This is seriously disturbing news. I wish these councils weren’t so backwards thinking and beholden to business interests. Below is a letter I just wrote to the Magnolia Community Council. If you agree with me, I encourage you to do the same.

Hello,
I am a resident of Magnolia. I live over on the East side of the hill, in a condo on Manor Pl. I just read of the council’s letter to the Mayor opposing the road diet that Nickerson St. is being put on and have long known about your council’s desire that the BAT lanes on 15th be turned into HOV lanes.

As a committed bike rider who loves where I live the only thing I wish were different about the community is that it would be more connected via mass transit and bike infrastructure to the rest of the city. I have to wonder why the council continually fights against transportation changes that would make Magnolia a MORE desirable place to live and thus increase our property values?

Starting with Nickerson St., I can not understand your resistance to removing a lane of traffic in either direction since it seems based upon the mythological backups that you and your supporters say occur on that street. Except for when the Fremont bridge is raised, I can’t think of one time when there has been a backup on that street. Please explain your resistance to trying this idea out (remember, it’s just paint and if the lane changes don’t work, can be removed very easily). It completely confounds me that you would want to make it harder for the many people who ride their bikes to and in Magnolia to get there.

As far as the HOV lanes go, why are they needed? The lanes are already reserved for buses which are very high occupancy vehicles. Because of those lanes, a bus ride to and from downtown is much faster, easier and more pleasant that driving a car. Riding a bus reduces traffic much more than two people in a car ever could so if you are really concerned about the very small percentage of people who truly “need” to drive, why don’t you work on getting more people on the bus? They will have a more pleasant trip to downtown as they won’t be driving and will have that time for reading, getting work done or relaxing, and those who “need” to drive will have an easier commute. Problem solved.

Please community council, re-think these positions. Better yet, instead of hosting a meeting with a ridiculous name such as “Port: Friend or Foe,” plan a meeting regarding these positions before you put the name of my community on a letter to the Mayor.

Thank you for considering my position and for considering hosting a meeting before joining with the backwards-thinking 15th Ave. W Transportation Coalition.

Nice letter Charles. I also wrote the Mayor and SDOT letting them know the MCC does not represent me as they stated they do in a letter oppossing the Nickerson Street improvement.

From MCC: ” I write on behalf of the Magnolia Community Club which represents the approximately 24,00 residents of Magnolia.”

They do not!

I fully support each item on this list. Commute time has gotten worse and worse on 15th since they reduced it from 3 lanes each way to two. Won’t even bother trying to take Nickerson anywhere if they go through implementing this idiotic plan. Getting around in this city is difficult enough. Why does our government continue to make it harder and harder?

I’m glad that a coalition is forming to evaluate a comprehensive approach to the traffic issues facing Magnolia, Ballard and Queen Anne. I have two children in my car during my commute and riding a bike is not a possibility because of that and the corporate nature of my job and having to arrive dressed appropriately and not sweaty or wet from the rain. These are the realities of the situation. It is not an opposition to anything.

With the removal of a lane of traffic on 15th Ave West, my commute time has doubled and it has really not benefited anyone. The signs are confusing (visitors think they can drive in the lane after 9am). It was fine the way it was before. If you drove in the right lane, you knew you might get slowed down by a bus, but that was infrequently. It is clear to me that the city of Seattle’s transportation program is intent on making car travel more difficult. Such an odd thing to do when some of us have no choice in the matter. The whole idea of living in a “city” neighborhood revolves around proximity to the city. My co-workers travel more quickly door to door from the east-side than I do from Magnolia to downtown.

It was mentioned that there is not much traffic on Nickerson. Tthe flow of traffic on Nickerson is ok – the horrific part is when you arrive at the stop lights by the bridge (when the bridge is down). None of the lights are timed (and don’t last long enough once they turn green) and only one lane heads straight on Westlake which gets bogged during commute time. I avoid the intersection all the time.

On a traffic note, I’d be curious if the Magnolia Voice could get an update from the Mayor on the light-timing project that Mayor Nickels started years ago. It’s been fixed on some of the streets downtown (5th Ave is fantastic!), but not all and definitely not in the neighborhoods where we drive.

Thanks!

I would like to respond to some of the arguments raised by Charles.

We also live in Magnolia, near Discovery Park. I love riding my bike when I am able to do so. I also drive our car here in the city quite a bit.

The common Seattle attitude that bike riders need to be at the top of the food chain is bad public policy. It is great that so many of us are able to ride a bike as basic transportation. But many do not have this luxury. Intentionally causing congestion on Nickerson, 15th, or anyplace else in order to give bike riders large swaths of pavement is elitist, selfish and fiscally unsound.

Magnolia is geographically located in a place that is hard to get to- always has been. The bikecentric transportation changes are designed to ADD congestion to the surface streets, while providing a benefit to a vocal minority. Our property values will go down as it becomes harder and harder for a family to get to other places in the city. Long ago the city decided against providing affordable public transportation. The bus system is unreliable and slow. Budget cuts mean it is almost impossible to find a quick route to get you where you need to go.

The Nickerson Street project is budgeted at $200,000! It is more than just a little paint. Our city is in a financial crisis. This is not the time for social experimentation that benefits so few. http://bit.ly/cqCEEI

Nickerson does indeed back up. Rush hour, school mornings, anytime an event is happening in Fremont or Ballard… Removing a lane of traffic will dramatically reduce the load that vital arterial can handle. Thousands use this corridor every day. Changing it to benefit a few hundred bikers, is insane, and not easily undone. Anyone who watched the 15th Ave sign debacle over the last few years can attest to the difficulty in implementing a change that makes no sense to the majority of road users.

On HOV lanes and public transportation we agree, to a point. Use of public transportation could dramatically cut the number of cars and bikes on the road. If we had good reliable public transportation. We do not. Particularly not from Magnolia. The city of Seattle and King county have both shown a reluctance provide the needed public transportation for a city this size. Until that changes, it is unfair to expect that many of us will use the current system. The ride is anything but pleasant, buses are late, filthy, and require hours of time in each direction to get across town.

HOV lanes in the city are dangerous to drivers and bikers as people weave in and out to make turns. On 15th, getting over to make the turn to go onto the Magnolia Bridge has become more and more dangerous. It is hard to figure out when you can actually enter the turning lane. Trying to follow signage results in confusion. Add to that taxis and rental cars trying to find their way to cruise ships on certain days, and you have some bad transportation planning.

Please remember that there are other points of view out there. Please also remember that the businesses along these corridors are the part of the backbone of this city. Be careful about judging everyone else not making the same choices you have made.

Biking costs money. It is dangerous in a metropolitan area. It is not practical for families, those who don’t have showers and changing areas at work, or those who are not healthy enough to bike regularly.

I applaud the efforts to stop the “road diets” on so many roads used by Magnolia residents. We can not afford to indulge in these expensive experiments while libraries and community centers are forced to cut hours. Safe bike trails are important. But so are roads that we can travel on safely.

DeDe, although biking to work may not make sense for you, please do not forget that it is a valid form of transportation.

As for Nickerson, the road diet proposal I saw last was for the section from 15th to 6th. This is well west of where any Fremont Bridge related traffic starts.

Amen Charles! I’m following suit and contacting the mayor and SDOT to let them know MCC DOES NOT represent me or my family. My wife and I have certainly benefited from the BAT lanes; our commute time has been practically cut in half since the change. The Nickerson plan is forward-thinking and a positive step in the right direction.

Mike says “As for Nickerson, the road diet proposal I saw last was for the section from 15th to 6th. This is well west of where any Fremont Bridge related traffic starts.”

This is incorrect, the “diet” is from 13th Ave W all the way to Warren Ave N, nearly the full distance between the two briges.

It would be interesting to know how many thousands of cars would be impacted for the convenience of how many hundreds of bicycles. They took away 33% of the “rush hour” capacity of Elliott and 15th Ave W with the BAT lanes, no they want to reduce Nickerson by 50%?

Rubbish! Mayor Pothead needs to go!

@Anne, there are so many problems with your comments, so I will address them one by one:

Bikes on top of the food chain? Bikes and pedestrian programs get less than 5% of money spent for roads in Seattle according to SDOT.
Bike riding as a luxury? First for many who can’t afford a car, bicycling is the best/only option. Bicycling is an affordable form of transportation. Car ownership is expensive, and consumes a major portion of many Americans’ income. When safe facilities are provided for bicyclists, people can ride more and spend less on transportation, meaning they have more money to save or spend on other things. The cost of operating a sedan for one year is approximately $7,800 (AAA, Your Driving Costs). The cost of operating a bicycle for a year is only $120 (League of American Bicyclists).
Where is your proof that the Nickerson street diet will cause congestion? What research have you used? SDOT has research to show otherwise. Unless you can refute it, it stands.
Where is proof that house values fall where bicycle infrastructure exists? Here is one of MANY studies that show you are wrong. Google home values and bicycle facilities.
•http://128.175.63.72/projects/DOCUMENTS/bikepathfinal.pdf
You did get one thing right. Bus service isn’t great.
Social experimentation? Road diets are no longer an experiment. They work. There are many examples. Look it up.
Businesses will suffer? Do you have any evidence? Here is the evidence otherwise:
http://www.bikewalk.org/2004conference/sessions/28_Business_calm/TrafficCalming_summary.pdf
Biking cost money? Please see everything ever written about cost of car ownership vs. bike ownership.
Dangerous? It is statistically safer to ride a bike than drive in Washington. Not to mention the health benefits and air quality impacts.
Not practical for families? Maybe not yours. I commute everyday. Yes, I have a family. Not healthy enough to ride? Visit the CDC and see how obesity and diabetes is the greatest health threat we face. Wonder what could help?

Why are they wasting money on Nickerson after they just put in the new bike trail along Nickerson? The last bit connecting to Fisherman’s terminal will be done shortly.

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/shipcanaltrail2.htm

I work along Nickerson and it regularly backs up to the Ballard bridge. This change will slow all traffic to Magnolia which now uses the other lane.

We don’t need two bike routes along the same stretch at the expense of the thousands of people using the road daily. Wake up mayor!

We may all expire before the multi use trail is done. It has been in progress for almost 20 years.
I’ve traveled on Nickerson 5 days a week for 13 years, and have not been backed up by the bridge yet. Maybe I’m lucky.

Other cities understand that the safest and best traffic plans put bikes on dedicated bike paths and off city streets. Nickerson is a perfect location and situation for a dedicated bike path to get bikes out of auto/bus flow. The cars, buses, and industrial traffic would then have smoother flow without the frustration of bikes in their way slowing their commute times by a whopping 2 minutes.

Multi-use is not a bike trail. Pedestrians cause too many dangerous situations and most bikes will stay on the streets. Dedicated bike trails for bikes. Sidewalks for pedestrians. Nickerson had parallel roads and ways to make it work.

Several years ago Phinney and Greenwood Avenues were converted to exactly the same configuration that is proposed for Nickerson. It really works much better now, room for cars, and bikes, and a REAL left turn lane.

My own experiences on Nickerson is that most of the other drivers want to do 40 or 45 mph, and really resent anyone driving at the 30 mpm speed limit. It’s a nice, scenic street, and the lane changes will only improve it.

I’ve never been fond of the MCC and its various stances, but they have gone way too far by claiming to represent Magnolia. They are a club that requires payment of dues to join. We do not vote for them or their leadership. They represent their own members, NOT MAGNOLIA.

In addition to being a bunch of NIMBY elitists, I guess they’re a bunch of liars too.

I went ahead and emailed mike.mcginn@seattle.gov, peter.hahn@seattle.gov , tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov (the ones the MCC website encourages everyone to email to oppose the project), to express my support and renounce the MCC’s claim that it represents me in any manner. I also emailed the MCC expressing my distaste for its claims of representing me.

Wow. I unfortunately got caught up in a lot of work after posting yesterday and haven’t been able to get back here to follow up. I am surprised (pleasantly) to see how much support my comment got. Thank you so much also for following up on the arguments against it to all who did. I couldn’t have put it better myself!

That said, I do want to add some more information to the Nickerson St. debate. I just read on Seattle Likes Bikes blog that the city just released a study on the Stone Way N road diet that was implemented a year and a half ago. That road diet was argued against by the businesses there and they ultimately lost. Now, it seems, that corridor is working much better for people and, guess what? The businesses are still there!
The new study is at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/docs/StoneWaybeforeafterFINAL.pdf

SeattleLikesBikes post: http://seattlelikesbikes.org/wordpress/?p=382

The letter I wrote to MCC today is below. At the end, I ask them to add this item to a future agenda so we can all discuss, as a community, whether our council should support or fight this road diet. Please ask them as well so they know it’s not just one guy asking.
Thanks!

Letter to MCC dated 5/25/10
Yesterday I sent you a message expressing my displeasure at the Magnolia Community Council’s decision to fight a so-called “road diet” for Nickerson St. I would like to point out to you a study just realsed today by the city on a similar road diet for Stone Way N, in Fremont.

Over there, the situation is similar: Businesses (arguably more than exist on Nickerson) resisted an effort to remove a lane of traffic in order to put in an uphill bike lane and add sharrows to the other side. There, business owners were worried about increased traffic hurting their businesses. This, on a street, that seems to me to be much busier than Nickerson ever is.

Turns out, they had nothing to fear. In fact,
Pedestrian collisions are down 80%
Bicycle traffic is up 35%.
Vehicles speeding by 10+ mph dropped by 75%!

At the same time, the amount of car traffic on the street has dropped, but in line with the amount of decline in traffic across the city. A decline that likely took place because of the recession. Also, businesses are still open over there.

In other words, everything seems fine. When a bike lane is added and lanes of traffic removed, businesses can thrive, community members can get from Point A to Point B using the mode of transport they choose, and they can do it safely.

I urge you to reconsider your position on this matter. At the very least, I would appreciate it if you would put this matter on the agenda to get the opinion of the wider community about it.

Thank you, Coalition, for protecting all of us from arbitrary, big Seattle government gone crazy.

I like Val!

While I admire cyclists physiques as much as the next gal, converting more of our precious pavement to bike lands will only make me a more frustrated driver. Reducing the lanes on Nickerson will create gridlock during commute hours. There are 15 minute backups as it is every evening between the hours of 430 and 630. There are better, safer and cheaper alternatives out there for our biker brethren.

As Mag42 pointed out, there is *already* a separate trail (the South Ship Canal Path) that goes from east of the Fremont Bridge west to 11th Ave W (and will hopefully finally be finished to connect to the Fisherman’s Terminal area within the next few years).
Not only does the proposed Nickerson plan *not* separate bicyclists from traffic, but eastbound it doesn’t even include a separate bike lane, just “sharrows” for that one remaining traffic lane! Talk about unsafe!

@ Mondoman,
Do you have any research to show that sharrows make a roadway “unsafe?”

Have you contacted BNSF and SDOT to support the trail’s completion? …”within the next few years” is a long time from now. I do think almost everyone commenting here, whether we support the road diet or not, wants the trail completed. Let’s all agree on that.

Just because this is “Magnolia Voice” blog, don’t think every person posting has Magnolia in their best interest.

When and if the viaduct tunnel boondoggle comes to fruition, Nickerson will be the expected route for automobiles accessing Hwy 99.

For Magnolian’s needing to drive to SPU, Fremont, southern or eastern UW campus, or Hwy 520, this will be a nightmare.

On the other hand, if you don’t live in Magnolia, and you attend the Church of Man-made Global Warming , this project will be climactic…

De De, your kids and you are welcome to board any number of buses that depart from magnolia island.

Anne, magnolia is, and always has been, a difficult place to get to. Even if there were 8 lanes in each direction along 15th, it would still be a pain in the rear to get there. This is what makes magnolia island a desirable place to live for some people. Perhaps you are looking for someone to blame for your decision to move there?

I heart the bus lane.

I am glad for the BAT lanes that keep buses running on time to downtown. Not all of us can afford downtown parking! And 15th still operates great during almost all of the day.

Lost in the Nickerson discussion is the benefit for pedestrian safety. The street is not even getting 2 full bike lanes, as mentioned above. But that space give peopel who are trying to cross the street more room to be seen by drivers, and a refuge in the center turn lane. Thank you, Charles, for posting the study that shows an 80% drop in pedestrian collisions on Stone Way after the rechannelization.

How can you not support a project that makes the road safer for all users?

Snoopy – While I appreciate the bus system (and I rode it for 7 years), it doesn’t work right now for two child care drop-offs, (two different buses), then a another bus downtown, then a transfer to my office all to start over again at the end of the night. Not as simple as you might think. Again, as I stated, I have no opposition to biking, but please remember that not all of us drive to work because we’re selfish and refuse to take public transportation or ride our bike. It’s not as easy as you make it sound. And Seattle purposely making driving more difficult is only going to decrease our property values and lead to major frustration for drivers.

I live in West Seattle. I remember the panic when Fauntleroy Way was put in a road diet. OMG! The Vashon ferry traffic will clog the streets of SEattle and there will be traffic jams EVERYWHERE!!!! guess what? none of that happened. In fact there was been no measurable delay in motor vehicle traffic at all. It’s also safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Hmmm. One thing is very clear: cyclists are very well organized and, like most minorities, very quick to be vocal and fight for what they believe their share of things is. They clearly form quite and effective lobbying group – just look at the largely stealth impact they’ve had in our city.

The other day I had occasion to drive up Stone Way – which until then I had not realized had been the victim of the road diet plan. Sure enough, there was snarled traffic – at mid-day which is definitely not rush hour.

While I sat in a line of cars, nothing was in the center turn lane and there were no cyclists in the cycle lanes. There were also no pedestrians anywhere to be seen. All that real estate was wasted as cars and trucks sat stationary burning fuel which increased pollution levels and cost – both in terms of the fuel burn and in terms of unproductive time.

This morning I needed to be at the convention center by 8 AM. To avoid the mess produced by the BAT lanes, I went the other way to Nickerson on which traffic was just starting to build up. Had it been reduced in capacity, it would have been grid locked from the Fremont Bridge back up well passed the SPU campus. Traffic was moving well but certainly not at the rumored 40 to 45 MPH speeds.

After Nickerson, I turned towards the city center on Dexter and realized that Dexter, like Stone Way, had also been given a road diet. Dexter used to be two lanes in each direction but now that is only true as you first go up the hill from the Fremont Bridge and after you cross over Mercer. Between those two points it has been dieted and, of course, that was the only part of the trip during which I experienced stop and go traffic.

While cars, trucks and a bus ground along in the lane I was in I saw exactly 2 cyclists during the entire period of time.

Again, total waste of real estate.

For both these trips, given my schedule before and after my appointments, public transport was not an option. Nor was taking the time to cycle. These were revenue generating business trips and thus had to happen on time.

Thus, from my perspective, it is good to see civic minded groups like the MCC, QACC and the NSIA getting together in an attempt to bring forward wider interests than those of any particular minority. Efficient transportation is a crucial foundation of our local economy. The problem with the “road diet” is that it tilts too far in one direction, not to mention the fact that it has never been publicly reviewed or approved by the citizens of Seattle.

The people involved in the organizations listed above are volunteers who are actually giving time back to our communities. I know from discussions with them that they would welcome input from those who think they are off base:

All you have to do is take the time to go to one of their meetings, the dates/times of which are posted on their websites. Perhaps those who feel so strongly as to heap criticism in their responses here should take some time out of their lives to sit down and talk to the folks their criticize and influence their position.

In fact, you could even go further:

One of those critics above pointed out that the folks in these organizations are not elected. That is correct … they are not. As previously stated they are all volunteers. Furthermore, the organizations are always looking for volunteers so instead of negating the work of volunteers, why not become one??

Apologies for any typos – hard to proof read in this little input box!

@Rob, I guess you are right, those &%% minorities keep organizing and trying to be heard. Is that bad? Do you prefer minorities shut up and take what they get from the majority? That’s hasn’t always worked out so well.
Why didn’t you take Westlake to downtown? No road diet here. Nickerson has been in it’s current configuration for at least 14 years. Why complain now?

Rob, the 40-45mph speeds on Nickerson have been measured, not “rumored.”

I fully support and thank the coalition for taking a stance against the Nickerson Road diet. It is quite obvious that the City and Mayor are being controlled by a very strong bike lobby. One might even say that the Mayor has a conflict of interest as he does everything in the name of bikers and their organization. What is easy to see is that the Mayor and SDOT will bulldoze ahead all for the sake of the few bikers without any public process or meetings at all. There is nothing democratic about the road diet. There was no prior notice, there were no public meetings – nothing.

Road diet WILL negatively affect the speed and reliability of transit operating on the roadway, particularly if bus stops are located in pullouts and traffic queues delay buses attempting to re-enter traffic.

The bikers dont care. They will continue to use whatever lane best suits them, and pedestrian sidewalks as well. All while running red lights.

The coalition is just trying to ease congestion problems for residents and I applaud them.

@ Tennis,
The Mayor rode his bike while he campaigned and was on record as a bike supporter. He got elected. Sounds like he is doing what he was elected to do.

Please provide evidence that the road diet will cause delays.

You must have missed all the open houses and public meetings about this. I attended two.

@Magnolia Tennis

There was prior notice and even a meeting held by the city – as reported on this site (http://www.magnoliavoice.com/2009/03/05/heated-exchanges-at-nickerson-street-meeting/).

For those actually interested in the facts, SDOT provides all related documentation and studies here: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/nickerson.htm.

I encourage you to express your support for this project by emailing Mayor McGinn at mike.mcginn@seattle.gov or 206.684.4000, SDOT Director Peter Hahn at peter.hahn@seattle.gov or 206.684.5000, and Seattle City Council Transportation Chair Tom Rasmussen at tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov or 206.684.8808.

tgim:
Having bikes ride in the *same* traffic lane as cars (i.e. sharrows), especially when there is only a single traffic lane in that direction, is obviously much more dangerous than having the bicycles ride on a trail from which cars are excluded. The current South Ship Canal Trail covers almost all the distance from the Fremont Bridge to the Ballard Bridge; the only current issue is that you need to cross from the north side of Nickerson (after riding up 11th ave to Nickerson) to the south side of Nickerson in order to continue and access the Ballard Bridge or 15th Ave north or south.
Yes, I have contacted SDOT to support completing that section of the trail (as well as for other things!).

It just seems like a waste of time and money to change all of Nickerson when 90% of the job has already been completed in the form of the South Ship Canal Trail.

@mondoman:

I agree. A bike path away from motor vehicles could be safer. I would use it if practical. I would ride on it with my kids when we go to SPU for gymnastics or basketball games.

Until one (someday) gets built, I would like Nickerson to be safer.

SDOT says it is BNSF delaying the trail project. BNSF is non responsive when I contacted them.

@thatguyinmagnolia … perhaps I was not that clear in my meaning – I apologize for that:

I’ve nothing against minorities at all. I experience both being on the minority and majority sides of varying issues. I was just encouraging those involved who are critical of those trying to work on behalf of the community to get involved in the underlying organizations and voice their opinions – which are as valid as anyone else’s. Minority opinions are important and if they can be incorporated into the process, so much the better.

As for Westlake versus Dexter – when one is headed for 7th Ave., Dexter is simply the more direct route and in the past was never clogged with traffic. I will however now take the difference into account the next time I head for 7th Ave! Thanks for pointing it out.

One correction to my posting though, which relates to earlier comments:

In the case of the MCC, while those involved are volunteers, the board and officers are actually elected by the public – I should have pointed that out. Each Fall a slate of candidates is presented and the public has the opportunity to add to the slate. A public vote is then taken for all positions. This takes place at a pre-announced public meeting.

So, at least with respect to the MCC, the opportunity exists both to get involved and to influence the leadership of the organization.

@Rob:
Regarding the MCC and the Coalition formed to promote cars on Nickerson and 15th–my issue with both is they say they represent Magnolia. They only represent themselves, a small group of individuals with their own views.

In today’s Mag News, I actually agreed with Elizabeth Campbell–Magnolia’s strident anti bike crusader–when she slammed the MCC for this.

Funny, because the Magnolia Community Club’s own by-laws state that only members who have paid dues can vote. Maybe you’re confusing the MCC with a community council.

There are so many ways to refute the arguments of those against the Nickerson St. Road Diet.

For example, “The ship canal trail is 90% done.” That may be so but that trail is a mixed-use trail meant for recreational riders and pedestrians. Those riders who are commuting from point A to point B are likely to ride faster than would be safe on a mixed-use trail and will feel comfortable in a bike lane on the street (and the pedestrians on the trail will feel safer as well. Win-Win!).

Also, that trail doesn’t really go anywhere, does it? Even at 90% done, it just dead ends at 11th Ave. W. Until BNSF actually fulfills its contract with the city to construct a connector trail under the Ballard Bridge to Fisherman’s Terminal, then the trail is mostly useless. 90% or not.

Then there’s the worry over traffic if and when the waterfront tunnel is completed. Studies by the state and the city (actually by independent firms doing it for the city and the state) find that the number of cars on Nickerson once that tunnel is built is expected to increase by 10% at peak travel time. That’s 90 cars. 90 cars. Hardly the massive backups someone like Rob would have you believe. In fact, if they’re all single-occupancy vehicles, it’s less than the number of people that can fit on an articulated bus.

Then there’s the straw man arguments Rob himself brought up about massive traffic tie ups on Stone Way, Dexter and other roads that have been placed on a Road Diet. You might not post it here in public, but think back to all your travels on those roads: When have you ever seen a true traffic jam caused by anything other than an emergency? None.

That said, when have you seen one on Nickerson (besides at the Fremont Bridge which this plan WILL NOT affect because it doesn’t continue that far East). Never.

Rob- saying it happened today doesn’t mean it actually did. And if it did, that’s one day.

We all know traffic flows fine on Stone Way, Fauntleroy, Dexter and other roads that have lived through a diet. So throw that argument out the window.

Finally, there’s calling road space “real estate.” In fact, roads and driving on them can take money away from a community. The more people in a city drive, the more money and jobs they send OUT of their community (http://www.impresaconsulting.com/node/42) to the tune of $1 billion a year. Free parking, excess road space devoted to cars, these things cost much more in the long run than $200,000 paid for by taxes voted on and approved by the citizens of Seattle.

And for the record, I am involved in my community and care about Magnolia. I am forming a group of my own to support this road diet. I volunteer with a number of organizations in the city that do things I think are important and valuable for us all and will begin attending community council meetings here in Magnolia now that I know innane topics such as “Port: Friend or Foe” (as the last meeting was advertised) is not really what’s being talked about there.

It’s one thing to decide as a council to join a coalition like this. It’s one thing to write a letter as an unelected council saying that it is against the road diet. It’s an entirely other thing to say that council represents 24,000 residents of a neighborhood when it clearly does not. No one is saying the council should not have written that letter. It should not claim to represent the neighborhood, however.

This is straight from the Magnolia Community Club letter to SDOT:

“I write on behalf of the Magnolia Community Club which represents the approximately 24,000 residents of Magnolia.”

I agree they can say and do what they want, but I’m one of the 24,000. And they do not represent me.

For those who think that the Nickerson diet is such a great idea for alternative transit, it is worth pointing out that the City plans to work with Metro to reduce the number of stops on Nickerson so that the buses do not slow down as much the single general purpose lane. It is difficult to see how the diet promotes the RIDE concept of Walk Bide Ride. Originally, the Mayor and SDOT said the diet was to improve pedestrian safety, but they have admittedly not considered any solution but the diet, such as installing signalized crosswalks in the areas where pedestrian improvements are needed.
Nickerson will become an even more critical arterial during the Viaduct Replacement and during the West Mercer project. Councilmember Rasmussen fortunately realizes how critical Nickerson will be during these lengthy transportation projects and is now holding a hearing on the diet on 6/8.

The braintrust making these decisions will not be happy until every road is 1 lane each direction, backed up to the horizon and there is no onstreet parking. Except in the residential neighborhoods where developers have been supported in offering NO off street parking. Insanity.

May 26, 2010

Mayor Mike McGinn
Mayor’s Office
Seattle City Hall 7th floor
600 Fourth Avenue
P.O. Box 94749
Seattle, WA 98124-4749

Dear Mayor McGinn:

Why is the City determined to spend $200,000 to re-channel Nickerson this summer?
• The decision on the north portal access design will not been made until this fall, and hence the extent of traffic congestion on Mercer and the use of Nickerson as an alternate route to I-5 and the tunnel are unknown.
• The Alaskan Way Corridor is at the concept not the completed design stage, and therefore its capacity is unknown.
• The study and design of West Mercer Way is just being initiated.
• Safety concerns on Nickerson based on speed have not been addressed by police enforcement and/or the mobile camera unit (a revenue source?).
• Bicyclists have available a parallel bikeway between Nickerson and the ship canal.

Why not delay rechannelization until the facts are known?
The palliative that “if the traffic is greater than expected we will restore the four lanes”, at presumably a similar cost, disregards the probable waste of taxpayer funds that could be better spent on more pressing needs.

Sincerely,

Stephen E. DeForest

Let not the last word be that of Stephen DeForest.

Others have said it better…the sky is not falling, and the facts on the ground are that this will likekly improve flow for all – we’ll see, won’t we.

If the evidence supports making a change to
1- decrease speeds to the legal limit
2- allow for pedestrians to cross without spending the 100′s of thousands to add ‘signalized crossings’
3- maintain through traffic of vehicles, including those of NSIA members (is that No Street Improvements AtAll) (ooh, a little snippy, I know)
4- decrease collisions and therefore the likelihood of human injury
5- require ONLY $200k (chump change in the big picture of city budgets, but obviously a big hunk of bucks to most of us)
6- add sharrows and bike lane = I don’t care about the bike lanes/sharrows (since there will be a newly created separated path downhill along the water), but that’s a nice bonus of this plan

Then let’s try it – this was discussed several times at a ‘tri-party’ gathering of NSIA members, bikers, ped-ers, city staff, and no giant red flags were raised, just a plea for analysis and evaluation, and change if need be. That’s the beauty of this project – it can be changed back really easily.

Everyone should take a deep breath and relax.

What do you think?

Mr. Deforest,

Now that you are speaking on your own behalf, will you retract the letter the Magnolia Community Club sent on behalf of all Magnolia residents? (See above comments.)
As a MCC Trustee, it is clear you used the Magnolia Community Club as a vehicle to project you own views, and falsley claimed to represent our community. As an attorney, you should know better.

For those who think that the Nickerson diet is such a great idea for alternative transit, it is worth pointing out that the City plans to work with Metro to reduce the number of stops on Nickerson so that the buses do not slow down as much the single general purpose lane. It is difficult to see how the diet promotes the RIDE concept of Walk Bide Ride. Originally, the Mayor and SDOT said the diet was to improve pedestrian safety, but they have admittedly not considered any solution but the diet, such as installing signalized crosswalks in the areas where pedestrian improvements are needed.Nickerson will become an even more critical arterial during the Viaduct Replacement and during the West Mercer project. Councilmember Rasmussen fortunately realizes how critical Nickerson will be during these lengthy transportation projects and is now holding a hearing on the diet on 6/8.
+1

Nice copy and paste Murdock. Trapped in Magnolia already submitted these lame arguments.

To clarify one more point, the 15th Avenue Transportation Coalition was not formed as a response to the road diet. The road diet exemplifies why piecemeal planning does not work and why the Coalition was formed- to bring to the attention of local and state transportation planners how the various transportation projects are impacting the vital corridor of 15th Ave. W.

Thank you MCC for standing up for Magnolia residents who are tired of losing road capacity. First, the city added bus only lanes to Elliott, which turned a relatively free-flowing arterial into a constant rush-hour traffic jam. The benefit to buses is miniscule-my bus commute takes just as long as it did prior to adding the bus lanes.

Second, they want to eliminate the Western Avenue entrance/exit to the new tunnel. This will force more traffic onto already busy Mercer Street and Nickerson, which leads to the third…

Now they want to reduce capacity on Nickerson! Nikerson is one of the few choices Magnoia and QA residents have to travel east-west. With the reduction in Elliott and highway 99 construction, making nearly any journey in or out of Magnolia is going to be a nightmare.

The bus only lanes need to be removed (or, at the minimum, turned into HOV lanes) and the Nickerson Street road diet needs to be permanently shelved.

Cheers for this posting, guys, retain up the fantastic operate…

Definitely looking forward to your next post.

This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.

Ive been meaning to read this and just never obtained a chance. Its an issue that Im very interested in, I just started reading and Im glad I did. Youre a excellent blogger, one of the greatest that Ive seen. This weblog surely has some information on subject that I just wasnt aware of. Thanks for bringing this stuff to light.

I am impressed, I must say. Very seldom do I see a blog that’s both informative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your blog is outstanding; the matter is something that not a lot of people are talking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to it.

I found your weblog on google and check several of the early posts. Preserve up the excellent operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading through additional from you later on!…

Keep working ,great job!

Excellent brief and this article helped me alot. Say thank you I looking for your information….

Of course, what a splendid site and informative posts, I definitely will bookmark your blog.All the Best!

I would prefer to thank you for the efforts you’ve got created in writing this write-up. I’m hoping the same most effective function from you inside the future as well. In fact your inventive writing skills has inspired me to begin my personal BlogEngine weblog now.

This website is awesome. I constantly come across something new & different right here. Thank you for that data.

Thank you for an incredible and useful report We truly value all of the labor in which went in to the publishing.

I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…

WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …

Hey! I simply saw one other message in another blog that seemed like this. How have you learnt all these things? That’s one cool post.

There is certainly a great deal to learn about this. It is my opinion you made some really good points in Features also.

Hi! Your article rocks and is really a very good understand!…

Thank you for a great post

Thank you for another fantastic article. Exactly where else could anyone get that type of data in this kind of a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m around the look for this kind of facts.

Hey – nice weblog, just looking around some blogs, appears a pretty great platform you are utilizing. I’m presently making use of WordPress for a few of my websites but looking to change 1 of them more than to a platform similar to yours as being a trial run. Something in particular you’d suggest about it?

Thanks for taking the time to talk about this, I feel strongly about it and love mastering more on this subject. If feasible, as you gain knowledge, would you mind updating your blog with a lot more information? It is very helpful for me.

Aw, this was a really great post. In theory I’d like to write like this also – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.

I’d wish to thank you for that efforts you have made in writing this article. I’m hoping the exact same best work from you within the long term also. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to begin my personal BlogEngine weblog now.

Fairly insightful submit. Never thought that it was this simple after all. I had spent a superior deal of my time looking for someone to explain this topic clearly and you’re the only 1 that ever did that. Kudos to you! Keep it up

I would wish to thank you for the efforts you have produced in writing this article. I’m hoping the same finest work from you inside the long term too. In reality your creative writing abilities has inspired me to begin my very own BlogEngine weblog now.

Sick! Just received a brand-new Pearl and I can now read your blog on my phone’s browser, it didn’t function on my outdated 1.

Nice information, lots of inspiration
thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here.

I’d wish to thank you for that efforts you might have created in writing this article. I’m hoping the exact same very best perform from you within the long run too. In fact your inventive writing abilities has inspired me to begin my personal BlogEngine weblog now.

I am constantly invstigating online for tips that can aid me. Thank you!

Hey it is a real cool website

Thanks for taking the time to talk about this, I feel strongly about it and appreciate learning a lot more on this subject. If possible, as you acquire expertise, would you mind updating your weblog with more data? It is very helpful for me.

First of all, allow my family recognize a person’s command during this matter. Even though this is certainly brand new , nevertheless soon after registering your site, this intellect has exploded extensively. Allow all of us to take hold of one’s rss to help keep in touch with at all probable messages Sincere understand but will pass it on to help admirers and my personalized are living members

Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We got a excellent book on that matter from our local library and most books exactly where not as influensive as your facts. I am extremely glad to see such data which I was searching for a long time.

The blog is really fascinating, hold putting up superior data.

There is visibly a lot to identify about this. I suppose you made certain good points in features also.

This is my third visit to this blog. We are starting a new initiative in the same niche as this blog. Your blog provided us with important information to work with. You have done a fantastic job. Like any law enforcement position, you generally need to have a very clean record when applying for crime scene investigation work.

Thank you for an additional terrific write-up. Where else could anybody get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the appear for such details.

You completed some nice points there. I did a search on the topic and found mainly folks will have the same opinion with your blog.

I’m impressed, I have to say. Very rarely do I discovered a blog that is both educational and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your opinion is important; the issue is something that not many people are talking intelligently about. I am very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.

I want to thankx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same top-quality article from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a fine model of it.

I must say, as much as I enjoyed reading what you had to say, I couldnt help but lose interest after a while. Its as if you had a terrific grasp to the subject matter, but you forgot to include your readers. Perhaps you should think about this from additional than one angle. Or maybe you shouldnt generalise so very much. Its better if you think about what others may have to say instead of just going for a gut reaction to the topic. Think about adjusting your personal thought process and giving others who may read this the benefit of the doubt.

An amazing blogpost, I just given this onto a co-worker who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him…. .. So let me rephrase that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thank you for spending the time to talk about this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more info? It is extremely helpful for me. Two thumb up for this blogpost!

The moment I found your site was like wow. Thanks for putting your effort in writing this site.

You gave fantastic honest ideas here. I performed a research on the issue and discovered almost all peoples will agree with your blog. And they aren’t buying new cars either; for all the money you’re paying, you’re usually getting a car that has about 40,000 miles on the clock.

thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.

Very nice article and right to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to hire some professional writers? Thank you

We really like your approach you soundseem very keen concerning whatever one are creating. Always keep up ones fantastic content

How is it that just anybody can write a weblog and get as popular as this? Its not like youve said something incredibly impressive –more like youve painted a pretty picture about an issue that you know nothing about! I dont want to sound mean, here. But do you actually think that you can get away with adding some quite pictures and not genuinely say anything?

Hey – good weblog, just looking around some blogs, appears a fairly nice platform you might be making use of. I’m presently making use of WordPress for a few of my websites but looking to alter one of them through to a platform comparable to yours as being a trial run. Something in specific you’d suggest about it?

Just a fast hello and also to thank you for discussing your ideas on this page. I wound up inside your blog right after researching physical fitness connected issues on Yahoo… guess I lost track of what I had been performing! Anyway I’ll be back once once more within the future to examine out your blogposts down the road. Thanks!

First of all, allow my family value a person’s command during this matter. Even though this is certainly brand new , nevertheless soon after registering your site, this intellect has exploded extensively. Allow all of us to take hold of one’s rss to help keep in touch with at all probable messages Sincere understand but will pass it on to help admirers and my personalized are living members

I have to point out that overall I’m quite taken with this website. It’s obvious that you understand your subject material and that you are passionate about it. I wish I had your potential to post. I have book marked your blog and look forward to additional updates.

This was a seriously incredibly very good publish. In theory I’d prefer to create like this also – getting time and actual effort to make a wonderful piece of writing… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to obtain a little something done.

I’m adding this weblog RSS feed thus which we can discover any fresh discussions. Always keep up this great content…

Oh these are some trusty points. I will have to shall have to must have to contact you out ofthis blog.

Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

I gotta say this net web page is definitely fascinating, continue to keep submitting fantastic info.

Ordinarily i will not reply to a post similar to that, but considering that i truly enjoyed this I simply must present you a thumbs up

Took me time to read all the comments, but I seriously enjoyed the article. It proved to become Extremely helpful to me and I am certain to all the commenters right here It is always good when you can not only be informed, but also entertained I’m certain you had fun writing this article.

I am likewise a good enthusiast regarding that subject matter and I love viewing several new posts in this market! Many thanks

Reminds me of a bad behavior of mine. Unusual that memories set off because of a article haha. I am somewhat sad right now although this ain’t as a result of the article itself :/

I must say, as substantially as I enjoyed reading what you had to say, I couldnt help but lose interest after a while. Its as if you had a good grasp to the subject matter, but you forgot to include your readers. Perhaps you should think about this from far more than one angle. Or maybe you shouldnt generalise so considerably. Its better if you think about what others may have to say instead of just going for a gut reaction to the topic. Think about adjusting your personal believed process and giving others who may read this the benefit of the doubt.

If just more individuals could possibly see that that way. Would likely help make things quite a lot better no doubt!

Thanks for an concept, you sparked at thought from a angle I hadn’t given thoguht to yet. Now lets see if I can do something with it.

Usually I do not post on posts, but I would like to say that this site really forced me to do it! Thanks, very good post.

Excellent. I’ve been looking everywhere for this. THX

hello thanks for post great info

i was looking for this whole day much thanks

Just a fast hello and also to thank you for discussing your ideas on this web page. I wound up inside your blog right after researching physical fitness connected issues on Yahoo… guess I lost track of what I had been performing! Anyway I’ll be back as soon as once more inside the potential to examine out your blogposts down the road. Thanks!