From the Greenwood Commity Council:   A few of us have been working on getting the Greenwood Community Council up and running again with events. The purpose of the event is to meet some of the new folks in our neighborhood, reconnect with old faces, and meet our local election candidates. We have invited local candidates for City and County Council elections and have received confirmation from at least two, Dan Strauss and ChrisTina ObeySumner.

No Turn on Red Signage and Widened Crosswalks

To stay up to date on this project, sign up for email updates here and visit our website. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at (206) 905-3620 or aurorastudy@seattle.gov.    

National Preparedness Month  is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. 

2023 Theme: Take Control in 1, 2, 3

The Ready Campaign’s 2023 National Preparedness Month theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”. The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation.

We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.

Access the new webpage available in English and Spanish languages at Ready.gov/older-adults and Ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores. For more information on preparing with disabilities visit Ready.gov/disability or Ready.gov/es/discapacidad in Spanish.

Meet the candidates at the Haller Lake Community Club.

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Come hear from candidates running in Haller Lake and Bitter Lake.  The following candidates have confirmed attendance: TDB

Social time 7-7:30 pm
Meeting begins at 7:30 pm inside, masks recommended.

Open to all.

Where: Haller Lake Community Club and Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84789477952?pwd=MHJrUUZyM2U3NGJRRFJDRE85bmtCdz09

Updated August 31, 2023

Sound Transit is opening the NE 130th St Infill Station at NE 130th St near I-5 in 2026. The new station will bring an estimated 3,300-3,700 daily riders with 90% of them arriving by walking, biking, rolling, or transit. To provide better access to the new light rail station, we’re making improvements along NE 130th St, Roosevelt Way NE, and NE 125th St between 1st Ave NE and Lake City Way NE. These improvements will make it easier and more comfortable for people walking, biking, rolling, and taking transit.

Project Goals

Improve access and make it easier for people connecting to the new light rail station via NE 130th St, Roosevelt Way NE, and NE 125th St

Reduce serious injury and fatal crashes between vehicles and people walking, biking, and rolling

Make it safer and easier for people biking and driving to share the road

Improve bus frequency and reliability and support new service from King County Metro

Enhance the experience for people riding the bus

Incorporate community feedback into project design

Project improvements include:

Adding protected bike lanes throughout the project area, including a new shared use path for walking, biking, and rolling on the north side of NE 130th St

Adding new bus stops at 8th Ave NE and 10th Ave NE and upgrading selected existing bus stops to prepare for King County Metro’s planned new service

Installing bus lanes and other bus priority features to improve frequency and reliability

Updating street and intersection designs to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes

Updating street designs to minimize conflicts between vehicles and people biking

Crossing improvements such as leading pedestrian intervals to give people walking a head start, new signalized crossings, and restricting right turns on red

Sidewalk repairs and new accessible curb ramps in selected locations

SDOT is coordinating with Sound Transit and King County Metro to make these improvements and increase transit access in the area. In addition to the new light rail service, King County Metro is planning new bus service to support access to the NE 130th St Infill Station. We look forward to hearing from you about how this project can help you get safely to/from the new light station and around your neighborhood.  

Project Map

This project map shows the new light rail station and the streets where project elements will be built. The project area starts at NE 130th St and 1st Ave NE, heading southeast along Roosevelt Way NE, and then east along NE 125th St, ending approximately at Lake City Way NE. 

Schedule

Planning (2023): We are talking to community members and business owners to build on previous planning and community engagement work done in the area. Our work includes designing safety and accessibility improvements equitably and within available funding.

Design (2024-2025): We will create and share project design proposals, ask for community feedback, and finalize project design.  

Construction (2025-2026*): We will share more information about construction schedules, activities, and neighborhood impacts when we reach this stage.    

Light rail service begins (2026): Sound Transit plans to open the NE 130th St Infill Station and begin service in 2026. Please visit Sound Transit’s website for current schedule and project information.

*Construction schedules are subject to change based on crew and material availability.

Project Background

The NE 130th St & NE 125th St Mobility and Safety Project is the result of multiple planning and community engagement processes. We heard from neighbors in Pinehurst, Lake City Way, and other surrounding neighborhoods about your priorities for improving safety and accessibility in your neighborhood. As a result of the NE 130th St & Shoreline South/NE 148th Stations: Multimodal Access Study published in 2020, we secured funding to move forward with this set of improvements that incorporate what we heard from the community.

Below is more information about the early planning efforts for this project.

NE 130th St & Shoreline South/NE 148th Stations: Multimodal Access Study: In 2020, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) worked with community members on a study of areas around two new light rail stations. The community identified key priorities for improvements, including:

Upgrade sidewalks, bike facilities, and street crossings in neighborhoods near the future light rail stations

Provide walking and biking connections along NE 130th St and NE 145th St

Improve the NE 130th St overpass for people walking and biking

The study came up with 18 ideas for projects for the two new light rail stations. Three of the ideas (#1, 15, and 17) are part of the NE 130th St & NE 125th St Mobility and Safety Project:

NE 130th St Overpass and Shared-Use Path (#1)

NE 125th St & Roosevelt Way NE Street Redesign (#15)

NE 125th St Transit & Crossing Improvements (#17)

130th and 145th Station Area Planning: In 2019, the Office of Planning & Community Development (OPCD) started planning for the 130th & 145th (now called the 148th) Light Rail Station areas. This process brought together community members, City of Seattle staff, and other public agencies to talk about the changes these new light rail stations will bring to the region. We heard from the community about the need for:

Improved safety for people walking and biking in the area

Improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods and light rail stations

Better east/west bus connections from adjacent neighborhoods to the light rail station

Bus stop upgrades for connecting routes to the light rail station

Are you interested in nature and education? Learn how to guide students in parks, develop skills in public speaking in group engagement, and get acquainted with a variety of Pacific Northwest flora and fauna. We will be leading learning experience in various habitats and teaching about how to engage different audiences in an equitable fashion. Trainings are Saturdays in September from 9-3. Applications close August 23rd.

Apply today!

 Environmental Education Volunteering – Parks | seattle.gov<https://www.seattle.gov/parks/volunteer/environmental-education-volunteering

For more information, please contact: Penny.rose@seattle.gov<mailto:Penny.rose@seattle.gov>

From KOMO news:

Following the recent closures of two crime-ridden motels, neighbors told KOMO News there has been a noticeable drop in prostitution along Aurora Avenue in Seattle, but they expressed skepticism that the decline is sustainable.

On July 26, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Seattle City Attorney’s office served chronic nuisance declaration letters to the property owners of the Emerald Motel and the Seattle Inn. Within days, both motels temporarily closed while their owners agreed to stipulations of compliance needed to stop criminal activity.

Following the closures, KOMO News traveled along Aurora Avenue and saw only three prostitutes in the area near both motels. That compared to the dozens of sex workers that KOMO News witnessed during the same time of day just a few weeks earlier

In the days since the closures, people living along Aurora said they had observed far fewer instances of prostitution, yet they expressed skepticism that the lack of sex-fueled criminal activity would last.

RELATED: 2 Aurora Avenue motels cease operations amid police crackdown on illegal activities

“I think (prostitutes) will eventually be back unless the police enforce things. We’ll see,” said neighbor Shannon Hays.

“The city of Seattle needs to continue to diminish (prostitution) to stop it,” added business owner Thad Thompson. “It can’t be allowed.”

Since both motels closed a week ago, Thompson told KOMO News he’s witnessed prostitutes in an area where they didn’t use to be, including near the North Seattle/Shoreline border.

“Last night, when we left work, we saw five or six prostitutes, which was disappointing,” he noted.

KOMO News reached out to SPD for comment. They said officers have observed a drop in overall prostitutes working along Aurora in the last week since the motel closures.

RELATED: Another harrowing escape puts attention on open prostitution along Seattle’s Aurora Ave

Yet the pessimism along Aurora Avenue remains, including from a group that does outreach to street-based sex workers.

In a statement to KOMO, members of the “Greenlight Project” insisted prostitutes would actually be put at risk by the motel closures because more prostitutes will now work in isolation, as opposed to in groups.

“I’m sure they would pick a new life, because this is no life at all for them,” said Thompson.

SPD told KOMO News the following regarding the department:

SPD has and will continue to address the crimes along the Aurora Avenue corridor, including human trafficking. The department frequently works with city and federal partners in conducting operations to identify suspects engaged in or promoting this criminal activity. Businesses identified for their involvement in numerous crimes occurring at or near their location have been provided with Chronic Nuisance Declarations to take immediate action in eradicating illegal activities and safety concerns. The Seattle City Attorney’s Office will be moving forward with follow-up on whether or not the parameters of the declaration have been met by the businesses.

Beavers Northwest staff will lead attendees on a walk to explore Carkeek Park and provide context on the beaver presence at the park. This is a great opportunity to see the impacts that beavers have on ecosystems, observe the plants and wildlife that thrive in beaver-modified systems, and discuss beaver coexistence in our human-modified ecosystems. The walk will last approximately 1.5 hours and participants will travel a distance of approximately 1 miles on gravel trails with some walking on an incline. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and to dress for the weather. For best viewing of wildlife, we recommend bringing binoculars.

For questions or to reach a staff person, please contact Carkeek Park at Carkeek.Park@seattle.gov /

The construction of the new Viewlands Elementary School is progressing towards reopening for the 2023-2024 school year in September, 2023. See the project website for more information.

Over the past two weeks the Seattle Department of Transportation has been hosting a series of small workshops with community members and local stakeholders to co-create ideas that will help shape the future vision for Aurora Avenue N.

The final workshop will be online on Tuesday, June 20th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Please RSVP here and show your support for an Aurora Ave N that puts people first.

Many Aurora Reimagined Coalition members attended the in-person workshops and have found the discussions to be encouraging. The community is clearly pushing to make Aurora into a “Main Street” that brings people together and better supports local businesses. The community is asking for a dramatic change to the roadway – such as reducing the number of lanes on Aurora – and SDOT is open to these big ideas. We need as many Coalition supporters as possible to attend this final virtual workshop and speak up for bold change on Aurora.

One of the exciting ideas that we’ve been hearing in the workshops is center-running bus and freight lanes. Neither of these are new ideas: Seattle is piloting FAB lanes (Freight and Bus) this year along Westlake, and will have center-running buses for the new Rapid Ride G line along Madison Avenue. Replacing a general purpose travel lane with center-running bus and freight lanes will dramatically improve how people walk, bike, cross, and spend time on Aurora.

What do you think?
If you would like to see an Aurora like this, RSVP for SDOT’s virtual workshop on June 20th and share your opinion.

If you would like to read more about the Coalition’s vision for each segment of Aurora, click here.

If you are passionate about improving Aurora and would like to participate in the work of the Coalition please join a Coalition committee. ARC is entirely grassroots and volunteer-run and focused on the producing the best outcomes for the people who live, work, and travel in the Aurora corridor. Join us!

Bitter Lake Neighbors,

The Bitter Lake Play Area and Comfort Station Renovation is underway!

Seattle Parks and Recreation will begin construction on the Bitter Lake comfort station/restroom on Monday, June 12. SPR. The contractor, L.W. Sundstrom, will work to minimize the impact of construction on the remainder of the park.

SPR scheduled the comfort station renovation portion of the project first prior to the play area project to provide the community use of the play area and wading pool through the summer. The entire project, comfort station and play area, will be complete by the end of 2023.

The project will provide a modern, all-gender comfort station/restroom facility, new play equipment for children of all abilities, ages 2-5 and 5-12 that includes a zip-line slides, swings and many opportunities for climbing. In addition, the project will make safety and accessibility improvements to meet the standards from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Bitter Lake Park is located in northwest Seattle at 13035 Linden Ave. North.

Thank you in advance for your help in letting people know about the upcoming construction.

For more information please visit https://www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/bitter-lake-playfield-play-area-and-comfort-station-renovation or contact Morteza Behrooz at Morteza.behrooz@seattle.gov.

Sunday, June 11th

1:30pm to 4pm

Broadview hub is at

Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
13047 Greenwood Ave N.
– meet in the parking lot in back of the church 

Other hub locations see below

Find the Hub location closest to you on the map – and sign up to attend.  
Stop by for 30 minutes, or more.  Whatever fits your schedule.  You will learn so much about how we can (and will) support one another in the event of a disaster.

By signing up, you will receive a reminder for the event (3 days before) and also generate interest for others in your community!

Link to Map
Link to SignUp 

The Emergency Communication Hubs are practicing our response to a (simulated) citywide power outage. Come to our Broadview Hub to learn.

Sunday June 11th, 1:00 to 4:30 PM Luther Memorial Lutheran            Church 13047 Greenwood Ave. N

We’re asking the public to stop by and learn about the Hubs – and also help us improve our system of helping neighbors.  When you arrive, a volunteer will hand you a piece of paper with a reasonable “power outage” scenario written on it.  (Example: my insulin needs to be kept cold and I have no power.  Can you help?)  Approach the “Greeter” in the Hub and read that note; they will guide you through the Hub system to help meet your need.  

You will learn SO much about how we can support one another in the event of an extensive power outage scenario.  

You can sign up to participate in a hub position here.

Here is a message from Broadview resident Zach van Schouwen:

Wanted to share that Metro is planning to eliminate 28 service to Broadview in the proposed bus restructure that will come once Lynnwood Link opens.

I see a lot of neighborhood folks on this bus so figured this might be of interest to your readers. It’s a long walk to Greenwood Ave from the western half of the neighborhood.

Zach van Schouwen, Broadview

Here’s the proposal:

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/programs-projects/fares-routes-and-service/lynnwood-link-connections.aspx

Here’s what I heard after writing to Metro:

As this is a budget-neutral project, any increase in frequency or service to areas that don’t currently have service come at the expense of removing service from somewhere else.  This means that there will be changes to some parts of the network in order to prioritize the key needs we identified for this project through our Phase 1 outreach. 

As pointed out, the peak-only segment of the Route 28 that runs through Broadview is proposed to be deleted.  The reason is very low productivity and ridership per trip.  Even in the Fall of 2019 (pre-pandemic) when ridership numbers system-wide were robust, the average daily “ons” and “offs” at stops in the Broadview area was just under 3, as compared to average daily ons and offs for the rest of Route 28 which was over 22.

If the peak-only segment were to be deleted, riders would have alternatives in the all-day Route 5 and the peak-only Route 16 that operates on Greenwood Ave. N., which are both within a ¼ mile for the majority of the portion of Route 28 that is proposed to be deleted.  In addition, in comparison to the Route 28, the Route 16 would provide an improvement in the frequency during the peak periods from 15-30 minutes to 15 minutes.