West Seattle Herald / White Center News - Transportation

Expect construction delays on Burien’s 1st Avenue South

ericm — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:56:43 +0000

News release:

Motorists might want to avoid 1st Avenue South between 140th and 146th Streets this week as grinding and asphalt work will be taking place. Traffic could be congested especially during peak travel times (mid-day/lunch hour).

Access to driveways will be limited and may require using the next available access.

Please plan for extra travel time or consider alternative routes to destinations along 1st Avenue South.

The project is nearing completion with the final layer of asphalt coating to be applied within the next few weeks, weather permitting.

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ericm

05/15/2013

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Highline Forum meeting set in Burien on May 22

ericm — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:51:51 +0000

On May 22nd from 2:30-4:30 p.m., members of the Highline Forum will meet at Burien’s City Hall Council Chambers, 400 S.W. 152nd St. The public is invited to make comments at the start of the meeting. The city of Burien is hosting the meeting and the theme is education with a larger focus around regional partnerships.

The Highline Forum includes the southwest King County communities of Des Moines, Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Tukwila and Federal Way and the Highline School District, Highline Community College and Port of Seattle.

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ericm

05/15/2013

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Final Airport noise study public meeting is Wednesday, May 15 at Burien's Cedarhurst Elementary

ericm — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:51:21 +0000

Press release:

The public is invited to ask questions and offer formal comments on the Draft Part 150 Noise Study for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 15 at Cedarhurst Elementary in Burien (611 S. 132nd St.) from 6 - 8 p.m.

The open house and public hearing is set to review the proposed recommendations for minimizing aircraft noise impacts on airport communities.

At this fifth and final public meeting, the public can offer formal comment on the Draft Part 150 Noise Study and required State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) study in writing or with a court reporter.

This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 150 Noise and Land-Use Compatibility Study update is designed to evaluate existing noise levels, predict noise for the next five years, evaluate potential noise mitigation ideas and recommend programs to minimize impacts.

The following are a few of the draft recommendations – based on study input from the community, Port of Seattle Commission and technical experts – which will be described in detail at the meeting:  --

Continue offering sound insulation for eligible single-family residences located within the updated noise remedy boundary --

Offer new sound insulation programs for eligible condominiums located within the update boundary -- Establish a pilot program to insulate apartment buildings located within the updated boundary --
Offer a voluntary buyout program for existing residential mobile homes located on privately-owned land within the updated boundary

Offer an option for voluntary sale to the Port of eligible residential properties located within the south approach transition zone of the third runway

Evaluate the feasibility, possible locations, costs and operational impacts of building a Ground Run-up Enclosure to reduce noise during aircraft engine testing on the airfield.

For details and a list of libraries where you can review the complete study document, visit the website. You can request a CD copy by calling 206-787-4944.

Options for submitting formal comments include: Email to SEApart150comments@landrum-brown.com, fax to 513-530-2201 or mail to Rob Adams, Landrum & Brown, 11279 Cornell Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45242.

The Part 150 Study comment period, which is also the comment period for the SEPA review for the study, ends on May 30. Feedback gathered at the public meeting and during the comment period will be taken into consideration before a final set of recommended programs is sent to the Port of Seattle Commission for approval this summer.

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ericm

05/08/2013

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Hyde Shuttle takes seniors to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market

ericm — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:43:44 +0000

Press release:

The Hyde Shuttle vans are seen nearly everywhere in the Des Moines, Normandy Park and Burien area, taking folks wherever they need to go, and now, you can ride one to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market!

Beginning June 1st, and every other Saturday through October, you can ride a comfortable, clean Hyde Shuttle van from your home to the Farmer’s market and back! The hours are from 11AM until 2PM every other Saturday. Spend the mid day at the market, enjoy lunch, buy fresh flowers or veggies, listen to the fun entertainment on the waterfront. It takes just one call to the Hyde Shuttle office to arrange your ride, and you can call right now! The number is 206-727-6262. The vans are filling up so an early call is best.

The Hyde Shuttle is part of the Senior Service Transportation program and is available to anyone 55 or older, or who has any kind of mobility challenge. The vans can easily accommodate walkers and wheelchairs as well. Companion pets are welcome! There is no cost to the service, but donations are appreciated.

Driving for the Hyde Shuttle is a great way to give back to the community and help your friends and neighbors get to and from the places they want to go! It’s only a few hours a week, and all the training is provided. No special license is needed and all you have to do is call Brady Wright, at the Activity Center to apply at 206-878-2066. You can email direct to bradyw@seniorservices.org if you have any questions. We are always looking for great volunteer drivers, for this wonderful service to expand even more!

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ericm

05/08/2013

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Vehicles destroyed in Sea-Tac Airport garage fire

ericm — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:55:57 +0000

Damage is estimated at $250,000 from an April 30 fire in the Sea-Tac Airport parking garage. The fire destroyed eight cars and damaged another 10.

Cause of the fire is believed to be mechanical failure in one of the vehicles. Airport staffers will attempt to identify owners through license plate numbers and notify them before they return to the airport.

Smoke from the fire closed one service tunnel and doors were closed in the north end but airport operations remained normal.

The Port of Seattle Fire Department first responded at 7 a.m. on April 30 to the fire on the garage’s sixth floor. Firefighters from the SeaTac Fire Department and other jurisdictions also responded.

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ericm

05/01/2013

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Sen. Murray joins officials in breaking ground for new SeaTac light-rail station

ericm — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:36:38 +0000

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray joined other officials on Friday, April 26 in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Angle Lake light-rail station to be built at South 200th Street and 28th Avenue South in SeaTac.

Preliminary construction is already underway at Sea-Tac Airport and project construction is set to begin this month. The station is slated to open in September 2016, four years earlier than originally planned.

The sped-up construction schedule is designed to alleviate parking pressure at the Tukwila International Boulevard Station. The new 200th station will feature a 700 parking garage as well as a temporary surface parking lot. The surface lot may go away when light rail is extended to the Kent/Des Moines Road-Highline Community College area in 2023.

The early opening will also coincide with the opening of the University of Washington light rail station. Officials say UW students will be able to go from the Angle Lake Station to the university in 49 minutes on light rail.

Light rail will extend 1.6 miles from the Sea-Tac City Center/airport station on an elevated guideway. The new station will straddle South 200th Street with entrances on both the north and south sides of the street.

The elevated station will include covered waiting areas, public art and a plaza that SeaTac staffers hope serves as a neighborhood gathering area.

SeaTac Mayor Tony Anderson noted at the groundbreaking ceremony that the elevated station will have excellent views of Mount Rainier, Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. He suggested photographers will come to the station to take pictures of the sunset.

With the opening of the new station, the city of SeaTac will have two light-rail stations with a third one, the Tukwila station, across the street from the city limits at Tukwila International Boulevard and South 154th Street. King County Council vice chair Julia Paterson said Sound Transit has invested over $700 million for the three stations along the south Highway 99 corridor.

Sen. Murray, chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, worked with the Federal Transit Administration and Sound Transit to secure $26 million in federal funding.

She said $5,000 riders a day are expected to use the south SeaTac station.

“That’s 5,000 more customers for local businesses and 5,000 less cars on Interstate 5,” Murray said.

When the UW station is opened, 250,000 riders a day are expected to use light rail throughout the system, Murray added.

Gov. Jay Inslee was scheduled to attend the ceremony but stayed in Olympia as the state Legislature grapples with the state budget. Paterson noted Inslee was the first governor ever scheduled to attend a light-rail groundbreaking.

The new state transportation secretary, Lynn Peterson, represented the governor. Peterson noted the Angle Lake station project will generate 2,600 local jobs.

Councilmember Patterson, who represents the SeaTac area, said the city contains many working class families who cannot afford cars and are very dependent on affordable transit.

Patterson said it will take 31 minutes to go from the station to the sports stadiums and 49 minutes to downtown Seattle.

She also noted the station is close to the Des Moines Creek Trail and the proposed “Lake to Sound” Trail that would link Lake Washington in Renton with Puget Sound in Des Moines.

Patterson, who announced earlier in the day that she will not seek re-election after 23 years in public office, noted she has fond memories of riding her horse, Dusty, down Highway 99. She joked that a statue of her and her horse should be erected at the station.

State Rep. Dave Upthegrove noted he grew up in the area as the son of an airline pilot and flight attendant. He said light-rail trains connect people much like airplanes.

Sea-Tac Airport director Mark Reis said the airport is the front door to the region for domestic travelers and the front door to the United States for foreign travelers. He said airline travelers are increasingly using light rail when they land.

King County Executive Dow Constantine said light rail is used not only by job commuters but students, shoppers and spectators at major regional events.

He added work is already underway to extend light rail south to Des Moines, Federal Way and Tacoma.

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ericm

04/29/2013

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http://www.westseattleherald.com/sites/robinsonpapers.com/files/images/wwwhighlinetimescom/2013/04/light-rail.png

Photo credit:

Sound Transit

An architectutural rendering of the new Angle Lake transit station slated to open in 2016.

Bowman to join Port of Seattle Commission

ericm — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:21:01 +0000

Press release:

The Port of Seattle Commission has selected Stephanie Bowman of Seattle to fill the seat vacated by Rob Holland.

Bowman, executive director of the Washington Asset Building Coalition, is the former manager of federal government affairs at the Port of Tacoma.

“We very much look forward to working with Stephanie,” said Commission President Tom Albro. “She has the background and skills to be an outstanding member of our commission and asset to the port. Her in-depth knowledge of port issues will enable her to hit the ground running.”

Bowman’s position on the commission will be on the King County ballot in November, when voters will elect a commissioner to serve a full four-year term.

“We are so appreciative of the tremendous group of applicants who sought the position, especially all the finalists,” said Albro. “Their interest is a testament to our region’s commitment to the port, economic development, growing jobs and the success of future generations.” 

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ericm

04/24/2013

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SLIDESHOW: Sound Transit to break ground Friday on Link light rail extension to SeaTac

ericm — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:16:36 +0000

U.S. Sen. Murray and Gov. Inslee to speak

Press release:

This Friday Sound Transit will celebrate the start of construction of the future Angle Lake Station and 1.6-mile elevated guideway that will extend light rail service from Sea-Tac Airport to South 200th Street in SeaTac.

Special guests U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee will join Sound Transit board members, Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary and Sound Transit Board member Lynn Peterson, state Rep. Dave Upthegrove, Port of Seattle Managing Director Mark Reis, and SeaTac Mayor Tony Anderson to kick off the groundbreaking event.

The public will have an opportunity to hear about the project construction schedule, as well as view a 3-D animation of the elevated guideway and design illustrations of the station and public art.

When complete, the South 200th Link Extension will include a parking garage, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and a plaza area. Service is scheduled to begin in late 2016, at the same time Link service begins to the University of Washington.

More information on the event can be found here: http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/Calendar....

WHEN: Friday, April 26 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: 19863 28th Avenue S., SeaTac
(Corner of South 200th Street and 28th Avenue South, one block of International Blvd.)

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ericm

04/24/2013

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http://www.westseattleherald.com/sites/robinsonpapers.com/files/images/wwwhighlinetimescom/2013/04/lt-rail-officals-groundbreaking-1.jpg

Photo credit:

Photos by Eric Mathison

Officials participate in the groundbreaking ceremony.

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INTERSTATE 5/STATE ROUTE 509 COALITION LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE FOR PUGET SOUND GATEWAY PROJECT

ericm — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:04:09 +0000

Press release:

Supporters of the Interstate 5/State Route 509 Coalition and the newly formed Puget Sound Gateway Project can now get information and updates online.

The Gateway was formed by Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island) with the announcement of a potential new transportation construction and revenue package earlier this year. The SR 167, SR 509 and I-5 Puget Sound Gateway Project would relieve traffic congestion and improve freight mobility by completing the long-planned SR 167 and SR 509 corridor connections to I-5.

The new website for the SR 509/I-5 portion of the project was produced by the coalition, which includes the Port of Seattle, the cities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, SeaTac and Tukwila, area chambers, labor and business interests that will benefit from the improved access and new job creation.

The website is online at www.TimeFor509Now.org and includes an option for organizations, businesses and individuals interested to get involved and add their names to the list of supporters.
Construction could begin as early as 2016 if funding is received in the 2013 transportation budget. Cost for the Gateway is estimated at $1.72 billion over 10 years.

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ericm

04/19/2013

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