Notes from C.A.G., June 22, 2004
The Fremont Bridge Approach Project can be broken down into three discrete pieces:
1) Approaches (north & south)
2) Mechanical/Electrical upgrades to the bridge mechanism
3) Maintenance shop replacement (south end of bridge)
Questions: Is there a timeline available yet that shows the different phases, when lanes will be closed/altered/affected, when the bridge will be closed entirely, etc.?
Additionally, there is a companion project that will happen concurrently with the approach project, largely centered around improving and adding to the signalization and circulation within downtown Fremont. (more on this later)
The last CAG meeting will happen right around the time of 90% design; there is no date set.
July 21—meeting with Fremont Chamber of Commerce to review design to date; 8:00 am, probably at Red Door but not confirmed yet
July 22—Bicycle Improvements design review meeting. This is a small meeting with experts from the bicycle advocacy community. I found out about it from Rob Gorman (SDOT lead engineer) last week and managed to get myself invited. Other attendees include:
Emily Allen
Dave Hiller
Louise McGroody
Dave Janis
David Levenger
Chuck Ayres
Sarah Kavage
The purpose of this meeting is to review the modifications to the bridge approach designs that are intended to address the overwhelming grass roots support for better bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on the bridge.
If the FNC wants a briefing on the design as well, we can arrange that. We just need to let Rebecca Baker (PRR) or Rob Gorman know.
The city is currently planning on converting the northernmost westbound lane of 34th to a bike lane for the duration of the project, which means there would be striped bike lanes running both east and west along 34th. The representative from the Queen Anne Neighborhood was vehemently opposed to this idea, to the point of claiming that his council would write a formal letter, because “there are a lot of Queen Anne residents who commute to the U District and that would lengthen their commute.” He was the only one who seemed at all opposed to the idea.
There was much discussion about potential overflow traffic impacts on the Queen Anne neighborhood, particularly along Aurora and at the Queen Anne Dr & 4th N 7-way intersection.
I asked about striping bike lanes on Fremont Ave, and said that this would be a natural addition to all of the work being planned in the neighborhood and that the city had approved the idea several times in the past. Rob Gorman said he had never heard of it (!) and Suzie Burke (who was sitting next to me) said that it had never been done because the engineering had not been done, that the city did not know how to “channelize” the street to accommodate the bike lane. This contradicts what I have heard from Toby and Chip, so I would appreciate any additional info about the history of this idea that I can take back to the city.
SDOT also claimed not to be familiar with the Fremont Circulation Plan, which surprised Suzie.
Proposed Signalization changes:
Fremont Ave & 36th: Pretty straightforward addition of a traffic light at the Dad Watson’s/Dubliner death trap.
36th/Evanston/N 36th St (right near Lenin): Evanston becomes one way south with a right turn only onto 36th; a HUGE curb bulb will be constructed out into the street at the intersection, and will be filled with landscaping. Incidentally, the surface parking lot at that intersection has been purchased and a new building will be constructed once design review/permitting has been completed.
Three street trees just west of this intersection (near the funeral home) will likely be removed, according to Marko, because their roots will eventually destroy the sewer directly beneath them.
The intersection at Fremont Ave & 39th (near B.F. Day) will be modified to allow a left turn from Fremont Way onto Fremont Ave. To enable this change several parking spaces on the west side of Fremont Ave will be eliminated, and the stop line on the Fremont Ave north bound lanes will be moved south.
New traffic lights will be installed at Aurora and Bridge Way.
RPZ
Suzie Burke said she is opposed to the RPZ, and at a minimum said she wants the city to delay any action on it until the bridge project is complete. She said she wants the CAG to write a letter to the city stating this position. I said that I would not support that position and would definitely not support the CAG sending a letter until I had checked with the FNC, because it was my impression that there is a great deal of support within the neighborhood and the FNC board for implementing the RPZ ASAP (how’s that for acronym usage?).
The bridge maintenance shop is being completely rebuilt and relocated to the east side of the bridge on the south approach. The current conceptual drawings show a fair-sized public plaza on top of the building, which will likely feature art and a display about the location and history of Seattle’s drawbridges.
Questions: Is there a timeline available yet that shows the different phases, when lanes will be closed/altered/affected, when the bridge will be closed entirely, etc.?
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