Our neighbors to the north (Uptown, not Canada) are having an open house on the future of that neighborhood next week. Do you like to visit the Seattle Center or patronize the businesses in Uptown? You should plan on attending this open house and spread the word to your friends and neighbors. See below for more information.
Continue reading “Open House on a Framework for Uptown’s Future Nov. 7th”
Sound Transit needs your help deciding where regional transit services could expand after current voter-approved projects are complete in 2023. An important process getting underway today to update the region’s Long-Range Plan will provide the vision for transit expansions many years into the future.
What is the regional Long-Range Plan?
Voters in Central Puget Sound approved the formation of Sound Transit to develop a high-capacity transportation system for the region, where about 40 percent of the state’s residents live. Updating the plan will address how to respond to rising demand and congestion as our population grows approximately 30 percent by 2035.
The Long-Range Plan serves as the blueprint for how the region can use mass transit expansions to protect and promote its mobility, economy and environment. Future ballot measures will be shaped by the plan.
Shape the future of regional mass transit – get involved
Sound Transit will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update the Long-Range Plan. The first step in the process, called scoping, will determine which alternatives will be studied in the SEIS. Between Oct. 25 and Nov. 25 this important process will give you, local jurisdictions and public agencies a chance to learn more about the project, provide comments, and help Sound Transit identify and consider potential alternatives and effects on the environment.
There are several great ways to make sure the Sound Transit Board hears your input:
Public meetings
Evening events are from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with a presentation at 6:15 p.m.
Seattle – Tuesday, Nov. 12
Seattle University Campion Ballroom
914 E. Jefferson St.
Federal Way—Wednesday, Nov. 13
Federal Way Community Center
876 S. 333rd St.
Redmond—Thursday, Nov. 14
Redmond Marriott
7401 164th Ave. N.E.
Tacoma—Monday, Nov. 18
Tacoma Convention Center
1500 Broadway
Everett—Tuesday, Nov. 19
Eisenhower Middle School
10200 25th Ave. S.E.
Daytime event: Seattle—Thursday, Nov. 21
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St.
Today, Sound Transit trains and buses serve approximately 100,000 riders each weekday. The starting point for considering future expansions is this existing system and currently funded projects. By 2023, the Link light rail system is on track to grow to nearly 50 miles, expanding north to Lynnwood, east to Bellevue and Redmond’s Overlake area, and south to Kent/Des Moines. These voter-approved extensions are projected to increase Sound Transit daily ridership to about 350,000 in 2030.
The region will face major challenges maintaining an effective transportation system in the coming decades as more and more people call the more than 50 cities that Sound Transit serves home. You can play an important role in deciding where expanded services go.
More information:
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| Thank you to everyone who attended the Let’s Connect: Linking Belltown to Seattle’s New Waterfront event on October 17. Your ideas, questions and enthusiasm for the future of Belltown will continue to shape the design going forward.We also wanted to send out a big thank you to the Belltown Community Council, Belltown Business Association and Downtown Seattle Association for their help in making the event a success.
Missed the meeting? |
The Seattle Public Schools have released a new draft of revised attendance area boundaries. No children who live west of I-5 will attend Bailey Gatzert under this plan. Instead, Lowell Elementary on Capitol Hill will serve Capitol Hill, First Hill, South Lake Union, Belltown, Denny Triangle, Downtown, and Pioneer Square. Children in these neighborhoods will continue on to Meany Middle School on Capitol Hill.
Members of the public are invited to submit comments through a survey by October 25. Revised boundaries will be presented at the School Board meeting on November 6 and likely adopted at the meeting on November 20.
The Community Police Commission (CPC) needs your help to create a stronger, safer and more connected community.
On September 20, the CPC issued draft policy recommendations for public review. These recommendations are in the areas of bias-free policing, stops and detentions, and in-car video recordings. The CPC is also seeking public comment on the Seattle Police Department’s proposed use of force policy. The CPC must issue a report with its final policy recommendations in these areas on November 15.
Public meetings are being held during October with Seattle residents to get their perspectives about SPD and to gather their thoughts on the CPC recommendations. Many of these meetings are being arranged to ensure we reach those community members most impacted by police practices.
All Seattle residents have a stake in better policing. We hope you will attend a scheduled meeting or offer your views online.
How to participate
Share your thoughts on improving police services in Seattle by taking the online survey!
To learn more, go to the CPC website at www.seattle.gov/policecommission:
Upcoming community events
Meetings and small group discussions have been arranged by a range of community organizations. You are welcome to attend. Here are some of the meetings coming up:
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Waterfront Seattle will transform Seattle’s central waterfront and bring new connections to Belltown. From a new surface street connecting to the waterfront, to completing Bell Street and new public open spaces, the City will share an overview of improvements planned for the Belltown neighborhood. The event is free and open to the public, and we invite your ideas and feedback. See you there!
Let’s Connect: Linking Belltown to Seattle’s New Waterfront
Thursday, October 17
6 PM
City University of Seattle
521 Wall StreetEvent is free and open to the public.
Click here to RSVP.
Questions or comments?
info@waterfrontseattle.org
206.499.8040
waterfrontseattle.orgHOSTED BY: City of Seattle’s Departments of Transportation, Planning & Development, and Parks & Recreation
For special accommodations, including interpretation, please contact info@waterfrontseattle.org or 206.499.8040.
Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request for alternative formats through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.
Metro is facing a crisis. Unless the Legislature acts to extend or replace expiring taxing authority, Metro will be forced to cut service next year. The Legislature considered but failed to pass a bill this year, but Governor Inslee has promised to call a special session in November if lawmakers can agree on a transportation funding package.
Metro faces a $75 million annual shortfall next year, and without a funding solution, will have to begin major service cuts in fall 2014. Metro is planning reductions of up to 600,000 annual hours of bus service – up to 17 percent of Metro’s service countywide – that would begin in September 2014. Public outreach about proposed reductions will begin this fall. » Learn more about Metro’s funding and what’s at risk
An additional 45,000 annual service hours will have to be cut from bus service in the Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor. State funding for enhanced bus service to reduce the impacts of the viaduct replacement project runs out next June, even though work on the new tunnel and waterfront improvements will continue through 2019.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is hosting a “listening session” for state lawmakers on Monday. Those who rely on Metro are encouraged to attend and share their comments.
Monday, Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, 1013 8th Avenue
Join us tonight for our monthly meeting. The chair of the Community Police Commission will present on the proposed reforms of the Seattle Police Department.
Wednesday, October 9
6:30 PM
Belltown Community Center, 415 Bell Street
The Belltown Community Council extends its congratulations to Captain Deanna Nollette, who has just been promoted to head the Seattle Police Department’s Narcotics Section. Captain Nollette had previously served as Operations Lieutenant for the West Precinct as well as the SPD representative to the LEAD program.
We wish Captain Nollette the best in her new role.
Belltown Community Council 