Columbia Citizens

There are lots of meetings, but PLEASE consider attending the Lakewood Seward Park Community Meeting next Tuesday. The City needs to know that we care about what happens in our neighborhoods, and the only way they will know is by our presence at these meetings.

The Lakewood Seward Park Community Club is hosting a panel discussion with representatives from SDOT, DPD, and CTAC. The “bow-tie” traffic redesign, making Martin Luther King Northbound only in parts, and Rainier Ave S Southbound only in parts, will have a huge impact on all of us, regardless of our preferred mode of transportation. We have invited Principal Urban Designer Lyle Bicknell of DPD to our meeting to explain it to us, so we can understand how it will reduce traffic congestion. City mandated outreach didn’t make it to the neighborhoods, so we asked him to come to us. Traffic Study for Othello, N Beacon and Mt Baker Town Centers for those of you that like to come prepared.

Allison Schwartz of SDOT has been studying parking patterns in Columbia City since light rail began running, and has listened to Columbia City Businesses about how the lack of available parking has impacted their businesses – not only for their customers but for their employees. She’ll let us know what plans there are for change, and you can let her know what you think.

Brian Dougherty of SDOT asked to speak to us, so he could explain what traffic calming methods were coming our way, and what bicycle lanes were being added. We thought it made sense to add him to a transportation related agenda.

Finally, we invited a member of the Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Committee to attend, and we have Co-Chair Kate Joncas on the panel. To learn more about what they do, information is contained here: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ctac.htm

These are your tax dollars at work – please attend to see how they are being spent. Thank you for your consideration and for spreading the word, Jeannie