Need a lift out of traffic or get your alien buddy away from the bad guys? No word yet on when the flying bike might be available to consumers, but thumb’s up for “boyish dreams.”
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
East Lake Sammamish Trail –Issaquah segment to open June 12
Thursday, June 6th, 2013 by Anne-Marije Rook
Courtesy of King County Parks
After a year of waiting, the newly paved segment of the East Lake Sammamish Trail (ELST) in Issaquah is scheduled to re-open June 12. This 2.2-mile stretch between SE 43rd Way and Gilman Boulevard has been closed since May 2012.
Open to bicyclists, pedestrians, joggers and skaters alike, the multiuse trail features improved trail safety and accessibility through widening and paving of the trail. Other improvements include a new stormwater system, retaining walls, signage, bollards, fencing, landscaping and native vegetation.
The Issaquah segment of the multiyear development of the East Sammamish Trail corridor.
King County Parks will host a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 12 at 11 a.m. on the spot where the ELST and Gilman Blvd intersect.
Visit the project’s webpage for more information.
Chime in on school road safety
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 by Anne-Marije RookSeattle Public Schools is partnering with the City of Seattle on the School Road Safety Initiative, announced by Mayor McGinn earlier this month, to increase safety on streets near schools and make it easier for children to get to and from school safely, however families choose to travel.
This initiative will include a School Road Safety Plan, which will look at the environment on streets near schools as well as the other things that involve safety, like education, enforcement, encouragement and more.
If you’re a family with children going to school in Seattle, the city would like to hear your thoughts. Please find the school road safety survey in various languages below: one of the links below. The survey should take between 6 to 10 minutes and will close on June 30.
English
Spanish – Español
Chinese – 中文
Vietnamese – Tiếng Việt
Korean – 한국의
Somali – Af Soomaliga (Luqadda af Soomaliga)
Tagalog
If you have questions about the survey, please contact SchoolRoadSafety@seattle.gov.
City librarians to bring services to popular community events by bike this summer
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 by Anne-Marije Rook
Mayor Mike McGinn and librarians from The Seattle Public Library are launching a pilot program to bring library services to popular community events via bike this summer.
The program, titled Books on Bikes, was the inspiration of Montlake Branch Librarian Jared Mills, who submitted the idea to a staff committee for grant funding.
“I thought it would be great to combine two things Seattle loves: our libraries and bikes,” said Mills.
Books on Bikes is a full-service library model, able to provide people with digital downloads, access to library magazines for smartphones and tables, help with signing up for a library card, information about free Library program and more.
A total of 11 Library staff members make up the Books on Bikes team and they will pedal the Books on Bikes trailers, constructed by Colin Stevens from Haulin’ Colin, to local parks and celebrations this summer.
“This is a great program that will help people access library services wherever they are” said Mayor Mike McGinn. “Books on Bikes will build awareness of library resources, as well as of the health benefits and fun of bike riding.”
More Spokane Street savings frees more funding for road safety projects
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 by Anne-Marije RookMayor Mike McGinn today announced a proposal for $3.25 million in transportation investments made possible by additional savings from the Spokane Street viaduct project. These investments include pavement maintenance and bicycle safety improvements on East Marginal Way in SoDo, improvements to Lower Spokane Street, a cycle track on the Westlake Avenue corridor on the west side of Lake Union, pedestrian projects, and funding for transit-oriented design near light rail stations.
Last month McGinn announced $11.75 million in transportation investments resulting from savings on the Spokane Street Viaduct project. Those savings occurred because of cost savings due to a favorable bidding climate and strong management of this $163 million project. Today’s funding comes from additional project savings, bringing the total savings to $15 million.
“We have heard from the public that they want safety improvements on our roads,” said McGinn in a statement. “These improvements will help protect safety for people on these busy corridors whether they’re in their cars and trucks, on foot, or on a bicycle.”
The $3.25 million in funding will be used for the following projects:
- Improvements to East Marginal Way in SoDo
$700,000 for pavement maintenance, restriping, and exploring interim cycle track options to provide further separation of bicycles and auto traffic.
$200,000 will be included for conceptual planning and pre-design for a permanent reconstruction to the road, which will also include a long-term design of separated bicycle facilities such as a cycle track.
- Westlake Avenue Cycle Track
$1.2 million for final design and construction of this project to improve separation between bicycles and vehicles and link the Ship Canal trail to South Lake Union. When combined with previous funding from the City and Puget Sound Regional Council, this project will have $2.3 million of funding which may be enough to build the facility depending on final design.
- $500,000 for Lower Spokane Street Safety Improvements. Project elements will be developed with input from the community, the Port, and other stakeholders and may include:
Improving pavement conditions along the pathway.
Improving crossing at Port driveways
Improving crossing for bicyclists at Chelan (5-way) intersection.
Improving crossing for bicyclists from the path to SW Avalon Way/SW Admiral Way.
Increase separation for bicyclists on SW Admiral Way.
Improving Delridge to Andover connection to the bicycle path.
- $400,000 for implementation of the Pedestrian Master Plan
- $250,000 for transit-oriented design in multiple neighborhoods:
Study at Rainier Avenue South and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South to identify alternatives, conduct a traffic analysis, conceptual design, develop conceptual cost estimates and conduct public outreach
New transportation analysis near Roosevelt light rail station, assessing station area access issues including evaluation of the Roosevelt/11th one-way couplet
Station access and transit-oriented design near Othello Station
