Want to get an up-close look at the SODO, Stadium, and Mount Baker light rail stations, peek at the Beacon Hill Station area, tour the changes on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, and view the new trackway in Tukwila and near the airport? Sound Transit is hosting another “Lunch Bus” on January 16. It’s a guided tour of the light rail project areas, with a stop for lunch at Thai Recipe Restaurant. The cost of lunch is $10. Details and RSVP here.
Tag Archives: light rail
Parking changes coming soon to light rail station area
The parking changes will be installed on a rolling basis this Spring, and should be complete by the time the light rail begins service in July. To park in the RPZ without penalty at that point will require an RPZ pass, which will cost $45/two years, with a discount available for low-income households.
We note something interesting in the FAQ about these changes: “Enforcement will also increase to help those new regulations function properly. Increasing enforcement will affect all types of parking violations, including vehicles parked too close to driveways or blocking fire-hydrants. Please obey the law.” The new RPZ may have some unexpected consequences for some people in the area who have become accustomed to relatively lax parking enforcement in this neighborhood.
If you have an opinion about the changes, there are several ways to tell SDOT what you think. An open house is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Avenue South. Other open houses are scheduled to be held at New Holly and at the Starbucks building in Sodo.
You can take an online questionnaire about the parking plan. Read the mailer, then fill out this questionnaire.
Additionally, you can email your comments and questions to lightrailparking@seattle.gov, or comment by phone at 206-684-8186. You may call Sound Transit’s language lab hotline at 1-800-823-9230 for translation if you need to speak in a language other than English.
Light rail station on schedule; blue wall coming down soon
As we mentioned earlier, there was an information meeting scheduled last night about Sound Transit’s request to extend the technical noise variance for construction of the Beacon Hill station and light rail tunnels.
I attended the meeting. I was the only person to attend, other than the Sound Transit representatives. Though the weather was probably a factor in the low attendance, it seems that there isn’t a big fuss about this variance extension.
The friendly Sound Transit folks answered a few questions for me. There will be no additional noise beyond what is happening currently (if you do have a noise complaint, however, the 24-hour construction hotline number is 888-298-2395). The station is currently still on schedule to open in July 2009, but they don’t yet have an exact date. And the blue wall around the construction site is expected to come down in February or March, so we should start seeing more of the station site soon. It has been a very long time that we’ve lived with that blue wall around a big chunk of our “downtown.”
Beacon Bits: Trains, streetcars, and a forgotten war
- We’re looking forward to the Rainier Avenue light rail station that will be part of the East Link project. The station will be at I-90, between Rainier and 23rd Avenue South. This will be fairly accessible to folks on Northeast Beacon Hill and in the Atlantic area — Central District News
- The full City Council has approved the streetcar expansion plan. This could be useful to us on Beacon Hill, as we’ll be easily able to transfer from light rail to lines such as the line to Capitol Hill from the International District. The light rail will eventually go to Capitol Hill, too, but the streetcar will be done sooner. (But if it’s not going to be faster than the bus, I won’t be happy. Dedicated lane, please.) — Seattle Transit Blog
- The Wing Luke Asian Museum down in the International District is presenting a traveling multimedia exhibit, Still Present Pasts: Korean Americans and the “Forgotten War†, from December 14 – May 17. There is a members’ opening reception this Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 pm. — Northwest Asian Weekly
- While browsing the Times‘ online archives, I found a 1988 interview with one of Beacon Hill’s most famous (former) residents, Lynda Barry, whose first play, The Last House, was then about to premiere at the Pioneer Square Theater — Seattle Times
Sound Transit wants to extend noise variance at Beacon Hill Station
An information meeting about the variance extension is on Tuesday, December 16, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Beacon Hill Library, 2821 Beacon Avenue South.
Beacon Bits: candlelight vigil, bus violence, zoning violations
- Amber Campbell discusses the Seattle Times’ lackluster coverage of Noemi Lopez’ murder, and their poor coverage of South Seattle in general, and posts information about a candlelight vigil tonight — Rainier Valley Post
- Speaking of the Lopez murder, here is a picture of the suspect. Have you seen him? — SPDBlotter
- JvA has more on the case of the warehouse that may be a grocery store… or not (as seen here) — Mid Beacon Hill
- The Number 36 Metro bus route that serves Beacon Hill is one of the ten most dangerous routes in the system — for the drivers. The 36 averages five passenger assaults on drivers per year. (Seen one? Tell us about it.) The 7, however, averages fifteen — Seattle P-I
- Martin H. Duke suggests that the problems with the 7 bus are both a danger and an opportunity for the light rail line, which will cover much of the same route. Will it be seen as dangerous, too? — Seattle Transit Blog
Rainier Grocery Outlet to close
We stopped in at the Rainier Grocery Outlet this evening and saw that entire rows of shelving were gone, the freezers were half-full, and a lot less “stuff” was in the store. I asked the checker if they were closing or just remodeling. He said they’re closing November 26th.
We haven’t been able to get more details yet, but we’re wondering if the store is a casualty of the lengthy construction of the Mount Baker light rail station that has made access to the store more difficult for the last few years. The building and property are owned by the University of Washington, with their laundry facilities next door.
Some time between March 31st, 2007 and June 19th of this year, Steve Christman took over from Steve and Debbi Mullen, operators of the Madrona Grocery Outlet. The Mullens stated in 2007 that, while the store had taken a 20 to 30 percent hit in business due to light rail construction, they hoped to tough it out until the rail station opened, running the Rainier store at “zero profit” until then and “didn’t want the store to close.” Looks like that plan didn’t pan out.
If your bargain-hunting regularly brings you to Grocery Outlet, you might want to get down there soon.
Beacon Bits: Family planning, break dancing, and storm drains
- Amber Campbell has gathered further information about the impact of the potential closure of the Columbia Public Health Family Planning Clinic in Genesee — Rainier Valley Post
- “Beacon Hill [station] is still scheduled to open on time.” — Seattle Transit Blog
- Steve Louie on the BAN and beaconhill mailing lists reminds us to call 386-1800 to report water, sewer, storm water backups, and, preferably before they become a real hazard, blocked storm drains
- Jalen Testerman is a 7-year-old boy gaining worldwide recognition as a breakdancer. He practices at the Jefferson Park community center — Seattle Times
- The new Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club and Rainier Valley Teen Center opened todaywith a gala grand opening celebration including basketball, chess, dancing, and Mayor Greg Nickels and other dignitaries speaking out against youth violence — Seattle P-I
What can Beacon Hill tell Capitol Hill about the light rail construction experience?
So, Beaconians, what should Capitol Hillers expect in the next few years as a large section of Broadway becomes a big hole in the ground? We’ve lived through it and ought to have some useful insights for our neighbors to the north.
Celebs, prizes, and a train at Boys & Girls Club celebration Saturday
The celebration of the club’s new 40,000 square foot teen center is from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. VIPs including Ron Sims and Greg Nickels will be there to speak between 10:30 am and 11:30 am. Other activities at the celebration include free-throws with Sheryl Swoopes of the Seattle Storm, a performance by the Dangerettes drill team, football with Bobby Engram and Blitz from the Seattle Seahawks, and giveaways for kids and teens. The Club is at 4520 MLK Jr. Way South; the Columbia City rail station is one block south.
Thanks, Seattle Transit Blog!