HLCC Nov. meeting with Lee Bruch of Seattle Neighborhood Greeways

After some club business (which will be covered in other posts), Anastasiya introduced Lee Bruch (pronounced "brush") of the Licton/Haller branch of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways (SNG).

Greenways were the original reason for the SNG, and it's first biggest successes, but now they work for a safer, friendlier transportation grid in general.  The Licton/Haller group was founded by Lee with Suzie Zook, and originally met in the HLCC board room.  They were very involved in the planning for transportation to Eagle Staff Middle School, partnering with the Greenwood/Broadview/Phinney chapter, with which they now meet jointly.  They got safe east/west routes added for Eagle Staff.

They've been influenced by the major news this year: social justice movements led them to support equity and social justice in Seattle, including in transportation and getting armed police out of traffic enforcement.  In response to COVID-19, they've supported "Café Streets" (restaurants expanding into sidewalks and restaurants) and "Stay Healthy Streets" (streets mostly for pedestrians and bikes, with local-only car traffic).  In response to the West Seattle Bridge issues, they are advocating for any bridge rebuild to include safer pedestrian and bicycle access.

Just the evening before the talk, a pedestrian was killed at N 137th and Aurora, emphasizing the need for safer streets.  Also, the news came out that traffic circles are being explored for both sides of where N 145th crosses I-5.  A circle can move traffic efficiently, but lights bunch cars in rafts, making it easier to turn onto or cross the street.

Lee updated us on the remodel at Northgate Elementary.  Their zoning code departures were all granted (some with conditions).  Note that schools always need zoning code departures, since there is no zoning specifically for schools.  Unfortunately, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) funds for Safe Routes to School are likely to be severely curtailed in the upcoming budget (due to COVID expenses and revenue losses).  They were hoping for improvements to support the path along 120th, Ashworth, and 135th, supporting those commuting from the north to Northgate and the south to Ingraham.

In addition to slides with information on Northgate E., he reviewed slides on transportation planning for the light-rail stations at 130th and 145th.

The city budget process is now underway.  The mayor has identified all available revenue and proposed how it will be spent (the city's budget must be balanced), and the council is looking at reallocating that spending.  The proposed budget drops SDOT revenue by 20%; SNG is lobbying to get some of that back.  They got council members to support the following:

• Upgraded Rainier Avenue S. sidewalks ($1M).
• Continue Georgetown-to-South Park Trail ($1.8M).
• Cancel cuts to Routh 44 Multimodal Project connecting Ballard to UW ($1M).
• Planning and early design for bike network in South Seattle, esp. along MLK Way and between Georgetown and Downtown via SoDo.

Here are a few of SNG's priorities for 2020:

•   Safe routes to school.
•   Reduced speed limits on Aurora.
•   Get "Vision 0" program implemented (to get to 0 deaths in Seattle streets).
•   Traffic signals for pedestrians.
•   Sidewalk repair (legally responsibility of property owners).
•   Home Zones: neighborhood streets made safer for pedestrians by traffic calming, with cars as guests.
•   Bike networks.
•   Racial equity.

They could always use more help in advocating for neighborhood needs.  They meet every 2nd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (virtually right now).

Anastasiya asked what impact the social justice movement has had on SNG.  They hired a staff member with experience in this area, working nearly full time on equity issues.

Karen Kradick asked about calming the intersection of Densmore Ave N. and N. 125th St.  Other points of the hexagon have similar issues.  It's hard to get a 4-way stop on an arterial, but it sometimes can be done, and Metro likes the buses to be able to go both ways on streets on their routes.

We recorded Lee's presentation, and here are his slides, which include links to more information and opportunities for action.

Thank you very much to our VP Anastasiya Simirnova for getting us an excellent speaker on short notice (her original speakers fell through at the last minute).