alaskan way viaduct replacement program...alaskan way viaduct replacement program stakeholder group...

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program Stakeholder Group

Meeting Summary – Dec. 12, 2017

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program

Stakeholder Group – Dec. 12, 2017

Meeting Summary

Working Group attendees

Warren Aakervik, Ballard Oil / Seattle Freight Advisory Board

Michael Davis, Uptown Alliance

Kyle Ducey, South Lake Union Community Council

Tom Graff, Belltown Business Association

Susan Harsh, Seattle Mariners

Drew Miller, Seattle Mariners

Ryan van Maarth, Seattle Mariners

Vlad Oustimovitch, West Seattle

Pete Spalding, Delridge

Working Group members not in attendance

Linda Anderson, Amalgamated Transit Union

Michael Beranbaum, Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28

Howard Cohen, Seattle Hotel Association

Alan Cornell, Nitze-Stagen

Matt Curry, South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce

Stephen DeForest, Magnolia Community Club

Jan Drago, The Alliance for Pioneer Square

Kyle Ducey, South Lake Union Community Council

Phil Fujii, Vulcan

Hamilton Gardiner, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Jason Handaly, Sound Produce

Ron Hildebrandt, Trident Seafoods at Interbay

Tim Hillis, Charlie’s Produce

Bree Moore, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Lee Newgent, Washington State Building Trades

John Odland, MacMillan-Piper

Vince O’Halloran, Puget Sound Ports Council & Sailors Union of the Pacific

Marty Oppenheimer, South Park

Tom Phillips, Compass Housing Alliance

Ed Shilley, Nucor Steel

John Stewart, Feet First

Jordan Smith, CenturyLink Field and Event Center

Herald Ugles, International Longshore and Warehouse Union/Pacific Maritime

Association

Eugene Wasserman, North Seattle Industrial Association

Elaine Wine, Ballard

Agencies and staff in attendance:

Golnaz Camarda, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)



Brian Nielsen, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

Angela Brady, Waterfront Seattle Program

Matt McNair, King County Metro

Nicole McIntosh, Washington State Ferries

Anthony Buckley, WSDOT

Agenda Item # 1 – Welcome and general updates

Golnaz Camarda welcomed the group and did introductions. She acknowledged that Seattle

Streetcar was not present at the meeting, but provided a one pager with a Center City Connector

update.

Agenda Item #2 – Review construction sequencing graphics

Angela Brady began by providing a brief Waterfront Seattle overview, including schedule and

waterfront construction commitments. She and Brian Nielsen then walked through construction

sequencing graphics, which outline construction activities for Waterfront Seattle and other

projects along the waterfront from 2018-2023.

Warren Aakervik: Will there be a complete closure of Alaskan Way when the roadway is shifted

from underneath the viaduct?

Answer: There may be an overnight closure, but not a complete closure of the roadway.

Tom Graff: Do you know what month the Alaskan Way shift will occur?

Answer: The shift will occur three weeks prior to the permanent viaduct closure. Right now, this

means the shift will occur in September 2018, but this is flexible based on schedule.

Warren Aakervik: Will there be two lanes of traffic in each direction on Alaskan Way?

Answer: Yes. However, this can be reduced to one lane during viaduct demolition.

Warren Aakervik: When does the h-overpass open?

Answer: The overpass will open when the tunnel opens to traffic.

Tom Graff: Will this presentation be available online?

Answer: Yes, we will send an electronic copy and post the presentation online.

Vlad Oustimovitch: There will be many traffic impacts associated with these projects. Make sure

that you are warning the public ahead of time so there is less tension.

Answer: Yes, we will be communicating these impacts with the public.

Warren Aakervik: Will there be adjusted tolling in the SR 99 tunnel during other construction

projects to help alleviate some of the congestion?

Answer: The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) is responsible for

establishing toll rates for the SR 99 tunnel. They had a kick-off meeting earlier today to discuss

the toll rate-setting process. We were not in this meeting, but can follow up with WSTC on this

question.

Action Item: WSDOT to follow up with WSTC regarding adjusted (decreased) toll

rates during construction of other projects along the waterfront.



Pete Spalding: After tolling goes into effect, can the agencies be ready to adjust/decrease tolls if

too many drivers are diverting to other roads? A six-month or more process to evaluate the toll

rates seems too long. Could the toll rates be adjusted real-time in order to decrease the number of

vehicles diverting to other routes?

Answer: We will check in with WSTC.

Action Item: WSDOT to follow up with WSTC regarding adjustable toll rates based

on diversion.

Vlad Oustimovitch: I understand that tolling gives money to the state to pay bonds for the tunnel.

However, traffic capacity will not be maximized if people are diverting onto the roads. There is a

conflict between revenue and diversion impacts. I would like to second the idea of an adjustable

toll rate.

Answer: We will check in with WSTC on the adjustable toll rates.

Action Item: WSDOT to follow up with WSTC regarding adjustable toll rates based

on diversion.

Pete Spalding: Can we get an update on tolling before toll rates are set?

Answer: We will provide a tolling update at our next meeting.

Action Item: A tolling update will be provided at the next stakeholder meeting,

planned for spring 2018.

Warren Aakervik: With all of the projects taking place at the same time along the waterfront,

there will not be any roads left for traffic.

Answer: We understand that there will be traffic impacts during construction phases of the

various projects. We have a maintenance of mobility group with representatives from the various

agencies (WSDOT, SDOT, King County Metro and Port of Seattle) that meets regularly to

discuss how we are going to keep people moving during construction. We understand that people

need to continue to move through the city, and will continue to meet to discuss how to do so.

Tom Graff: When will the Battery Street Tunnel be decommissioned?

Answer: The timing for decommissioning is to be determined and will be covered in more detail

in Brian’s presentation.

Agenda Item #3 – Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program Update

Brian Nielsen gave an overview on work remaining until the tunnel opens to traffic. This

includes completion of the tunnel, shifting Alaskan Way to the west, permanently closing the

viaduct and making the final roadway connections into the tunnel from the existing SR 99.

Warren Aakervik: When is the viaduct closure?

Answer: Based on the contractor’s current schedule, the closure will occur in late October/early

November.

Vlad Oustimovitch: Related to the Alaskan Way shift, will there be improvements to what is

there currently?



Answer: Yes. There will be four lanes of traffic north of Yesler Way and five lanes of traffic south

of Yesler Way. Some of this will be reduced during demolition.

Warren Aakervik: Will the City reduce construction to Fourth, Fifth and Sixth avenues during

the viaduct closure?

Answer: Yes, we are working with the City to limit construction impacts during the viaduct

closure to help with traffic.

Warren Aakervik: What will the traffic impacts be at I-5 with the convention center

construction?

Answer: We are not sure what the exact impacts will be. The buses will come out of the transit

tunnel in March 2019. We are working with Streetcar and other construction projects and their

schedules to minimize traffic impacts.

Brian then gave an update on the SR 99 Viaduct Demolition, Decommissioning and Surface

Streets Project. This included timeline of the three projects, scope elements and effects to the

public.

Warren Aakervik: Will the Metro tunnel material be used to fill the Battery Street Tunnel?

Answer: Means and methods of the project are up to the design-build contractor.

Vlad Oustimovitch: Will the Battery Street Tunnel lid be kept in place?

Answer: Yes. The contractor will fill the tunnel halfway and then fill the top half with flow-able

fill pumped through the tunnel’s vents.

Ryan van Maarth: When will you announce the best-value contractor?

Answer: We will announce in April or May of 2018.

Kyle Ducey: What is the duration of viaduct demolition?

Answer: Demolition will take up to nine months, but as few as six months based on incentives we

have provided to the proposed contractors. Timing will depend on the means and methods we

receive from the contractor.

Warren Aakervik: How will demolition debris be hauled?

Answer: We are assuming it will be hauled on trucks to the south.

Brian gave a brief program update, including current tunnel construction progress, schedule and

the closure of Milepost 31. He acknowledged that the group has not been meeting quarterly and

that we will let construction milestones drive the timeline for these meetings in the future.

Pete Spalding: I wanted to follow up on my question about the dip in southbound SR 99. I

brought this up at the last meeting and followed up with emails after that. I was told that

engineers were looking into it, but have not heard anything since then. This continues to be a

dangerous section of SR 99 for buses, so I thought I would follow up on this again.

Answer: Thank you for continuing to follow up on this issue, we have not forgotten about it. We

will need to do repairs on this section SR 99, but it is more complicated than we expected. We



are looking at additional data on the soils in the area. We are working with geotechnical

engineers to come up with a creative solution so we can fix the problem rather than making it

worse.

Kyle Ducey: In reference to the north surface streets project, how much design guidance are you

giving the contractor? We have been a part of previous discussions regarding some of the design

elements, and we are concerned that the design-builder will not follow those elements.

Answer: We have been working with north end stakeholders for a while now (both past and

present). There are program design guidelines for the contractor to follow. We can send a link to

these guidelines.

Action Item: WSDOT to send program design guidelines to the group.

Warren Aakervik: After then tunnel opens, southbound 99 traffic will be diverted to Aurora

Avenue, not the tunnel. What will the truck routes be at the north portal going south? Trucks

cannot go south of Denny.

Answer: You would use either Harrison or Denny. We have information regarding turning radii

at the north portal that we can send to the group.

Action Item: WSDOT to send information regarding truck turning radii at the

north portal.

Agenda Item #4 – Interim and permanent south end transit pathways

Matt McNair provided an overview of transit pathways during construction impacts and what the

permanent south end pathway will be after waterfront construction is complete.

Pete Spalding: For the average bus rider, what will be the average increase in travel time? Will

there be bus only lanes in the interim and final pathways?

Answer: There will be delays in transit service, but we do not have specific numbers with traffic

modeling data. There is no transit priority in the yellow pathway. The blue and green pathways

on the map will have transit only lanes. The final configuration will have complete transit

priority pathways.

Kyle Ducey: With buses coming out of the tunnel, will there be any restrictions for bus traffic in

downtown?

Answer: The service planning group is working on mitigation plans for this. We are looking to

reduce the number of buses coming downtown and using the surface streets to help mitigate

some of the congestion in downtown.

Michael Davis: There are a couple of other transit projects that are in discussion as well, in the

International District for example. How do those tie into these larger plans?

Answer: I cannot speak to that, but we will follow up with our service planning group.

Action Item: Metro to follow up with service planning group regarding other transit

plans and how they tie into the scope of this project. Metro will provide an update at

the next meeting.

Susan Harsh: Will there be any stops on First Avenue?



Answer: No, the service on First Avenue is to replicate the existing service provided by the

viaduct.

Michael Davis: Where are the bus stops along the green transit pathway?

Answer: There will be stops on Alaskan Way adjacent to Columbia Street and near Jackson in

the final configuration once the transit lanes are established.

Michael Davis: Do you have any renderings of two-way Columbia Street?

Answer: We do not, but we can send out the renderings.

Action Item: Waterfront Seattle to send two-way Columbia Street renderings.

Kyle Ducey: Can you send a list of all of the affected routes on this slide?

Answer: Yes, we will send a PDF that is a bit easier to read.

Action Item: WSDOT to send PDF of transit pathways included with the rest of the

presentation.

Agenda Item #5 – Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock Project

Nicole McIntosh gave an overview and update on the Colman Dock Project. This included a

brief overview of the project, design features of the new facility, a construction update and

information regarding funding.

Agenda Item #6: Stakeholder group feedback

Golnaz asked for general questions and feedback.

Agenda Item #6 – Action items and adjourn

Golnaz wrapped up the meeting.

Request from Warren Aakervik, Pete Spalding and Vlad Oustimovitch: Can you provide

information about potential modifications to toll rates in the SR 99 tunnel, including

reduced rates during construction of other waterfront projects and real-time adjustable

rates that would decrease based on diversion?

o Q: Will there be adjusted tolling in the SR 99 tunnel during other

construction projects to help alleviate some of the congestion?

A: The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) understands that

part of the rate-setting process is considering how best to keep people and goods

moving through what will be some difficult construction projects. WSDOT will

be leading much of the construction, but SDOT and King County Metro also have

either projects or changes to the street grid that will affect traffic. The

Commission works to balance raising the revenue the Legislature required for the

program with minimizing traffic diversion. They will gather public input on the

various scenarios before setting toll rates later this year.

o Q: After tolling goes into effect, can the agencies be ready to adjust/decrease

tolls if too many drivers are diverting to other roads? A six-month or more

process to evaluate the toll rates seems too long. Could the toll rates be

adjusted real-time in order to decrease the number of vehicles diverting to

other routes?



A: Based on experience on WSDOT tolled facilities as well as others throughout

the country, it takes between six months to a year for traffic patterns to reach a

new normal. People driving cars typically try a few different routes before settling

on what works for them. The SR 99 tunnel will have different access points than

the viaduct, and those changes will affect how people choose to get around, just

like tolling might cause some people to choose other routes.

The WSTC is looking at various toll rate scenarios now to understand how travel

patterns might change with tolls and how best to set the toll rate. Ultimately, they

are responsible for setting rates and will determine if they can be adjusted, while

still meeting the obligations to raise sufficient revenue as required by law.

WSDOT will work with local jurisdictions to monitor how traffic changes on city

streets and I-5. We will not know some of this information until the WSTC

completes their work in the fall, but they will be reaching out to the public about

the various approaches they are considering and will incorporate what they hear

into the final rates.

Request from Pete Spalding: Can we get an update on tolling before toll rates are set?

o WSDOT/WSTC to provide a tolling update at the June 21 stakeholder

meeting.

Request from Pete Spalding: Can we be kept informed of plans to address a dip in

southbound SR 99?

o WSDOT is further studying the area in order to determine the appropriate

solution to repair this section of SR 99 during the three-week closure before

the tunnel opens to traffic.

Request from Kyle Ducey: Can you provide the design guidance you will be giving the

contractor for the north surface streets project?

o WSDOT to send program design guidelines to the group.

Request from Warren Aakervik: Can you provide more information on truck routes

southbound from the north portal?

o WSDOT to send information regarding truck turning radii at the north

portal in regards to truck routes.

Request from Michael Davis: Can you provide more information on other transit projects

that are in discussion by Metro?

o Metro to follow up with service planning group regarding other transit plans

and how they tie into the scope of this project. Metro will provide an update

at the next meeting.

Request from Michael Davis: Do you have any renderings of two-way Columbia Street?

o SDOT does not have renderings of the two-way Columbia Street project, but

the full project plans are available on their website.

Request from Kyle Ducey: Can you send a list of all of the affected routes on the transit

pathways slide?

o WSDOT to send PDF of transit pathways included with the rest of the

presentation.

Meeting adjourned at 6 p.m.

https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/SDOT/TransitProgram/2016-113-Columbia-2-Way-AWARD-Plans.pdf

https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/transit-program/2-way-columbia

PORTAL AREA DESIGN GUIDELINESS R 99 B O R E D T U N N E L A LT E R N AT I V E

SUBMITTED TO: WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CITY OF SEATTLEPREPARED BY: ROMA DESIGN GROUP IN ASSOCIATION WITH NBBJ

JUNE 18, 2010

TA B L E O F CO N T E N T S

1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1

2. URBAN DESIGN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ...................... 2

3. GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................. 3

4. SOUTH PORTAL AREA ............................................................ 5

General Guidelines ................................................................. 7

Overhead Bypass Bridge .................................................... 13

Ramps and Tunnel Portals .................................................. 19

Alaskan Way ............................................................................ 25

Railroad Way South............................................................... 29

Cityside and Portside Trails ................................................ 33

First Avenue South ................................................................ 37

5. NORTH PORTAL AREA.......................................................... 39

General Guidelines ............................................................... 42

The Portal Ramps................................................................... 45

City Streets ............................................................................... 51

PORTAL AREA DESIGN GUIDELINESS R 99 B O R E D T U N N E L A LT E R N AT I V E

SUBMITTED TO: WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CITY OF SEATTLEPREPARED BY: ROMA DESIGN GROUP IN ASSOCIATION WITH NBBJ

JUNE 18, 2010

5 0 P O R T A L A R E A D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S • J U N E 1 8 , 2 0 1 0

Figure 90: North Portal Landscape Concept

P O R T A L A R E A D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S • J U N E 1 8 , 2 0 1 0 5 1

C I T Y S T R E E T S

Figure 91: Functional Diagram Figure 92: Pedestrian and Bicycle Linkages

Construction of the bored tunnel will have a significant positive impact on the North Portal area, providing the opportunity to mend the urban fabric of the South Lake Union Urban Center, Uptown Urban Center, Queen Anne and Seattle Center areas. With the SR 99 improvements, Aurora Avenue will become an even more significant street both than it is today and within the district in the future, pro-viding circulation within the city and direct access to and from SR 99. In contrast to its previous role which emphasized through movement at the expense of local access, Aurora Avenue can now become a boulevard that both distributes traffic from SR 99 into the South Lake Union area and provides continuity of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicu-lar access across it. In addition, Thomas, John and Harrison Streets as well as 6th Avenue will all be improved as well, with new sidewalks, landscape, lighting and other furnishings. The connections on these reinstated streets will be of benefit to continuity within the district as a whole.

1. There should be a different identity for different streets within the district, but each street should have a consistent identity to help

unify the district. For example, consideration should be given to establishing a consistent street tree or combination of street trees for each street. Consideration should also be given to a consistent vocabulary of street furnishings for the district as a whole that will help to give it a unified identity. A more contemporary vocabu-lary of street furnishings should be utilized that help to promote the future of the area and reflect the concerns for livability and sustainability.

2. Broad Street shall be removed east of 5th Avenue and the right-of-way used to reintegrate the urban fabric and create new connec-tions within the city.

3. Aurora Avenue should be improved with appropriately scaled elements (including sidewalks, medians and street trees) that enhance access, connectivity and a sense of place. A tall, distinc-tive light fixture capable of accommodating banners should be implemented along the street, beginning on the SR 99 ramps to Aurora Avenue to heighten the sense of gateway into the district

and to give continuity along it. The specific luminaires will be selected by the City of Seattle and shall be used both on the Aurora Avenue ramp and surface street.

4. John, Thomas and Harrison Streets should be designed to facilitate pedestrian, vehicular and bicycle access in the east/west direction. Streetscape improvements should include landscaping, lighting, sidewalks and pedestrian and bicycle amenities and furnishings. Thomas Street is envisioned as a green street adn part of the Lake to Bay Trail. The design concept for this street should feature a wide sidewalk trail feature on the north side of the street, as shown in Figure 97.

5. The cross-section of the city streets that are improved as part of the North Portal improvements should provide an adequate amount of space for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as for vehicular movement. A cross-section of each of the streets is provided for reference (Figure 93-100).

6. Sidewalks should be a minimum of 10 feet in width, consistent with City standards for the area, but wider sidewalks should be provided, where feasible, specifically on both sides of Aurora from Denny to Harrison.

7. Large deciduous street trees, selected from the City of Seattle’s approved list, should be planted on either side of the roadways to help rescale the streets, provide identity and amenity and make them more comfortable and attractive to pedestrians.

8. Street trees on all city streets should generally be spaced at approximately 30 feet on center along the street. They should be planted at a minimum 4 to 4-1/2 inch caliper size and pruned as they grow in height and breadth so that the lowest limb is 16 feet above grade.

5 2 P O R T A L A R E A D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S • J U N E 1 8 , 2 0 1 0

Figure 93: Aurora Avenue between Denny Way and John Street

Figure 94: Aurora Avenue between John Street and Thomas Street Figure 95: Aurora Avenue between Thomas Street and Harrison Street

P O R T A L A R E A D E S I G N G U I D E L I N E S • J U N E 1 8 , 2 0 1 0 5 3

Figure 96: John Street between 6th Avenue and Aurora Avenue Figure 97: Thomas Street between 6th Avenue and Aurora Avenue Figure 98: Harrison Street between 6th Avenue and Aurora Avenue

Figure 100: 6th Avenue between Harrison Street and Republican StreetFigure 99: 6th Avenue between John Street and Thomas Street

NOTE: Landscaping shown on these cross-sections is for the public right-of-ways of the street only. For additional guidance within the Tunnel Operations Building site and temporary future development site, see the design guide-lines for the Tunnel Operations Building.