Life and Limb
It isn't easy being a pedestrian in SODO, but a community forum on September 30 will help kick off new efforts to ease the conflicts that occur between cars, trucks, cyclists and the human beings attempting to navigate the hazards of intersections like First and Lander.

The forum will highlight recommendations from a recently concluded community-based study of transportation conflicts and issues along 1st Avenue South. It will include an update on the SODO Action Agenda, a more general community planning effort due for completion later this fall, and construction updates for SR 519, the Spokane Street Viaduct and the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The forum will be held in the Diamond Club at Safeco Field from 8 to 9:30 a.m. It is sponsored by the Duwamish Transportation Management Association and the SODO Business Association with support from the Seattle Mariners. It follows up on a meeting regarding SODO traffic conditions that was held last June with Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago, chair of the council transportation committee. Key members of the council are expected to attend along with representatives from Metro, the State of Washington and the Seattle Department of Transportation.

The 1st Avenue recommendations and the SODO Action Agenda will both go to the City of Seattle and Metro for review and, hopefully, adoption.

The 1st Avenue South report was compiled over the past six months by a committee including freight operators, bicycle and pedestrian safety advocates, retail business representatives, industrial companies, the sports stadiums and staff from the city and Metro. In spite of (or because of) the diversity of viewpoints, the committee's recommendations were unanimous.

Among other things, the committee identified the need for safety improvements and stepped up traffic enforcement at 1st and Lander; better signage to guide cyclists through SODO; better management of street surfaces on Utah and Occidental on either side of 1st Avenue; the need for improvements to transit services and bus stops, and an agreement by bicycle and freight advocates to support changes that will make the SR 519 interchange safer for truck drivers and cyclists.

The committee also persuaded the city to maintain the current lane configuration on 1st after the street is repaved. The City had considered a plan to eliminate the center turn lane to create more space for a bicycle lane and transit. The City agreed to keep the center turn lane and to provide "sharrow" markings to identify 1st as a route that is used by cyclists. The City also agreed to postpone new transit lanes until there is more bus service along 1st Avenue. Retaining the center turn lane was a big win for many of the existing businesses along 1st Avenue.

The 1st Avenue effort was funded by the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Starbucks Coffee, the Port of Seattle, the Seahawks, the Mariners and the public stadium authority for Qwest Field. The effort was managed by the Duwamish TMA and supported by the SODO Business Association, the Manufacturing Industrial Council of Seattle, the Cascade Bicycle Club and Feet First.

The forum will include opportunities for public comment. Coffee and rolls will be provided courtesy of the Mariners. RSVP by calling the TMA office at 206-762-2470. OR email us at duwamishtma@qwest.net

Reception Sept. 23
Wakefield Named Chancellor
South Seattle Community College President Jill Wakefield was recently named to succeed Dr. Charles Mitchell as the chancellor for the Seattle Community College District. Wakefield will take over from Mitchell when he retires at the end of 2008. As chancellor, Wakefield will be in charge of all three Seattle community college campuses.

Wakefield will be recognized for her support of industrial training programs during a 15-minute reception Tuesday, September 23, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The reception will be held at the beginning of the Manufacturing Industrial Council Executive Committee meeting at 5509 1st Avenue South in Georgetown. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to 206-762-2470. During her tenure at South Seattle, Wakefield raised $20 million to construct the new Puget Sound Industrial Excellence Center at the Georgetown campus of South Seattle Community College.

Metro Expands Services

It's been 7 years since any major changes have been made to King County Metro transit service but with ridership up nearly 7% compared to last summer some welcome changes will go into effect. King County Metro announced that they will be adding 2 new routes and will be adding service to another 20 existing routes. These additions will start running at the same time KC Metro begins their fall routing updates scheduled for Sept. 20th. For more information about the new/additional routes and existing route updates please visit: http://your.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/2008/0915metro.aspx

Microsoft Annual Meeting
Tomorrow, September 18, Microsoft will hold its annual meeting at Safeco Field from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A crowd of over 22,000 is expected to impact both the morning and afternoon peak-hour traffic around Safeco Field and on the I-90 exit ramp to 4th Ave S. Attendees in 300 buses and other vehicles will arrive between 9 - 11 a.m. and depart between 1- 5 p.m. Please make your travel plans accordingly.

1st Ave S:
S Mead St - S Findlay St a 600' section of roadway will be removed and replaced because it did not meet project specifications. This work will take place within a couple days and should not last very long.
S Stacy St - S Atlantic St repaving work began on Monday and is scheduled through Thursday Sept 18th; night work (6pm - 6am).
S Atlantic St - S Dearborn St pavement grinding & preliminary paving is scheduled for Sept 29th - Oct 2nd. - Expect delays due to non-peak travel time lane closures during day and night time hours
S Hudson St - S Spokane St restoration, clean-up and pavement markings

S Spokane St Closure:
Work has begun on the replacement of an old water main on the lower S Spokane St roadway. The road way closure started Tuesday Sept. 16th and will continue through 2010 as the utilities project evolves into the S Spokane St widening/4th Ave off-ramp project. Expect delays during the next few weeks as the signal timing is being adjusted. Only local traffic will be allowed onto S Spokane St from 1st - 2nd Ave S, parking will be restricted.
See the detour map for through traffic from East Marginal Way to I5.

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