Part One

Signs of Economic Hope

Just for a moment, forget about the green shoots, hopeful embers, huckleberry blossoms and all the other metaphors that are being used by commentators attempting to divine signs that the worst of the recession may be over. We don't quite trust them.

But Seattle Industry has found two good signs that things may be better long term than many of us think and they are the subject of a two-part series that begins today with the second installment appearing in the eBulletin next Wednesday, May 27.

Hopeful item one
The Obama administration recently made a highly unpopular decision to drastically narrow the focus of the decision to list the Alaskan polar bear for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The decision infuriated some of the nation's most active environmental action groups while demonstrating the potential benefits of having a bunch of brainiacs in the White House who may be secure enough to standup to climate-change hysteria.

Hopeful item two
It's under reported and under appreciated but the United States turns out to be home to more natural gas than was conceivable even a few years ago.

This is not only good news for national energy security, it may be great news for the environment because natural gas is a far cleaner fuel for generating electricity than coal is and there's enough of it to get us through the next few decades while new, cleaner fuel technologies are refined and brought on line.

Just picture it. Barak Obama as a super smart Jed Clampett, hunting for solutions to climate change just as the nation starts to ooze a cleaner burning substitute fuel. The recession might be his inherited burden, but natural gas may turn out to be one of his unexpected blessings.

More about gas next week. Our report on polar bears can be found here.

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ECOSS' Member and Donor Appreciation party is next Thursday May 28th!
The Environmental Coalition of South Seattle is throwing a big party in YOUR honor - to thank you for supporting us, whether you are a member, donor, volunteer or just appreciate the work we do.

Please join us for local food, wine, beer and coffee, enjoy the music of gypsy jazz band Hochiwichi, hear about the River City Skate Park, South Park's soon-to-be constructed skate park, and network with other ECOSS supporters.

The event is May 28th at ecohaus (4121 First Ave South in Seattle), from 5:30 to 8:00pm. Entry to the event is free. Please RSVP by May 26th to Elise at elise@ecoss.org or by calling 206.767.0432.

Announcing...The Port of Seattle’s 2008-2009 Report to the Community.
Now available online at: http://www.portseattle.org/about/publications/. We hope you enjoy the new interactive format and short videos. The Annual Report presents info on Accountability, Airport & Seaport, The Green Gateway, Real Estate, Transportation, Century Agenda, Financials and Long Term Planning.

Trucker's Resource Fair

For All Independent Truckers Serving Port of Seattle Cargo Terminals.
Meet company representatives and learn about resources available to help truckers with Insurance, Health Care, Financing and Training!

The Truckers' Resource Fair will gather representatives from various organizations to provide valuable information on affordable insurance and health care options, financing plans, and job training. In addition, Port representatives will provide information on the Fee Free Clean Truck Plan that will affect pre-1994 trucks beginning 2011.


Date: Wednesday, June 3
Time: 5:30—8:00 pm
Open House Format
Location: South Seattle Community College
Georgetown Campus
Gene Colin Education Building
6737 Corson Avenue South, Seattle

Free parking available. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact: Rene Finnie, Port of Seattle, 206-728-3863.
www.p o r t s e a t t l e.org

Learn More About Plans To Replace the Viaduct At Local Festivals

Visit WSDOT's program team this summer at a fair, festival or farmers market near your neighborhood. They are hosting a project booth at a number of community events to share the latest news, listen to your comments and answer questions. WSDOT talked with more than 4,500 festival attendees last summer, and hope to meet even more visitors this year.

You can find the team at the following events:
Fremont Fair: June 20-21
West Seattle Summer Fest: July 10-12
Chinatown International District Festival: July 11-12
White Center Jubilee Days: July 18-19
Ballard Seafood Fest: July 25-26
Magnolia Summer Fest: July 31-Aug. 1


Questions From You: WSDOT has received a number of questions and comments from you regarding the bored tunnel. Each month they feature one of those questions in their news update. The May question from you is: Have engineers determined that it is safe to dig a tunnel in the soils under downtown Seattle? For the answer go to Alaskan Way Progact Monthly Update from WSDOT: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/emailupdate.htm

Building Demolition Near Stadiums
On April 28, crews began demolishing two large buildings on the Washington-Oregon Shipping Cooperative Association (WOSCA) property, which is on the west side of First Avenue S. between S. Royal Brougham Way and S. Dearborn Street. Removing the buildings will create space for a series of construction projects that will replace the earthquake-damaged Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Crews are working Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. Demolition activities are expected to last through June. The project will produce vibration and noise but will not exceed the limits established by the City of Seattle noise ordinance for daytime outside construction activities. Crews will spray water to mitigate dust during the demolition. Traffic lanes will not be closed as a result of this project, but there will be an increase of truck traffic near the site. Photos of the demolition are available on Flickr.

I-5 Construction Closures and Noise

The I-5 panel replacement and grinding through Seattle continues for another three months. You can find closure and noise information online. Or, take a walk to your neighborhood service center. We stocked the following neighborhood service centers with earplugs and project information:

University District: open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.
Lake Union/Fremont: open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm.
Capitol Hill: open Monday-Tuesday 1-5pm and Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm.

- Freight Travel Alerts -

SR 821 CLOSED TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Starting: May 15, 2009, 4:25 p.m.
Ending: September 15, 2009, 11:55 p.m.
State Route 821 from milepost 0 to milepost 25 is closed to commercial vehicles from May 15th through September 15th. Both mileposts are at the intersections of Interstate 82.

WIDE LOAD RESTRICTIONS
I-90
Effective May 18 to June 8, 2009:
Loads restricted to 18' wide on I-90, between mileposts 258 and 271, both directions. Detour available by SR 904 MP 0-MP 17. (SR 904 starts at MP 258 on I-90 and ends at MP 271 on I-90.)
Effective May 18th through September 2009:
Loads restricted to 12' wide on I-90 @ milepost 281 to 284, both directions. One 12' lane each direction at night with some ramp closures. No night time moves for oversize loads. Oversize loads should be able to move from 9AM-3PM.
Effective June 9th to July 3, 2009:
Loads restricted to 12' wide on I-90, between mileposts 258 and 271, both directions. Detour available by SR 904 MP 0-MP 17. (SR 904 starts at MP 258 on I-90 and ends at MP 271 on I-90.)

SR 16 - Tacoma both directions
Effective Monday, May 18th - Wednesday, May 20th; 10 pm - 5 am.
Loads over 11' wide are restricted due to lane closures .