Laurelhurst Community Club Collecting Dues And What The Funds Go Towards

The Laurelhurst Community Club is currently collecting annual dues which go towards supporting a variety of neighborhood projects and issues.

LCC invites neighbors to its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month at 7pm at the Laurelhurst Community Center Fireside Room. 

This information was recently published in a recent LCC newsletter:

Dues Time + A Look at LCC’s Stewardship

Neighbors recently received LCC’s 2019 membership brochure and dues statement in the mail. Your $65 dues payment supports proactive efforts on land-use matters, environmental and traffic issues, crime prevention, neighborhood improvements, community forums, earthquake/emergency preparedness, newsletters, email updates, website hosting, and more. 

An extra $20 contribution pays for landscape maintenance on the Mary Gates Way / NE 41st Street planted median. Additional contributions are always welcome to support special neighborhood projects. Your neighbors on LCC’s all-volunteer Board of Trustees contribute hundreds of hours each year on your behalf to maintain the livability and vitality of our community and stretch the membership dues.  

Highlights of LCC’s 2018-19 goals and accomplishments: 

• LCC advocates for a context-sensitive solution for development on the  17+ acre Talaris site. LCC dues pay for legal counsel and expert consultants on historic preservation as well as on hydrology and soils.
• LCC representatives attend the Seattle Landmark Board deliberations and its Architectural Review Committee meetings in reference to Talaris and other local landmark preservation issues. 
• LCC works with SPD on public safety and increasing coverage. 
• LCC works closely with the LEAP (Laurelhurst Earthquake Action Preparedness) team and supports its efforts. In 2018, LEAP secured funding and began preparations for the neighborhood HUB. LEAP helps create and organize local clusters for emergency response and participated in UW’s resilience research project for local communities. 
• LCC works with the UW, Sound Transit, and Metro to improve the  neighborhood’s needs for transit connections and pedestrian safety. n  LCC funds maintenance for public median strips along NE 41st Street and replaces dead plants and maintains the irrigation system. 
• LCC advocates for more City of Seattle budget support to restore Laurelhurst Community Center operating hours and programs. 
• LCC works with City Council as it develops a new tree ordinance to provide improved urban habitat and enhance its tree canopy. 
• LCC is working with the car share providers to create more access at the Montlake Light Rail station. 
• LCC participates in SR520 construction and design meetings to ensure continuous access from the northern approach to the Montlake Interchange.

Pay dues on LCC’s secure website (preferred – laurelhurstcc.com, or by mail to:

Laurelhurst Community Club

PMB #373

4616 25th Ave. NE

Seattle, WA 98105

For more information go here. 

No Route 78 Bus This Evening

King County Metro Transit posted this information:

Route 78 will not operate between Children's Hospital and UW Station this evening, due to fleet shortages and in preparation for the coming winter storm.

For alternative service, Route 78 riders can use Route 75, which serves the University district, UW Campus and Children’s Hospital.

Visit Metro’s online regional Puget Sound Trip Planner for information about how to get to and from locations.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

For more information go here.

Neighborhood Bus Route 25 Proposed To Be Replaced With Week-Day Only Route 78 When Light Rail Starts, Learn More wwAt Public Meeting Tonight

 

 

Metro Bus Route #25, which serves Laurelhurst once an hour, may be deleted and change to week-day only service with the new proposed route #78 with fewer neighborhood stops but more frequent service.

Metro states that "Route 25 has low ridership. Metro proposes to delete it and use its resources to improve service in areas with more riders.

Metro gives this new option: "In Laurelhurst, use new Route 78 or go to Sand Point Way to reach revised Route 65 or Route 75, which would have more service."

This is one of thirty-three Metro bus route changes proposed and currently under consideration by the King County Council, which is holding a special public meeting tonight starting at 6:30pm at the Mountaineers Club (7700 Sand Point Way NE).

The public can learn more about proposed bus service changes, detailed here, at the meeting which starts with an Open House and public testimony at 7pm.
 
The changes would start at the beginning of next year when Link light rail starts operating from the University of Washington and Capitol Hill stations.  Link will provide an eight-minute trip between Husky Stadium and downtown Seattle.

Metro says the new routes would make it easier for riders to connect with the new light rail service and that the changes would also improve bus networks in northeast Seattle, major corridors and east-west service between places like Sand Point using resources saved by trimming bus service that duplicates the new Link service.
 

Here are the proposed route changes affecting bus travel in Laurelhurst:

 

Route 78 - replacement for 25 that travels through Laurelhurst.

service weekdays only every 30 minutes from 6:30am-midnight

 

Route 65 - touches the corner of Laurelhurst by Children's Hospital

service every 10-15 minutes

 

Route 31 or 32 - both start near Children's Hospital on Sand Point Way

service every 20-30 minutes

The Laurelhurst Community Club has proposed a 7-day shuttle loop running every 15 minutes from the UW station to the University Village and several points in Laurelhurst (not just on Sandpoint Way NE), then to Children's Hospital, Center for Spiritual Living, Magnuson Park, and return to the station.  The route would be run through the back sides of the E-1 parking lot at the UW to avoid Montlake traffic and keep it moving. However, LCC said that the UW does not want it.

LCC said about Metro's #78 proposed new route:

It will offer a shorter ride to Light Rail since it goes directly along Montlake Boulevard and not through the UW campus. However, there will be only about 4 stops, compared to #25 that had about 17 stops. 

Here is the final proposed #78 route: 

-Originates as before in Wedgewood, down to Sandpoint Way at NE 65th Street.  -Runs along Sandpoint Way NE , and turns onto 47th Avenue NE.  -Turns right onto NE 45th Street at Laurelhurst Elementary School corner.  -Turns left onto 42nd Avenue NE.  -Turns right onto NE 41st Street.  -Exits neighborhood at 5 corners lights near Baskin-Robbins and goes back to NE 45th Street and through to Montlake Boulevard and to Light Rail station at Husky Stadium.  

#78 would replace the originally proposed DART (Dial a ride transit) , week-day route #941, every 60 minutes from 6am-7pm, travelling on 47th Avenue NE , off Sandpoint Way NE , turning right at Laurelhurst Elementary School, and travelling west along NE 45th Street, then re-joining Sandpoint Way NE along Montlake Blvd.   Or, a passenger could dial a ride to come to their old bus stop if they did it 2 hours in advance.

LCC urges  that neighbors provide their input to Metro and SDOT or attend tonight.

The Laurelhurst Community Club said they are glad they achieved more than the very few proposed stops originally proposed for inside Laurelhurst as the neighborhood was going to get nothing but Sandpoint Way service "which is really inconvenient for many residents."

 

 

A Laurelhurst resident commented about the changes:

We recently moved to Laurelhurst and were surprised by how bad the bus service is to downtown. My wife works in Pioneer Square and tried a couple bus options.  

The 25 meanders through the U District and Capitol Hill taking an hour to get downtown in the morning. She also tried parking by the Center for Urban Horticulture and taking a bus on Sand Point Way to the U District and transferring to an express bus. It was still just under an hour. Now she ends up driving to Sodo and catching a bus there.

It's nice to see the proposed route changes are centered around connecting with the Link light rail. The frequency of the trains is being increased to every 6 minutes during commute times. Combined with the advertised "8 minute travel time to downtown," Laurelhurst will hopefully be only a half hour away from downtown via a connection with the new route 78.

Alex Pedersen, a Northeast Seattle neighborhood advocate said in his monthly newsletter:
"SDOT and King County Metro are cutting some commuter bus lines or re-routing them through the U District to feed the light rail stations, even after Seattle voters approved more $ for buses." 

 

King County Council is accepting comments until they make a decision on the changes.

For more information about the proposed changes go here. and here for the King County Council announcement.

Go here for detailed bus route changes.

For questions about the process, contact King County Council at 206-477-1000.

 

 

 

Submit Comments Now On Latest Proposal To Possibly Avoid Cuting Neighborhood Bus Service And 70 Other City Routes



With the state legislature’s transportation funding effort stalled, County Executive Constantine has announced a new proposal to keep buses on the road.

A few months ago we posted about potential cuts to funding issues affecting about 70 routes in the City, among them being  Metro Bus Route 25 that serves Laurelhurst. This route is proposed for deletion because "it is one of the lower performing routes in Metro’s system, and there is alternative service available for most riders" using use revised Route 65 or Route 75, which will remain unchanged.

In May of last year, the route was reduced from every 30 minutes to once per hour. If the route is completely cut, the nearest bus stop could be up to a 30 minute walk for some neighbors.

Over the past five years, Metro has already cut costs, raised fares four times and in addition, temporary funding authority from the state, as well as reserve funding will expire in June and may not be extended. The plan once short term funding end in June is available here.

Here is more information on the latest proposal :

Constantine has asked the County Council to take swift action to secure stable funding for Metro and avert service cuts. He asked the Council to form a countywide transportation benefit district—allowed under state law—and put a funding proposal on the ballot for a public vote. The vote could happen as soon as April.

Read more about what’s proposed.

As another part of the solution, the Executive proposed an across-the-board 25-cent fare increase for all regular service that would take effect in March 2015. The fare for Access Transportation riders would go up by 50 cents. We would also start a new reduced fare for people with low incomes, set at $1.50, to help keep bus service affordable for the people who depend on it most. Eligible riders could pay the low-income fare only with ORCA—not cash.

Learn more.

In case new funding does not become available, Metro continues to conduct countywide outreach (through Feb. 7) on proposed service cuts. The proposed reductions-- up to 17 percent of Metro’s service—would be necessary to close a $75 million shortfall after temporary funding runs out in mid-2014. The cuts would begin this fall. (

Visit our website to see what’s proposed and tell us what you think; Read our blog to see what we have been hearing from riders)

The Council will consider these proposals in the coming weeks and months; we’ll let you know about opportunities to express your views to elected officials on each of these critical decisions.

To voice your concern about this latest proposal email community.relations@kingcounty.gov or take Metro’s service survey.

Here are comments from a concerned Laurelhurst resident:

The 25 route (Laurelhurst-Downtown) should be retained. This route was running every 30 minutes in the recent past and has now been reduced to once per hour.

It is the only bus serving the Laurelhurst neighborhood and is important to many residents, who will be left far from the nearest bus stop if the 25 is deleted (up to 30 minutes of brisk walking - impractical for seniors or disabled).

It is true that ridership is fairly low in off-peak hours, but the principle of providing at least minimal service to a neighborhood should override this. This is something of a vicious circle: one reason for the lower ridership is the infrequent service.

Neighborhood Bus Service Slated To Be Eliminated Next Year

Bus service in the neighborhood may soon come to and end unless Metro is able to find stable funding thus Metro must plan now for major service cuts in absence of funding.
 
Metro Bus Route 25 that serves Laurelhurst is proposed for deletion because "it is one of the lower performing routes in Metro’s system, and there is alternative service available for most riders" using  use revised Route 65 or Route 75, which will remain unchanged. 

In May of this year,  the route was reduced from every 30 minutes to once per hour. If the route is completely cut, the nearest bus stop could be up to a 30 minute walk for some neighbors. 

A Downtown Seattle Service Reduction Public Meeting is taking place tomorrow from noon-2pm at Union Station (401 South Jackson Street). The meeting, which will be an open house format, is an opportunity for the community to talk with Metro staff about the service reduction proposal. There will also be a shhort, interactive presentation and small group discussion from 1-1:30 pm.
Throughout Seattle eighty percent of transit service would be affected - 74 routes would be deleted, 107 routes would be changed and 33 routes would become more crowded.  About 55,000 rides per day could be lost as Metro would revert its service to its 1997 level.

On November 7, Metro released a proposal that details its drastic service reductions that will start next year. Over the past five years, Metro has already cut costs, raised fares four times and  in addition,temporary funding authority from the state, as well as reserve funding will expire in June and may not be extended. The plan once short term funding end in June is available here.

"After all we’ve done, we have no options left that would generate enough to close the sizable gap ahead," Kevin Desmond, General Manager of King County Metro Transit, said in a letter last month.
 
To voice your concern about this latest proposal email community.relations@kingcounty.gov or take Metro’s service survey.
 
The King County Council will make a final recommendation in spring 2014.

For more information on the cuts and how to provide feedback go here.

Here are comments from a concerned Laurelhurst resident:

The 25 route (Laurelhurst-Downtown) should be retained. This route was running every 30 minutes in the recent past and has now been reduced to once per hour.

It is the only bus serving the Laurelhurst neighborhood and is important to many residents, who will be left far from the nearest bus stop if the 25 is deleted (up to 30 minutes of brisk walking - impractical for seniors or disabled).

It is true that ridership is fairly low in off-peak hours, but the principle of providing at least minimal service to a neighborhood should override this. This is something of a vicious circle: one reason for the lower ridership is the infrequent service.

Metro Bus Service In Jeapordy Of Being Cut From Laurelhurst



Metro Bus Route 25 serving Laurelhurst,  may be cut completely from servicing the neighborhood due to Metro budget shortfalls.  The route was recently reduced from every 30 minutes to once per hour. If it is completely cut, the nearest bus stop could be up to a 30 minute walk for some neighbors. 

Metro held a hearing yesterday and is also seeking input to hear how residents might be affected by service reductions and hear ideas for alternatives.on the potential cuts of Bus Route 25, and about 86 other routes that might be reduced or changed.

Metro's website says:

Metro faces a $75 million annual shortfall and will have to cut service by up to 600,000 hours, or 17 percent, beginning in fall 2014, when no more reserve funds are available, unless new funding is approved. If not, Metro will have to reduce service to close the budget gap.becomes available. Roughly two-thirds of Metro bus routes might be eliminated, reduced or revised.

Here are comments one Laurelhurst resident submitted:

The 25 route (Laurelhurst-Downtown) should be retained. This route was running every 30 minutes in the recent past and has now been reduced to once per hour.

It is the only bus serving the Laurelhurst neighborhood and is important to many residents, who will be left far from the nearest bus stop if the 25 is deleted (up to 30 minutes of brisk walking - impractical for seniors or disabled).

It is true that ridership is fairly low in off-peak hours, but the principle of providing at least minimal service to a neighborhood should override this. This is something of a vicious circle: one reason for the lower ridership is the infrequent service.

 

Here is more information on the budget, what the reduction and deletion of routes will mean, and a list of potentially affected routes in Seattle.

 

Submit your comments here, email community.relations@seattle.gov or call 206-263-9770.

New Lights, Sidewalks, Bike Path and Video Detection System Help Make Crossing Sand Point Way Safer



The redesigned intersection at Sand Point Way NE and 40th Avenue NE has been completed, making it safer for pedestrians to cross the busy intersection as well as for vehicles making turns on to 40th Avenue NE off of Sand Point way.  The intersection includes a new traffic signal, left-turn lanes and crosswalks.

The intersection’s new signal stops traffic in all directions for pedestrians and cyclists.  A video detection system make sure the road is clear of pedestrians before the light turns green.  And if people clear the crossing early, the light changes soooner to allow vehicles to continue.

"The redesigned intersection provides a more direct path for transit riders who previously had to walk a considerable distance to safely traverse Sand Point Way at a signalized location" the Hospital Blog says.

A new sidewalk and bicycle path, which includes separate lanes in each direction, was also installed in front of the Hospital along the east side of Sand Point Way that links up with the redesigned intersection and runs from Penny Drive to 40th Avenue.

The Hospital Blog says that King County Metro "chipped" in to install two new bus shelters on both sides of the street.  Service was also extended to the hospital from three additional routes.

Learn About Metro's Transit Incentive Program

Metro Bus service is offering tickets for eight free rides through the Transit Incentives Program.

The information says:

Each household in King County that registers at least one vehicle per year throuhg May 2014 is eligible. King County residents receive an order form when they register their vehicle.

To order tickets, fill in the information requested on form.  

 For more information go here.

People can also donate the ticket value to the county’s human services ticket program.

Metro Bus Route 25 Changes For the Summer

Metro Bus Route #25 that serves Laurelhurst is now on a revised route, along with other City routes, through the summer to reduce costs, preserve bus service and operate more efficiently, according to the Metro website.

The main changes are that Route 25 will be revised to operate in both directions via the UW campus.  It will no longer operate on NE 45th Street between Montlake Boulevard NE and 15th Avenue NE, or on 15th Avenue NE between NE 45th Street and NE 40th Street.

Also, service frequency will be reduced from 30 minutes to 60 minutes during the morning and afternoon peak periods, so there will only be half the runs during peak periods to only once an hour now.

A Laurelhurst Community Board Member told that the bus used to use the viaduct and 15th Avenue NE between NE 45th Street and NE 40th Street where the UW entrance/exit is, thereby operating between Montlake Boulevard and 15th Avenue NE and on 15th Avenue NE between NE 45th Street and NE 40th Street.  Now people oing to Laurelhurst from the Univeristy District will have to catch the bus on campus, near the south end, instead of on NE 45th Street, effectively eliminating any service to Laurelhurst from the University District. 

The Board Member added that also now because the stops at NE 45th Street from 15th Avenue NE through to Roosevelt are such big transfer hubs, it will provide the new burden of needing to transfer busses twice to get from Laurelhurst, up to the UniversityDistrict, then off to other locations.  

Route 25 has two regular stops in Laurelhurst, one at Children's Hospital on NE 45th Street and the other at 55th Avenue NE and NE 44th Street.

Check Out New Metro Transit Website

Metro Transit has launched a new home page design that makes it easier for customers to find the most popular information based on feedback from users.

Features of the new home page:

• Trip Planner and bus route search box are on the ame tab
• One click now to get to route schedules and maps
• New tab for rider "Apps & Tools”
• Metro news, alerts and announcements are grouped in one area of the page

Other changes later in the year are planned for the website later including the top and side navigation.

Submit comments on the new page here.

Metro Bus Route 65 Now Serving Children's Hospital Via 40th Avenue NE

Map of route change

Route 65 has begun serving Children’s Hospital this month with the recent revision aimed at providing improved access to the hospital.

The route was moved from 35th Avenue NE to 40th Avenue NE between NE 55th Street and NE 45th Street/Sand Point Way NE.  There were no changes to the route north of NE 55th Street or west of NE 45th Street/Union Bay Place. 

Route 65 will serve all existing stops along its new routing on NE 55th Street and Sand Point Way NE/NE 45th Street, as well as some new stops along 40th Avenue.

The change adds approximately two to three minutes of travel time for riders who travel through the revised area.

Here is a map of the route change.

The Metro information says:

Metro is making this change in order to serve the significant numbers of employees, volunteers, and visitors to Seattle Children's Hospital who live in areas served by Route 65. Also, the businesses and apartments along the revised routing can potentially provide more riders than the single-family homes and cemetery along 35th Avenue NE and NE 45th Place between NE 55th Street and NE 45th Street.

Metro is currently working to adopt a proposed standard for making changes to existing routes in order to attract more riders at the expense of additional travel time for customers who already use the routes. This revision to Route 65 would meet this standard, since the expected number of new riders is enough to outweigh the added travel time for existing customers.

Heavy Traffic Expected For Tomorrow's Husky Game

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) warns people to expect heavy traffic for the University of Washington Huskies game against Eastern Washington on Saturday afternoon.

70,000 attendees are expected resulting in extra heavy traffic between 4-7pm on SR 520, I-5, and streets surrounding the stadium. 

Seattle Police will have the usual game day lane revisions in place before and after the game on arterials near the stadium.

Metro bus routes 44, 65, 68, 75 and 271 will be rerouted near Husky Stadium from 1:30pm until traffc clears due to traffic congestion. Metro suggests taking he bus as all buses that serve Husky Stadium, including the rerouted ones and some that serve the University District and University Village areas are within walking distance of the stadium.

Metro Bus Service Cuts Could Eliminate Service In Laurelhurst, Public Hearing Tuesday

Metro Bus Route 25 that serves Laurelhurst could be eliminated as soon as February 2012 if Metro Transit does not receive additional revenue for the 2012-2013 budget, which would affect about 80% of bus riders.

Without more funds, a total of 600,000 hours of transit service would need to be eliminated over the next two years, about  17% of Metro’s entire system.

An annual $20 fee on every vehicle licensed in King County for each of two years has been authorized to King County by the 2011 Washington Legislature as a "temporary congestion reduction charge to help fund Metro Transit services." 

King County Executive Constantine has called on the the County Council to approve this two-year funding for Metro or face the 17% service reduction. The proceeds  from the vehicle fees would be used to preserve transit service while King County works with regional leaders, legislators and the Governor on a long-term funding solution for transportation needs.

"The Legislature (has already) approved this temporary charge recognizing that Metro service is critically important to support economic recovery, give people an alternative to paying high gas prices, and relieve traffic congestion — especially during major construction of road and bridge projects in the region. The Legislature also recognized the sweeping reforms Metro has taken in recent years to reduce costs and make the most of every taxpayer dollar" the Metro website says.

If the congestion charge is not approved by County Council, here is the table listing Metro's preliminary example of all affected bus routes in Seattle, and a map here.

The changes would be phased between February 2012 and October 2013. The reductions and revisions are based on new guidelines in Metro’s Strategic Plan for Public Transportation.

Also facing possible elimination are routes 72 and73, and possible reduced or revised route are 70, 71 and 75, serving nearby neighborhoods.

The propoed route reductions equates to about four out of five people who would have to walk further, wait longer, make an additional transfer, stand in the aisle, orr stand at their bus stop while fully loaded buses pass them by.  It will also mean tens of thousands of people would be back in their cars, worsening traffic congestion.

Metro says that sustaining servce is critically important because:

• ridership has been steadily increasing
• riders use the service to get to their jobs
• it eases traffic congetion
• it reduces green-house gas emissions
• serves people with low income or limited mobility

The public is invited to attend a public hearing and give input on this importand neighborhood and city-wide issue
on Tuesday, the 12th, at 6pm at King County Council Chambers (516 Third Avenue, 10th Floor.)

The meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about the proposals and weigh in on the future of Metro Transit.


Metro Transit.

You can also submit input here which will be directed to the King County Council's Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee and go on public record, on the proposed "Congestion Reduction Charge" and on the proposed service reductions.

For more information go here.