanes.
  7. SR 405
3:30 pm House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B
Work Session:
  1. Metropolitan Transportation Planning introduction and current issues.
  2. County Road Administration Board introduction and current issues.
  3. Department of Transportation Local Programs, introduction and current issues.
Thursday, 1/20/11
  1. SB 5026 - Clarifying the definition of "farm vehicle" to encourage similar recognition in federal tax law.
  2. SB 5027 - Requiring motorcycle manufacturers to indicate whether a motorcycle is for off-road use only.
  3. SB 5063 - Concerning special license plates for motorcycles.
Friday, 1/21/11
8:00 am Local Government
House Hearing Rm E

Public Hearing:
HB 1082 - Concerning violations of the shoreline management act and the growth management act.
Here is a list of Transportation related bills that have been filed, but do not have public hearings scheduled yet.

1:30 pm Judiciary

Senate Hearing Rm 1

Public Hearing:
  1. Concerning traffic infractions where the conduct is a proximate cause of death, great bodily harm, or substantial bodily injury [S-4211.4].



SB 5128 -Concerning statewide transportation planning
SB 5130 - Prohibiting commercial motor vehicles in express lanes during peak hours

SB 5131 - Expanding certain public facilities eligible to be credited against the imposition of impact fees

HB 1129 - Including a bicycle and pedestrian traffic safety curriculum in certain traffic schools and safety courses
HB 1018 - Concerning bicyclist and motorist mutual responsibilities

HB 1174 -Making 2009-11 supplemental transportation appropriations

HB 1175 - Making 2011-13 transportation appropriations

HB 1171 - Concerning high capacity transportation system plan components and review

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Bus Backup to Cover North Sounder Routes Tonight and Tomorrow due to Mudslides

This just in from Sound Transit:

THURSDAY EVENING BACK-UP BUS SERVICE – Thursday 1/13 (northbound):
Seattle - Edmonds: Starline charter express bus service to Edmonds Station will depart 4th and James at 4:05 p.m., 4:45 p.m., and 5:35 p.m.   Riders may also use Community Transit Route 416.

Seattle - Mukilteo: Starline charter express bus service to Mukilteo Station will depart 4th & Jackson at 4:05 p.m., 4:33 p.m., 5:05 p.m. & 5:35 p.m. Riders may also board Community Transit Route 417 at 4th Ave S and S Jackson St for service to the Mukilteo Station.

Seattle - Everett: Starline charter express service to Everett Station will depart 4th Ave S and S Jackson St at 4:33 p.m., 5:05 p.m., and 5:35 p.m. Riders may also board regularly scheduled ST Express Route 510 at 4th Ave S and S Jackson St for service to Everett.


Complete Streets for Washington is Back!

Remember last year's complete streets bill that we pushed? Guess what, it is BACK!

Rep. Moeller is sponsoring the same bill that we pushed last year to establish a complete streets program in Washington State.  This year the bill number is 1071.  As you recall last session our bill passed out of the House Transportation Committee but died on the House floor.

We'll continue to work with stakeholder to refine the details of this proposed policy and in the meantime the bill has a hearing this upcoming Monday in the House transportation committee!

We're always happy to have individuals or organization testify or sign in to support the bill!


Complete Streets bill this upcoming Monday the 17th at 3:30pm in hearing room B of John L O'Brien Building on the Capitol Campus.


Stay tuned!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Pierce Transit Open Houses Start Tomorrow

The Seattle Transit Blog has a list of upcoming Pierce Transit open houses where they will be discussing the future of the agency if the February ballot measure passes or fails.

My suggestion? Go to the open houses, get mad about what will happen if Prop one doesn't pass and draconian transit cuts hit Pierce County.  Then go to approveprop1.com and sign up to phone bank to help pass this important measure.

Here is the full list:


  • Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula
    Wednesday, January 12, 5 – 7:00pm
    Gig Harbor Civic Center
    3510 Grandview St, on Routes 100, 102
  • Sumner/E. Pierce County
    Tuesday, January 18, 4 – 6:00pm
    Sumner City Hall – Council Chambers
    1104 Maple St, on Routes 408, 409
  • Lakewood/University Place
    Wednesday, January 19, 4 – 6:00pm
    Pierce Transit Training Center
    3720 – 96th St SW, on Routes 48, 300
  • Tacoma
    Monday, January 24, 4 – 6:00pm
    The Evergreen State College (Commons Area)
    1210 – 6th Ave, on Routes 1, 16, 26, 28
  • Tacoma
    Tuesday, January 25, 4 – 6:00pm
    Tacoma Goodwill Industries
    Milgard Work Opportunity Center
    714 S 27th St, on Routes 3, 26, 45, 48
  • Puyallup/South Hill
    Wednesday, January 26, 4 – 6:00pm
    Puyallup Library (Board Room)
    324 S Meridian, on Route 402

Tonight's Eastside Transportation Town Hall is Canceled

Tonight's Transit Town Hall with King County Councilmembers  Jan Hague and Kathy Lambert  has been postponed due to the anticipated snow.

Will this winter's second snowpocalypse really hit tonight? We shall see.

In the meantime don't go to Mercer Island to learn about what is going on in the Eastside with Transit service.  Stay home and drink some spiked hot chocolate instead!

We'll keep you posted as to when this event gets rescheduled.


Stay up to date on Metro's Snow routing here 

Sound Transit Running Extra Sounder Train in Anticipation of Snow

Just in from Sound Transit:

Sounder Early Trains Tuesday Afternoon
In addition to its regular commuter rail service, Sound Transit will run an early southbound train from King Street Station at 2:30 p.m. and a northbound train from Tacoma Dome Station at 3:50 p.m.
 
The 2:30 p.m. southbound train from Seattle will depart Tukwila at 2:42 p.m., Kent at 2:49 p.m., Auburn at 2:56 p.m., Sumner at 3:05 p.m., Puyallup at 3:09 p.m. and arrive in Tacoma at 3:29 p.m. 
 
The northbound train to Seattle will depart Tacoma Dome Station at 3:50 p.m. Puyallup at 4:02 p.m., Sumner at 4:07 p.m., Auburn at 4:15 p.m., Kent at 4:22 p.m., Tukwila at 4:29 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at 4:48 p.m.
 
Sounder service to Everett will operate on a regular schedule, with the first northbound train leaving Seattle at 4:05 p.m.  Link light rail and Tacoma Link will also operate on a normal schedule.

This seems like a good idea and in my experience Central Link and Sounder are always a better bet if the snow really does hit.