Tomorrow Air Force Flyover Including Children's And UW

A neighbor would like to share that two C-17 Globemaster III’s from the 62nd Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord will fly over 30 health care facilities in the Puget Sound region tomorrow to honor those on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The flyover in this area will be around 1:38pm over Husky Stadium and Children's Hospital according to their Facebook page.

Here is more information:


Many neighbors reported a group of 8 older aircraft flying over the Hospital this afternoon in formation. 

Comment On New Plans For Big Events At UW Husky Stadium

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) published this information in their recent newsletter:

Comment on New Plans for Big Events at UW Husky Stadium  

The UW has prepared the required draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for its updated Husky Stadium Transportation Master Plan (TMP).  

In it, the UW offers no specific incentive plans to further reduce its impacts on the mobility of surrounding communities during large events and continues to dump all of the attendees onto existing transit routes. Its underlying assumptions are untenable. Regular bus routes and light rail are already running over capacity.  

The excess demand of adding approximately 22,000 riders to existing routes within 30 minutes of a major event’s completion would take at least two hours to clear. The TMP offers no new specific incentives for car share availability, no added boat shuttles, no improved sidewalks, and no bus pull out in front of Husky Stadium along Montlake Blvd. where Metro #78, Metro #65, Children’s Hospital shuttles, and Connector buses stop.  

These transit vehicles block all traffic in the lane, result in gridlock for other vehicles, and create unsafe boarding conditions for riders.  

The March issue of the Laurelhurst Letter featured key points LCC wanted  included and analyzed in the EIS.  

View the TMP EIS on the UW’s website. Send written comments to: Julie Blakeslee, University of Washington, Box 352205, Seattle, WA  98195-2205 or email: jblakesl@uwa.ed.

Heavy UW Graduation Traffic Saturday Near Husky Stadium



The University of Washington Transportation Services advises motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid Husky Stadium on Saturday due to the University of Washington Commencement at Husky Stadium from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Stadium doors open at 12:30 p.m.

The UW provided this information:

About 45,000 people are expected to attend., thus the area around Husky Stadium will be congested the entire afternoon with both pedestrians and vehicles arriving and departing from the stadium between noon and 6:00 pm.

Beginning mid-afternoon, Seattle and UW Police will begin to set up of traffic controls along Montlake Boulevard NE between NE Pacific Street and NE 45th Street to help move cars parked in the stadium lots away from the area after the ceremony. These restrictions, similar to traffic routing for Husky football games, will be in effect until approximately 6:30 p.m.

Because of the high number of pedestrians in the area, drivers are asked to be patient, drive slowly, and, if not attending the event, consider taking alternate routes to their destinations.  

For those people traveling southbound needing access to the UW Hospital, it is recommended to take 15th Avenue NE to NE Pacific Street.  

Those traveling northbound can still travel across the Montlake Bridge and turn left on NE Pacific Street, but should expect delays. The University Bridge or the Ship Canal (I-5) bridge may be better options.  

If you’ll be traveling in the area, consider taking an alternate route that takes you farther away from Husky Stadium. If traveling north or south, use the University or I-5 bridges instead of the Montlake Bridge. If dropping off or picking up someone from Link light rail, consider using Capitol Hill Station instead of UW Station.

(photo courtesy of UW)

 

Expect Traffic Delays With 70,000 People Expected Tomorrow At UW Husky Game Against USC

WSDOT would like to notify Seattle area travelers to plan ahead for delays on Saturday as 70,000 fans be travelling to Husky Stadium for the UW football game against USC.

The game starts at 4:30pm. WSDOT advises to ake sure to plan ahead and check travel times before leaving.  

New Neighborhood Bus Route 78 Will Be Dedicated Short Loop From Laurelhurst To UW Light Rail Station





Proposed Metro Bus Route 78, serving Laurelhurst, was recently approved by King County Council, along with numerous other route revisions throughout the City. 

Long-time neighborhood route 25, was deleted due to low ridership. Route #78 will run about every 30-40 minutes from 6am to 6pm and will operate in a loop starting at Children's Hospital running to the new light rail station at Husky Stadium, scheduled to open in March of next year. 

LCC is pleased with the new route which they said is basically a dedicated loop Laurelhurst shuttle service to and from the Light Rail station at Husky Stadium.  The bus route will be  much shorter than route 25.

The loop goes as far as the Children's turn-around on NE 45th, goes down NE 45 Street to the University Village, through the UW Campus, along Pacific Street and onto Montlake Boulevard to the front door of the Light Rail station.  Then back into the neighborhood via Mary Gates Way, up NE 41st Street  to 42nd Avenue NE, left onto 42 Avenue NE, same as the current route, then right on NE 45 Street and back up to the Children's turnaround.

At this month's Laurelhurst Community Club monthly Board meeting, King County Councilman Larry Gossett, and five key staff members from Metro attended to discuss the changes and hear input from LCC and neighbors.

Many Laurelhurst residents expressed their views on the proposed new bus route 78, most of whom expressed the need for more convenient connectivity to the new Light Rail station at the UW Husky Stadium.

One LCC Board member said about the approved new neighborhood route 78:

LCC was directly responsible for getting a dedicated bus shuttle from the neighborhood to the light rail station. 

Larry Gossett and the Metro Planners who came to our last LCC meeting basically gave us what we asked for.  It would not have happened without the support of Gossett and LCC who took the initiative to get him involved.  LCC gave him and the Metro planners a very clear message as to what we wanted for the neighborhood and he delivered.

We will be getting a dedicated Laurelhurst only bus going to and from the Light Rail station every 30 minutes.  The only disappointment is that is doesn't go very far into the neighborhood, but it's our own bus, and maybe we can get it expanded over time.   

However, Metro  could have just dropped a Laurelhurst route all together, but they in fact are giving us extraordinary service if we're willing to walk/bike to the few Laurelhurst bus stops.

LCC said that apparently the change came about because Route 71 was reinstated.  The original plan was to combine Route 71 and Route 25 into the new Route 78, however View Ridge and Wedgwood residents were not happy about losing Route 71. 

"So the outcry from these folks, plus our comments to Gossett and the Metro planners who came to our LCC meeting must have done the trick.  We owe the 2 Metro planners plus Larry Gossett a huge acknowledgement. They heard us loud and clear," LCC said.

 

LCC said that Council Member Gossett called Josh Kavanaugh, UW's Director of Transportation Services, the day after the LCC meeting to work out the new plan, based on input from LCC and others.
 

LCC said:

Now we all have to get ready to use the new service it to make it viable.  Most importantly we encourage neighbors to take the bus thereby insuring we don't lose the service.

 

Metro says about the revised route changes:

The approved changes to Metro Transit routes serving parts of Capitol Hill, the Central District, the University District, Wedgwood, Laurelhurst and Lake City are focused on avoiding duplication of transit service and increasing efficiency on bus routes.  

The majority of the revised routes are focused on delivering bus riders to the new link light rail stations while making transit service more efficient and giving riders a way to move in and out of downtown Seattle that relies less on congested roadways

 

Go here to see the detailed #78 route.

For more information go here to a recent Laurelhurst Blog post.

For more information about the new route serving the neighborhood and vicinity go here.  Go here for detailed bus route changes.

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

Expect Traffic Delays Around Husky Statdium This Week-end

Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, Husky Stadium will be the location of a large convention of the Jehovah’s Witness from 9-5pm.

SDOT says that the event could bring as many as 35,000 local and international attendees to the stadium each day and they will also be visiting other parts of Seattle. 

Attendees who will be traveling to campus using charter and Metro busses, as well as driving, taking up a majority of the on campus parking.  

"Access and egress to the Stadium will be handled in much the same way as other large events like basketball and Commencement," SDOT said.

 

 

 

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.

Prepare For Montlake Gridlock On Saturday For UW Graduation

Just a reminder that the University of Washington Graduation is this Saturday from 1:30 – 4:30pm at Husky Stadium.

Over 40,000 people are expected to attend to see the 4,850 graduates receive their diploma.

The doors will open at 12:30pm and the academic procession begins at 1:30 and will take two and a half hours.

SDOT says to expect heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic surrounding the stadium between noon and 6pm.

From about 3:30pm - 5:30pm., Seattle Police will set up traffic controls, similar to that enforced for Husky football games.

Montlake Boulevard will be closed between NE Pacific and NE 45th streets to through traffic to help move out cars parked in the stadium lots immediately following the ceremony.  Traffic approaching the closure will be detoured around the area.

Southbound traffic going towards the UW Hospital should take 15th Avenue NE to NE Pacific Street. Northbound travellers to the hospital will be able to cross the Montlake Bridge and then will need to turn left on NE Pacific Street.

Motorists are urged to avoid the Montlake Bridge and SR-520, as well as  I-5 through the University District, if possible and take the University Bridge or I-5 (Ship Canal Bridge) instead.

(photo courtesy of UW site)

Lots of Montlake Traffic Saturday for UW Graduation

This Saturday at Husky Stadium, 40,000+ people are expected to attend the 135th UW Graduation Ceremony, where Bill Gates Sr. will be the Commencement Speaker.

At noon the doors will open and the ceremony is from 1:30-4:30pm.

From 3:30-5:30 Montlake Boulevard between NE Pacific Street and NE 45th will be closed.

SDOT says:

"Expect heavy congestion with both pedestrians and vehicles near the stadium between noon and 6 p.m. Anticipate heavier traffic than usual on I-5 through the University District and on SR-520.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Seattle Police will set up traffic controls closing Montlake Boulevard between NE Pacific Street and NE 45th Street to through traffic to help move cars parked in the stadium lots out of the area after the ceremonies. Traffic approaching the closure will be detoured around the area. This restriction, which is similar to traffic routing for Husky football games, will be in effect until approximately 5:30 p.m.

Avoid the Montlake Bridge if possible."

Also expected to cause traffic congestion around the same time on Saturday is the Roosevelt Neighborhood Parade at 2pm. This event SDOT expects will draw around 220 people and will close many streets in that area.

(photo courtesy of UW site)