♪
>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ,
MY NAME IS MIKE O'BRIEN AND I
AND CHAIR THE COMMITTEE.
IT IS 10: OH 2 AM ON JANUARY
29, 2019.
I AM JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE ROB
JOHNSON AND THIS IS A SPECIAL
COMMUTING.
WE NORMALLY MEET ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD WEEKS, WE HAVE A
BONUS FIFTH WEEK SO WE
SCHEDULED A MEETING.
YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THERE ARE THREE AGENDA ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
>> THE FIRST IS OUR FIRST
CONVERSATION WITH SAMUEL D.
ZIMBABWE WHO HIS APPOINTMENT AS
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BEFORE US.
TODAY WILL JUST BE DISCUSSION
AND MISTER ZIMBABWE WILL BE
BACK IN COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 15,
I BELIEVE.
WHERE WE WILL POTENTIALLY BE
PREPARED TO HAVE A VOTING
COMMITTEE ON HIS APPOINTMENT.
>> WE HAVE TWO OTHER ITEMS, ONE
IS ACCOUNTABLE ABOUT CHANGING
THE NAME OF A SMALL PORTION OF
AURORA AVENUE, ESSENTIALLY
BETWEEN ROUGHLY THE GATES
FOUNDATION AND DENNY WAY.
>> THE THIRD AVENUE ITEM IS AN
ORDINANCE TO ALLOW UTILITY
LINES ACROSS SOUTH HOLGATE
STREET FOR AMTRAK.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT WE WILL
TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I HAVE NINE FOLKS SIGNED UP,
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
BARBARA IS PHINNEY FIRST
FOLLOWED BY DALE RANDLES AND
ROB KIM.
YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES AND
YOU CAN SEE THE CLOCK THERE,
WHAT'S YOUR TIME.
WELCOME, BARBARA.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNSEL, CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE AND SDOT
REPRESENTATIVES.
I WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE AND
THE LAND OF THE DUWAMISH PEOPLE
AND REMIND YOU COUNCILMEMBER
O'BRIEN ABOUT THE WALK WE WENT
ON WITH SEATTLE GREENWAYS AND
REPRESENTATIVE FROM
COUNCILMEMBER WARREN IS IS
OFFICE AND SDOT.
>> LOOKING AT THE PROBLEMS THAT
PEOPLE WALKING ENCOUNTER ON
GREENWOOD AVENUE NORTH AND SOME
PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE FAR NORTH
OF SEATTLE WHERE THERE ARE FOR
VEHICLE TRAVEL LANES, FREQUENT
TRANSIT, MINOR FREIGHT CORRIDOR
DESIGNATION AND POSTED 35 MILE
AN HOUR SPEED LIMITS.
THE AREA OF CONCERN, THERE ARE
MANY MAJOR ARTERIALS WITH SUCH
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROBLEMS IN
SEATTLE.
>> GREENWOOD NORTH FROM 112 TO
130 -- 1/37 2012 BLOCK STRETCH
INCLUDES AN ELEMENT TREE
SCHOOL, PUBLIC LIBRARY, SEVERAL
ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITIES AND
APARTMENT AND CONDO COMPLEXES.
I HAVE A LETTER TO DELIVER TO
YOU AND ALSO A FLYER MADE BY OUR
GREENWOOD PHINNEY SEA
GREENWOOD'S GROUP ILLUSTRATING
PROBLEMS ON THE AREA WE HAVE
SORT OF ADOPTED TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEDESTRIANS,
URGING THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN SDOT TO
IMPROVE THESE CONDITIONS ,
WHERE THE RIGHT AWAY HAS NOT
BEEN PROTECTED SINCE THIS AREA
WAS INCORPORATED BY THE CITY IN
THE 1950s AND HENCE IT IS FULL
OF OBSTRUCTIONS AND
APPROPRIATIONS BY PROPERTY
OWNERS AND PARKING, WHICH IS
JUST ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BE MADE
TO WALK ALONG THE WHITE FOG
LINE TO BE MADE TO GET BY IN
MANY PLACES WHERE THERE IS NO
RIGHT AWAY FOR THEM.
>> CAN ASK YOU TO WRAP UP,
BARBARA?
YOUR TWO MINUTES ARE UP.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE REORGANIZE PARKING AND
REESTABLISH THE RIGHT AWAY ON
ARTERIALS LIKE THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
ROBIN.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBIN
RANDLES I AM A RESIDENT SINCE
1986, PARENT OF 2, GRANDPARENT
IN 1, WALKING ADVOCATE.
WELCOME MISTER ZIMBABWE, WE ARE
HAPPY YOU HAVE COME TO HELP US
REALIZE OUR VISION OF A CITY
THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST.
>> AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, WE
HAVE EXCITING AND GRANDIOSE
PROJECTS GOING ON AT THE
MOMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS
THAT MAY NOT ATTRACT AS MUCH
PRESS, BUT ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY CHILDREN WHO WALK
IN SIDEWALK LIST SEATTLE ON
THEIR WAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
>> I HOPE AS YOU MAKE YOUR
TRANSITIONYOU WILL KEEP THE
SIDEWALK LIST WHILE IN YOUR
MIND.
LAST YEAR I CONDUCTED WALKING
AUDITS AT FOUR SCHOOLS
UNDISCOVERED WE HAVE A LOT MORE
WORK IN INVESTMENT NEEDED TO
MAKE OUR WALK DOWN SAFE ENOUGH
FOR KIDS TO WALK TO SCHOOL.
IT'S IMPORTANT KIDS GET THEIR
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
AND READINESS TO LEARN.
>> PARENTS IN GREENWOOD ARE
DRIVING THEIR KIDS TWO BLOCKS
TO SCHOOL BECAUSE OF UNSAFE
WALKING CONDITIONS AND A LESS
THAN EXEMPLARY DRIVING HABITS
OF FRUSTRATED COMMUTERS TRYING
TO SAVE THE MINUTE PROMISED BY
THE WAYS APP.
>> PERHAPS YOU ARE AWARE MANY
OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE
ANNEXED AND THEY DON'T HAVE
SIDEWALKS AND THE TIMELINE TO
GET THOSE BUILT IS LIKE 300 TO
500 YEARS. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE
TIME TO WAIT AROUND TO MAKE IT
SAFE TO GET DIVISION ZERO IN
TIME.
>> SO ADVOCATES OF THE SDOT
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HAVE
BEEN CONSIDERING MAKING WALKING
SPACELIKE LOWER COST
ALTERNATIVE WALKWAYS AND
ENGINEERING MEASURES THAT
INTUITIVELY ENCOURAGE SLOWER
DRIVING SPEEDS ON THE
NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS.
THERE ARE ALL BEING CONSIDERED.
SO WE ARE HOPEFUL YOU SHARE IN
THIS VISION AND THE PEOPLE OF
SIDEWALKS LIST IN SEATTLE ARE
EAGER TO GET TO WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ROBIN.
BOTH YOU AND BARBARA, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND I
KNOW THAT WAS A NUMBER OF
MONTHS AGO.
I KNOW PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOW
AND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
FOR YEARS.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SIT
DOWN WITH A NEW DIRECTOR,
ZIMBABWE, AND TALK ABOUT THAT
AS AN EXAMPLE FOR WHAT WE SEE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND FIGURE
OUT HOW WE CAN ACCELERATE
SDOT'S WORK FOR MAKING
IMPROVEMENTS .
>> NEXT UP IS DALE KIM AND HE
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY REAGAN
CHILLED AND EVELINA HACKMAN.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS DALE. I
TRY TO FIND INFORMATION ON
SAMUEL D. ZIMBABWE, WASN'T ABLE
TO FIND ANY AND IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO -- AND YOU
GUYS DO A LOT OF THINGS
INTERNALLY BEHIND-THE-SCENES,
THAT PROCESS DOESN'T GET
BROUGHT OUT TO THE PUBLIC
BEFORE TIME.
I KNOW THE DECISION-MAKING
SHOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN BEFORE.
IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT
ABOUT THE INFORMATION ABOUT
THESE PEOPLE, AT LEAST I WASN'T
ABLE TO THROUGH THE LIBRARY AND
I ASKED ANOTHER LIBRARY TENANT
WHO WASN'T ABLE TO.
THAT WASN'T SOMETHING -- IT'S
JUST HARD TO MAKE THESE TYPE OF
DECISIONS OR FOR AT LEAST
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THESE
THINGS GOING INTO PLAY WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO
THAT INFORMATION.
>> AS WAS THE OTHER PART ON THE
THIRD OF THE 11 5496 ORDINANCE
OF THE REVEREND PASSENGER
COOPERATION FOR SOUTH HOLGATE
STREET AND OCCIDENTAL AVENUE .
I AM ALL FOR UPGRADING AND
MAINTAINING THINGS THAT HAD TO
BE DONE, WHATEVER IN THE PAST
OF SUBPAR INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTING, I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT PROVIDES AN
OPENING FOR MORE FINANCIALLY
MOTIVATED DECISIONS LIKE CITY
BUILDING, OR IF IT'S JUST KIND
OF ANOTHER STOP MEASURED A KIND
OF MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE INTO
THE FUTURE, IF YOU WILL.
>> I'M NOT EXACTLY FOR THAT
LAST PART, AT LEAST IN THE
CONSTRUCTING.
AND THE SUBPAR SYSTEMS, FOR
OBVIOUS REASONS.
AND THEN ACCESS TO MORE
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, DALE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS
ABOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
MISTER ZIMBABWE'S NOMINATION
PACKET IS POSTED WITH THE
AGENDA AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A
COPY IN THE WHITE BINDER, IF
YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT.
>> AS ARE THE PRESENTATION
ITEMS FOR ALL OF THE OTHER
AGENDA ITEMS.
THERE IS A QUESTION THAT CITY
COUNCIL SENT OUT TO MISTER
ZIMBABWE THAT WE RECEIVED I
BELIEVE YESTERDAY.
THAT IS NOT POSTED WITH THE
AGENDA, BUT IT WILL BE UP
WITHIN THE NEXT DAY AND WE WILL
MAKE SURE IT'S POSTED WITH THE
AGENDA IN ADVANCE OF THE
MEETING ON FEBRUARY 15.
>> IF YOU WANT TO LOOK THROUGH
ANY AGENDA ITEMS IN THAT WHITE
BINDER, THEY WILL BE THERE AND
FEEL FREE TO EMAIL SDOT IF YOU
WANT HELP NAVIGATING THE
SYSTEMS.
BREATHE.
>> HI, I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF THE MOVE ALL SEATTLE
SUSTAINABLY COALITION, WHICH
YOU MAY KNOW AS MASS.
THE GROUPS THAT CAME TOGETHER
TO FORM MASS SHARE A VISION FOR
A WORLD-CLASS TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS THE
DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR
CITY, CREATES WALKABLE
COMMUNITIES, ELIMINATES TRAFFIC
VIOLENCE, LIBERATES US FROM
FOSSIL FUELS AND INSURANCE
EQUITABLE MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE
OF ALL RACES, GENDERS,
ABILITIES AND INCOMES.
>> OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
MUST PRIORITIZE PEOPLE WHO WALK
AT ALL ABILITY LEVELS, BIKING
AT ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS IN
PEOPLE USE TRANSIT AT ALL
INCOME LEVELS.
STARTING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY
PROVIDING REDEDICATED LANES AND
SINGLE PRIORITY.
IT MUST ALSO PRODUCE PRIVATE
LANDS FOR AUTOMOBILES AND
TRANSFORM FREIGHT MOBILITY TO
UNDO THE HARM IN COMMUNITY
HEALTH AND MAINTAIN ECONOMIC
VITALITY.
>> PEOPLE DESERVE TO GET WHERE
THEY WANT TO GO SAFELY.
WE SEEK TO MAKE THIS A PRESENT-
DAY REALITY RATHER THAN AN
ASPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE EXCITED AT
MASS TO HAVE PERMANENT
LEADERSHIP AT SDOT.
JUDGING BY HIS STATEMENTS AND
WORK AT THE DCSE, WE THINK
SAMUEL D. ZIMBABWE SHARES OUR
VISION AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE
HIM GIVE THE CHANCE TO LEAD AND
MAKE THE VISION A REALITY.
WE ASK YOU TO CONFIRM SAM AND
SUPPORT HIM IN THAT WORK.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME
TREMENDOUS PEOPLE AT SDOT
ANXIOUS TO GET TO WORK AND
MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. THE MASS
VISION ISN'T RADICAL, IT'S
ACTUALLY JUST ECHOING THE
CITY'S STATED GOALS FOR VISION
ZERO, CARBON NEUTRALITY AND
EQUITY.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU NOT ONLY TO
CONFIRM SAM ZIMBABWE, BUT TO
FULLY SUPPORT HIM IN SHOWING
PULLED LEADERSHIP AND GETTING
US ON THE RIGHT TRACK, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BRI AND I
APOLOGIZE FOR MISPRONOUNCING
HER LAST NAME.
EVELYN, OR EVELINA AND THEN
MATTHEW CURRY FOLLOWED BY MIKE
McQUAID.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EVELINA
HACKMAN AND I HAVE SOME VERY
SERIOUS CONCERNS.
A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW
NATURE HAS BEEN TREATED IN
SEATTLE AND HOW SEATTLE AND ITS
BUILDING IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE
INTRUSION OF TAKING THINGS ONE
PLACE AND PUTTING THEM ON
ANOTHER PLACE, NOT INCLUDING
PEOPLE AND MATERIALS. THEN
THOSE THINGS ARE BEING USED AND
PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THAT IS ALL AFFECTING THE
SPIRIT AND THE SOUL, THE
NATURAL PLACE, TAKE SEATTLE FOR
INSTANCE.
THE SOUTHERN NATURAL HILLS THAT
WERE HERE, WHAT HAPPENED TO
THEM HOW THEY WERE MOVED AROUND
AND OTHER LIFE COMES IN FROM
OTHER PLACES AND INTRUDES UPON
THEM?
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MISTER
ZIMBABWE IS FROM NORTH AMERICA
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE
BEEN GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT
HAVE BEEN MOVED AROUND.
ALTHOUGH THEY NEED TO REMEMBER
THAT WHERE THEY WERE RAISED AND
WHERE THEY WERE FROM, THE LAND
IN THE WATER, THE VEGETATION IS
PART OF THEM, AND THEIR BONES
AND BLOOD AND THEIR BONE MARROW.
SO I WAS WITH YOU AND THAT
THOUGHT PROCESS MAY NOT BE
SIMILAR TO THE PLACE YOU ARE
PUTTING AND INTRUDING UPON.
>> THOSE GENERATIONS INCLUDE
TELEVISION COMPUTERS, HANDHELD
DEVICES. AS FAR AS CHANGING THE
NAME OF THE AVENUE, LIFE
DEPENDS ON THE HISTORY AND THE
HISTORY SHOULD BE HONORED, IT
WAS NAMED THAT FOR A REASON.
THINK OF A BIRD THAT MAY COME
BACK TO FIND ITS TREE TAKEN AND
MISSING.
NOW WHAT IS THAT BIRD SUPPOSED
TO DO?
>> THANK YOU, EVELINA.
>> NOT TO MENTION THE UNNEEDED
EXPENS.
>> HELENA, YOUR TIME IS UP.
NEXT WILL BE MATTHEW CURRY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL
MEMBERS.
I AM HERE SPEAKING TODAY ON
BEHALF OF THE SLU COMMUNITY
COUNSEL WHERE I AM A BOARD
SECRETARY AND ALSO THE CHAIR OF
OUR POLICY AND PLANNING
COMMITTEE.
ESSENTIALLY I AM HERE TO SAY
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING
UP OUR SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH
NAME CHANGE LEGISLATION.
>> THIS IS A COMMUNITY GOAL
THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS NOW
FOR OVER SIX YEARS.
JUST A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS ABOUT
THE HISTORY OF THIS.
THIS IDEA WAS INITIALLY
PROPOSED BY A COMMUNITY BOOSTER
FROM THE UPTOWN AND QUEEN AND
NEIGHBORHOOD NAMED JOHN TONY.
HE WAS A TERRIFIC PERSON IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND HE PROPOSED THIS
NAME IN ORDER TO RETURN THE
STREET TO ITS HISTORICAL NAME,
PRIOR TO AURORA AVENUE.
>> I HAVE SHARED A FUN HANDOUT
ENTERED INTO THE RECORD HERE.
IT IS A 1923 ZONING MAP IN THE
CITY ARCHIVES AND IT
SPECIFICALLY SHOWS THAT IN 1923
THE STREET WAS CALLED SEVENTH
AVENUE NORTH.
FURTHER, I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH
, WITH OUR SLU COMMUNITY
COUNSEL , WE HAVE RECEIVED
UNANIMOUS ENDORSEMENTS FOR THIS
NAME CHANGE WITH THE CORRIDOR
PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AREA
BETWEEN DANNY AND HARRISON
STREETS, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, ARE
PART OF THE NORTH PORTAL STREET
RECONNECTION PROJECT.
IN THE PRESENTATION THAT WILL
BE SHOWN LATER, YOU WILL SEE A
FLAVOR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
STREET HAS CHANGED
SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THIS NEW
ON/OFF RAMP FROM EXISTING AURORA
. THIS CREATES A TERRIFIC
OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT THE
STREET GRADE AND BRING THE
STREET NAME BACK TO A KNITTED
SEATTLE.
FINALLY, THE NEIGHBORS THAT
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS ARE THE SLU COMMUNITY
COUNSEL , SLU CHAMBER, UPTOWN
ALLIANCE, QUEEN AND COMMUNITY
COUNSEL AND THE DENNY TRIANGLE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR YES A
VOTE IN MOVING THIS LEGISLATION
FORWARD, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, MATTHEW.
MIKE AND THEN YOU WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY ALEX TSIMERMAN AND
DOUG McDONALD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN,
JOHNSON AND KSHAMA SAWANT,
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, YOU'RE
IN A WRIST MARKABLE SPOT AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
GUIDANCE GOING FORWARD.
I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE
RENAME OF THE SHORT SEGMENT OF
AURORA NEW AVENUE NORTH TO
SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, YOU
KNOW FROM MATT'S CONVERSATIONS
THIS WAS THE PREVIOUS STREET
NAME PRIOR TO AURORA AVENUE AND
SR 99 BEING PUT INTO PLACE IN
THAT PART OF THE CITY WITH THE
STEEP STREET GRADE RECONNECT
UNDER THE NORTH PORTAL.
THIS BECOMES AN IMPORTANT
PEDESTRIAN CAUSEWAY FOR OUR CITY
AND ESSENTIALLY IT IS A PART OF
AURORA THAT NOW CAN BE
RECONNECTED BACK TO ITS
ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION PRIOR TO
THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE
APPROACHED BY A COMMUNITY
MEMBER, WE TOOK ACTION ON THEIR
BEHALF, REACHED OUT TO THE
COMMUNITY, RECEIVED UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH
SDOT , COUNSEL AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO MAKE HAPPEN, WE HOPE
THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE MOVING
FORWARD OF OTHER GOOD
PARTNERSHIPS WITH SDOT , THE
COUNSEL AND THE COMMUNITY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR YES
VOTE ON THIS AND RECONNECTING
THAT STREET GRADE SO WE CAN
WALK TO THE SEATTLE CENTER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, MIKE.
ALEX?
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
[ LAUGHTER ] HI -- MY NAME ALEX
TSIMERMAN.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
FOUR YEARS AGO I SIT IN HERE AND
I ASK PUBLICLY WHO THIS SMUG
HOBO FOR THIS POSITION?
HE TELLS ME I AM NOT A
>>, HE IS A CROOK TWO.
SO THIS NEW DIRECTOR WILL BE
SAME SMUG, SAME CROOK LIKE
EVERYBODY.
THE PROBABLY MUCH DEEPER.
I TRY SPEAK WITH ALL NEW
DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW WHAT IS
DOING AND YOU APPROVERS ALL
IDENTICAL, ABSOLUTELY SAME
PIECE OF GARBAGE, PARDON MY
FRENCH.
EXACTLY WHAT IS BEFORE.
NOTHING CHANGED AND NOTHING
WILL BE CHANGED.
HE ALWAYS APPROVES THESE PEOPLE
AND NEVER SEEMS TO COME TO THE
CHAMBER FOR HARMONY MORE THAN
2000 TIME IN SPEAK.
YOU NEVER, NEVER, NEVER TAKE NO
TO ONE DIRECTOR.
I SPEAK RIGHT NOW TO YOU,
700,000 GENERATE IDIOT. WHEN HE
DECLINES THIS CHAMBER FROM THE
NINE FOLKS AND OTHERWISE
NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED.
IT GOES FOR MANY YEARS.
THIS NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, DEMAND WHAT EVERY
DIRECTOR HAS COME A Q&A EVERY
MONTH.
I TALK ABOUT IT FOR 10 YEARS,
100 TIMES.
>> EVERYBODY WHO VOTED FOR
GOVERNMENT AND WHO WAS DIRECTOR
OR BOSS SUPPOSED TO HAVE Q&A
EVERY MONTH!
IT'S ONLY ONE WAY FOR STOPPING
THE SMOKE, KIRK, IF YOUR IDIOT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAS
HAPPENED.
STAND UP AMERICA, STAND UP
SEATTLE, CLEANSE THE CHAMBER
FROM THE SCREECHING, THANK YOU.
>> DOUG, YOU'RE THE FINAL
SPEAKER WHO SIGNED UP TODAY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO SAM
ZIMBABWE, WHOM I JUST MET, AND
I I JUST LEARNED ARE NATIVES OF
THE SAME PLACE, CAMBRIDGE,
MASSACHUSETTS.
WELCOME TO SEATTLE, SAM.
I HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE.
IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU MIGHT
THINK FROM SOME OF THE THINGS
YOU SEE.
>> WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
HERE, NOT ENOUGH OF IT.
AND SOME OF IT, I THINK YOU
PROBABLY KNOW ALVA LUCCI, I
GREW UP AT THAT TIME.
AND HERE ARE MY PREPARED
REMARKS.
RECENTLY, I WROTE A 20 PAGE
PAPER ABOUT THE ADA ISSUES
SURROUNDING BIKE SHARE AND
SIDEWALKS IN SEATTLE.
I'M SURE SAMUEL WILL READ IT BY
THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS VERY
STARTLING.
>> I AM NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT
IT NOW BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TO
PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO
EXPLORE THE TROUBLING THINGS I
HAVE SEEN.
JUST FROM THE BUS STOP AT
SENECA TODAY I'VE TAKEN
PICTURES OF 10 ILLEGALLY PARKED
BIKES ON SIDEWALKS.
WE WILL FIX THAT, I'M SURE.
BUT THIS IS RELEVANT TODAY, IN
THE COURSE OF THAT I HAVE
LOOKED AT CITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND COMPARE THEM WITH
THE SEATTLE EXPERIENCE.
AND IN THE COURSE OF THAT I
HAVE A GOOD CHANCE TO LOOK AT
WHAT SAMUEL D. ZIMBABWE HAS
BEEN LEADING IN WASHINGTON DC.
>> IT IS VERY PROGRESSIVE, VERY
WELL BUT WITH INNOVATION, VERY
EAGER TO EXPLORE HOW WE PUT
LIKE CHAIR AND E SCOOTER SURE
ON OUR STREETS IN A SENSIBLE,
INNOVATIVE WAY.
WITH RESPECT TO SAM'S PERSONABLE
CONTRIBUTION IS ON RECORD HE
HAS HAD A HUGE SENSITIVITY IN
THAT EXERCISE WHICH HE IS LED
TO THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS
AND NEEDED TO PREDICT AND
PROTECT INDUSTRY AND IMPACTS
FROM THE KINDS OF INNOVATIONS
WE ALL KNOW ARE COMING, AND WE
WILL COME.
>> BUT THEY HAVE TO BE DONE
RIGHT AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO
GO IN SEATTLE.
WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM
OTHER CITIES.
I HAVE OTHER ISSUES I'M SURE,
SAM AND WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF
CHANCE TO EXPLORE AS WELL.
BUT IT IS VERY WELCOME TO HAVE
SOMEONE HERE WHO HAS BUILT A
TRACK RECORD IN HIS LAST JOB
AND PREVIOUSLY OF STRONG
COMMITMENT TO PEDESTRIAN
ADVOCACY IN THE SAFETY OF
PEOPLE ON SIDEWALKS.
THANK YOU AND SAM, IT'S ALL
GOING TO GET BETTER.
TAKE IT IN.
>> THANKS, DOUG.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE
AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY?
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE WE WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND WE WILL INVITE PRESENTERS
FORWARD FOR THE FIRST AGENDA
ITEM, WHICH I WILL READ
MOMENTARILY.
APPOINTMENT OF SAMUEL D
ZIMBABWE AS DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR A TERM TO
JANUARY 1, 2023.
>> AS FOLKS GET SETTLED, WE
WILL DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS, CALVIN DO YOU
WANT TO START?
>> CALVIN CHOW, CENTRAL STAFF.
>> SAM ZIMBABWE, SDOT.
>> SHEFALI RANGANATHAN DEPUTY
MAYOR.
>> WELCOME EVERYONE.
CALVIN DID YOU HAVE ANY OPENING
REMARKS TO SAY?
>> NO, ACTUALLY I DON'T.
>> GREAT, SHEFALI RANGANATHAN
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW
OPENING REMARKS?
>> I WOULD BE DELIGHTED, THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBERS, BRIAN AND
SAWANT , I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY,
AM VERY EXCITED FOR THIS DAY
BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY AND
APARTMENT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR
THIS MOMENT FOR A WHILE. WE
CHOOSE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
CONFIRMING SAM ZIMBABWE IS THE
NEXT SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR.
I WANT TO SHARE MY PERSONAL
APPRECIATION TO YOU
COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN FOR
MAKING THIS A VERY TRANSPARENT
AND CLEAR PROCESS FOR HER
APPOINTMENT AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE
WITH OUR OFFICE.
>> WHEN THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED HER
NOMINATION OF SAM ABOUT A MONTH
AGO, SHE BELIEVES, AND WE ALL
DO, THAT SAM IS THE RIGHT
PERSON AT THIS TIME TO LEAVE
THE DEPARTMENT AS WE BUILD THE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR THE
FUTURE, TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE AND GOODS CAN MOVE
AROUND SAFELY AND AFFORDABLY,
AND TO BUILD PROJECTS THAT
VOTERS HAVE SO GENEROUSLY
APPROVED TO THE MOVE SEATTLE
AND OTHER LEVIES AND MAKE SURE
THOSE PROJECTS ARE DELIVERED.
>> I OVERSAW THE SEARCH FOR SAM
AND I CAN SAY, AND THE SEARCH
COMMITTEE SHARES THIS OPINION
THAT WE ARE DEEPLY IMPRESSED
WITH SAM'S QUALIFICATIONS IN
THIS ARENA.
HE COMES TO US FROM THE
DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THE OTHER
WASHINGTON.
WHERE HE WAS MOST RECENTLY
THEIR CHIEF PROJECT DELIVERY
OFFICER AND BRINGS SIDE OF THAT
CONNECTION BETWEEN
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
HE OVERSAW TRANSIT DELIVERY AS
WAS TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND
PROJECT DELIVERY.
THESE ARE REALLY WHAT WE NEED
HERE IN SEATTLE AS WE UNDERGO A
PERIOD OF GREAT CHANGE IN THE
CITY AND TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
DELIVER ON THOSE PROJECTS AND
MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT IS
ALSO DELIVERING BASIC AND
ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
>> I WILL SAY FINALLY AND THEN
HANDED OVER TO SAM TO SPEAK
MORE TO HIS QUALIFICATIONS, BUT
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU
GETTING TO KNOW SAM AS WAS THE
RESIDENCE AND CITY OF SEATTLE
IN THE NEXT COMING WEEKS AND
MONTHS AND WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO AN EXCITING TIME FOR
THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SAM'S
LEADERSHIP, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> SAM WHAT I HOPE TO GET OUT
OF TODAY, WE WILL TAKE ABOUT 30
MINUTES AND MYSELF AND MY
COLLEAGUES WILL ASK YOU A
SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO GET A
CHANCE TO KNOW YOU AND
UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIORITIES AND
STYLE OF LEADERSHIP, YOUR
EXPERIENCE AND HOW YOU PLAN TO
BRING THAT TO SDOT .
>> DURING THE PROCESS, WE MAY
COME UP WITH ALL THE QUESTIONS
AND INFORMATION WE WANT TO
DOUBLE BACK ON FOR OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING.
WITH THAT, I WILL LET YOU MAKE
OPENING REMARKS.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR
BACKGROUND AND VISION.
>> SOUNDS GREAT.
GERMAN O'BRIEN, COUNCILMEMBERS
JOHNSON AND SAWANT THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND
ENQUEUE DEPUTY MAYOR SHEFALI
RANGANATHAN FOR THE
INTRODUCTION.
I AM TRULY NOMINATED HONORED
TO BE NOMINATED BY MAYOR DURKAN
.
>> SOMEONE WHO IS SPEND MY
ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL CAREER WORKING TO
MAKE CITIES BETTER FOR PEOPLE I
HAVE SO OPPORTUNITIES TO USE MY
SKILLS TO THE GREATEST BENEFIT,
WHICH HAS BROUGHT ME TO SEATTLE
IN SDOT TODAY.
>> FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS I
WAS PART OF THE SENIOR
LEADERSHIP TEAM WITHIN THE
DISTRICT PART OF
TRANSPORTATION, OR D DOT IN
WASHINGTON DC.
FIRST IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
FOR POLICY PLANNING AND
SUSTAINABILITY.
FOR THE LAST TWO AND HALF YEARS
AS THE FIRST CHIEF PRODUCT
DELIVERY OFFICER FOR THE
AGENCY.
>> IN THAT ROLE, BUT THE
PLANNING, DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION OF CAPITAL
PROJECTS, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING,
TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION AND SIGNAL
DELIVERY.
D DOT IS A SIMILAR AGENCY TO
SDOT SINCE IT IS A FULL-SERVICE
CITY TRANSPORTATION AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR FILLING
BOTTLES, TRIMMING TREES,
OPERATING TRAFFIC SIGNALS,
BUILDING BRIDGES, BUILDING
SIDEWALKS, THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO LEARNING ABOUT THE NEW
ORGANIZATION, AND FUNCTIONS AS
WELL AS DYSFUNCTIONS OF THE
AGENCY.
>> IN WASHINGTON DC I DEALT
WITH MANY OF THE SAME
CHALLENGES THAT FACE US HERE,
RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATIONS,
THE STRESSES THAT PUTS ON
INFRASTRUCTURE, MULTIMODAL
CAPITAL PROJECTS LARGE AND SMALL
FACE CHALLENGES FROM
INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TO
SCHEDULE AND BUDGET CONTROL TO
BUILDING COMMUNITY CONSENSUS,
THE NEED FOR SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS AND FURTHER.
>> PRIOR TO JOINING DDOT I HAD
OVER 10 YEARS WORKING IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR FOR PLANNING AND
DESIGN WITH ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
AT A NATIONAL NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION RECONNECTING
AMERICA DEDICATED TO USING
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS
PARTICULARLY THROUGH PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO SUPPORT
EQUITABLE COMMUNITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> MY EXPERIENCE ENABLES ME TO
SEE THINGS FROM MULTIPLE
PERSPECTIVES, WEAVE TOGETHER
POLICY PROGRAMS, PEOPLE AND
PROJECTS.
I HAVE A LARGE TASK IN FRONT OF
ME AS SDOT DIRECTOR AND THE
SECOND DAY ON THE JOB.
IN ADDITION TO NEEDING TO GET
TO KNOW SEATTLE AND SEATTLEITES
THERE ARE THE DAY-TO-DAY
SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, THE
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND THE
NEED TO KEEP THE WHOLE CITY
MOVING.
I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE
WORK UNDERTAKEN BY MAYOR DURKAN
TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES OVER THE
PAST YEAR THAT ADDRESS THE
DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION AND
PROCESSES.
>> THE CONFERENCE OF WORK ON
THE MOVE SEATTLE COMMITMENTS,
THE CENTER CITY STREETCAR AND
OTHER ASPECTS OF WHAT THE
AGENCY DOES BUT THE AGENCY IN
THE POSITION TO DELIVER AND IT
WILL NOW BE UP TO ME TO FOLLOW
THROUGH.
WE ALSO HAVE REGIONAL
CHALLENGES AS WE CONTINUE TO
BUILD ON THE TRANSPORTATION
THAT MAKE THIS REGION THE ENVY
OF THE COUNTRY.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ALL ON THE COUNSEL,
WITH THE MODAL BOARDS,
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I WILL HAVE AN OPEN AND
COLLABORATIVE WORKING STYLE,
I'M STILL VERY NEW TO THE
POSITION, BUT AS I HAVE MET AND
SPOKEN WITH STAFF UP AND DOWN
THE ORGANIZATION I'VE BEEN
IMPRESSED BY THE KNOWLEDGE AND
PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE I'VE
SEEN.
I'VE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT
STAFF MORALE AND LOOK FORWARD
TO PROVIDING STABILITY TO THE
AGENCY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT HAVE
EQUIPMENT, TRAINING AND
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE TO
SUCCEED.
>> WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION I
WILL REITERATE MY EXCITEMENT
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE
AHEAD, AND I YOU HAVE SOME
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND I AM
HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS
POINT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SALLY BAGSHAW .
WE HAVE ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO
GET AS MUCH INFORMATION OUT OF
YOU AS WE CAN TODAY AND WE WILL
BE BACK IN A FEW WEEKS. SAM,
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO
TOUCH ON IS WHAT CAME UP IN
PUBLIC COMMENT A LITTLE BIT,
SAFETY AND THERE IS A QUESTION
ABOUT VISION ZERO AND YOU HAVE
COLLECTED SOME DATA ON SEATTLE
AND TALKED ABOUT EXPERIENCES IN
WASHINGTON DC.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW WE
KIND OF ACCELERATE THAT WORK,
WHAT YOU BUILD ON WHAT YOU
LEARNED AND HOW YOU WANT TO
BRING THAT TO US.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID A
COUPLE YEARS AGO WAS REDUCE OUR
SPEEDS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> ESSENTIALLY ON ANY UNNAMED
ARTERIALS THAT AUTOMATICALLY
BECAME 25 AND UNNAMED NON-
ARTERIALS 20. I SHOULDN'T SAY
UNNAMED, NO MARKS.
>> BUT THERE ARE IS A LOT OF
UNMARKED ARTERIALS AND WE HAVE
A LOT OF SPEEDS HIGHER THAN
THAT AND MAYBE SOME WILL STAY
FOREVER FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF
FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED,
MYSELF INCLUDED AT THE PACE IN
WHICH WE ARE LOWERING SPEEDS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE
CONTINUE TO SEE SOME OF THE
IMPACTS OF THAT.
THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE, WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT VISION ZERO.
I KNOW DDOT HAS COMMITTED TO
THAT AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO
ACCELERATE OUR WORK IN SEATTLE.
>> SURE, FIRST OF ALL I THINK
THE FRONT AND CENTER OF WHAT WE
DO AS TRANSPORTATION
PROFESSIONALS IS KEEPING THE
TRAVELING PUBLIC SAFE AND
TRYING TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES
AS THEY COME UP, MULTIMODAL
REGARDLESS OF WHERE IN THE CITY
THEY ARE COMING UP.
WHAT WE FOUND IN DC, AND I WILL
BE OPEN, THAT WE STRUGGLED
OFTEN WITH ACHIEVING THE VISION
ZERO AND WE HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN THE DISTRICT OF
BRINGING FATALITIES DOWN
SUBSTANTIALLY.
THE LAST TWO YEARS THEY HAVE
BEEN GOING UP AND THAT IS
MIRRORING A NATIONAL TREND, BUT
IT'S DISTURBING TO US.
>> THAT IS WHAT IS TO REDOUBLE
EFFORTS IN THE DISTRICT TO TRY
TO SEE WHERE WE COULD
ACCELERATE THINGS.
PART OF THAT, FOR US, WAS
PILOTING SOLUTIONS AND RAPIDLY
DEPLOYING THEM.
IT USED TO TAKE US A LOT OF
TIME AND ANALYSIS TO IMPLEMENT
A SINGLE LEADING PEDESTRIAN
INTERVAL, GIVING THEM A COUPLE
SECONDS OF HEAD START BEFORE
TURNING VEHICLES WOULD COME IN.
>> WE HAD TO COUNT THE NUMBER
OF PEDESTRIANS AND REALLY
GETTING TO THE DETAILS OF HOW
THAT WOULD WORK.
AS WE HAVE ROLLED OUT A CITY
WIDE TRAFFIC SIGNAL
OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM AIMED AT
IMPROVING AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
AND TRANSIT, WE STARTED TO
DEPLOY PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS ON
A MUCH MORE RAPID BASIS AND
THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT
THIS PAST YEAR WE DEFLATE A
THIRD OF THE SIGNALS WITH
LEADING PEDESTRIAN AND REVEALS
JUST AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
>> FOR ME A LOT OF IT IS
TESTING INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS,
BECOMING COMFORTABLE MAKING
SURE WE ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT
WAY AND RAPIDLY BRINGING THEM
TO SCALE.
>> SPEED MANAGEMENT IS A HUGE
ISSUE FOR SAFETY.
THAT IS, FROM MY EXPERIENCE,
THAT SPEED AND IMPAIRMENT ARE
THE TWO LEADING CAUSES OF
FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES
AND WE HAVE BEEN FIGURING A WAY
TO MANAGE SPEEDS BOTH ARE
ENGINEERING, EDUCATION AND
ENFORCEMENT, ALL OF THOSE LEAD
TO SPEED REDUCTIONS THAT CAN
IMPROVE SAFETY.
>> CAN I FOLLOW ON TO THAT?
>> PLEASE DO.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES
THAT WE MIRROR EACH OTHER IN
TERMS OF THE DISTRICT AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS ABOUT ACCESS
TO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, SAM.
I COULD BORE YOU WITH THE
STATISTICS ABOUT HOW MUCH OF
THE CITY IS PAVED OVER FOR
ROADWAY ACCESS, BUT I WANTED TO
PICK ON DOWNTOWN FOR QUICK
MINUTE.
>> WE HAVE 75% OF FOLKS COMING
DOWNTOWN USING SOMETHING OTHER
THAN DRIVING ALONE AND ONLY 25%
COMING DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY,
WHICH IS THE MOST CONGESTED
PART OF THE REGION, OR DRIVING
ALONE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITY
STREETS, ONE QUARTER OF THE
CITY STREETS ACTUALLY FOR
TRANSIT ONLY.
>> WE BASICALLY HAVE 4 TRANSIT
ONLY PATHWAYS AND DOWNTOWN.
IF WE WERE TO FOLLOW THE
GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, WE WOULD
BE GIVING THREE TIMES AS MUCH
RIGHT AWAY TO THOSE USING OTHER
MODES THAN DRIVING ALONE TO BE
ABLE TO GET THEM EASILY INTO
AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN.
YET WE STRUGGLE WITH THAT
BECAUSE PRIORITIZATION FOR
THINGS LIKE TRANSIT IS EXPENSIVE
, COMPLICATED AND SOMETIMES
IT'S POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR.
>> SO TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU
WORK WITH AND THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE MEETING OUR COLLECTIVE
GOALS OF SAFETY, CLIMATE CHANGE
AND MOBILITY WHEN THE PUBLIC
ISN'T ALWAYS AS FAR AHEAD OF
THE DATA AS SOMEONE LIKE YOU
MIGHT BE.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK THOSE RIGHT-OF-WAY
CHALLENGES AND TRADE-OFFS ARE
REALLY THE CRUX OF WHERE
CHALLENGES COME IN TERMS OF
REALLOCATING THE RIGHT AWAY.
I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT NEW TO
TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS HERE.
BUT SOMTIMES PROVIDING SOME OF
THE SOLUTIONS AND THEN BEING
ABLE TO BE READY AS AN AGENCY
AND AS A DEPARTMENT TO MODIFY
AND TWEAK THOSE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE ALLOCATING THOSE RIGHT, I
THINK WHAT MY EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN IN DC IS SOMETIMES WHEN
WHEN THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE
NOT BEEN DONE IN A FULLY
COMPETENT SUBWAY, WE HAVE
CREATED PROBLEMS THAT THEN
POISON THE WELL A LITTLE BIT
FOR FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
>> MY APPROACH IS TO TRY TO GET
THINGS AS RIGHT AS POSSIBLE
GOING INTO A PROJECT, AS FAR AS
THE NETWORK GOES.
AS FAR AS THE OVERALL CITY
CONTACT GOES AND THEN BEING
READY TO ADJUST AS NEEDED. BUT
GOING IN, JUST TO SHOW WE ARE
MAKING SOME PROGRESS, IF IT
WILL CREATE CHALLENGES DOWN THE
LINE, GIVES ME PAUSE.
SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE
KNOW AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE GOING
IN AND READY TO DO THINGS IN A
RIGHT AND SUSTAINABLE WAY,
SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME, JUST NOT
IN TERMS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
GOALS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR
RESPONSES SO FAR.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
QUESTION, IT'S SO CRITICAL FOR
MOST PEOPLE, JUST THE WAY IT
IMPACTS MOST PEOPLE'S LIVES,
CAN YOU MAYBE SAY A SENTENCE OR
TWO ABOUT THE NATIONAL TRANSIT
YOU ARE SAYING.
UNFORTUNATELY MAYBE THEY ARE
GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
BUT HOW BAD IS IT AND WHAT IS
IT INDICATING FOR OTHER
METROPOLITAN AREAS?
AND IF YOU COULD MAYBE NUDGE ON
WHAT SPECIFICALLY THE
DEPARTMENT DID IN WASHINGTON DC
IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING SAFETY
FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS?
>> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ISSUE
VIRTUALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO
EVERYBODY'S HEART.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY NOT
TOUCHED BY IT.
SO JUST SPECIFICALLY WHAT DID
THE DEPARTMENT DO AND I KNOW
YOU'RE NEW TO THE CITY, BUT DO
YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
ADDRESSED IN A SPECIFIC WAY?
>> AND THE OTHER QUESTION I
WILL THROW OUT THERE AND YOU
CAN ANSWER AS CONVENIENT AS IN
TERMS OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
DEPARTMENT, YOU DID MENTION
MORALE AND OF COURSE THERE ARE
VARIOUS ASPECTS TO IT.
>> I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD
TOUCH ON THE DISCUSSIONS HE
MIGHT'VE ALREADY HAD ABOUT THE
PRINCIPLES THE CITY HAS AGREED
TO AND WHAT YOUR VIEW IS ON THE
AND WHAT IS REFLECTED IN OUR
CONVERSATION SO FAR WITH THE
EMPLOYEES THERE?
>> THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS,
LET ME START WITH THE SECOND
AND GO BACK TO THE FIRST.
THE FRAMEWORK IS SOMETHING I'M
VERY EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING
MORE ABOUT.
I AM NEW TO THE. WE HAVE DEALT
WITH SIMILAR ISSUES IN
WASHINGTON DC, BUT I THINK THE
FRAMEWORK PROVIDES A GOOD WAY
TO APPROACH LASTING CHANGE IN
THE AGENCY AND HOW WE WORK WITH
THE PUBLIC.
>> ACTUALLY LATER TODAY, THE
SDOT CHANGE TEAM IS HAVING A
RETREAT AND I WILL BE STOPPING
IN AFTER I LEAVE HERE TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF AND SHOW MY
COMMITMENT AND REALLY START TO
LEARN ALONGSIDE MEMBERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT IS A
KEY PART OF WHAT HAS ATTRACTED
ME TO PUBLIC SERVICE HERE IN
SEATTLE.
>> IN TERMS OF VISION ZERO AND
NATIONAL TRENDS AND OTHER
CITIES, THE NATIONAL TRENDS
HAVE BEEN GOING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION.
A LOT OF THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY
IN BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
FATALITIES.
AND A LOT OF THOSE IN BOTH
URBAN AND INNER SUBURBAN
COMMUNITIES THAT OFTEN LACK
INFRASTRUCTURE, OR HAVE REAL
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, A LOT OF
THOSE I THINK THE INCREASES IN
FATALITIES DUE TIED A SPEED
DISTRACTION AND INTOXICATION,
QUITE OFTEN THOSE ARE THE THREE
BIGGEST INDICATORS OF WHERE WE
HAVE BEEN GOING AS A COUNTRY.
>> IN DC, OUR APPROACH TO
VISION ZERO, WHEN MAYOR BOWSER
HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR THE
START OF A SECOND TERM, HE CAME
INTO OFFICE IN 2015 AND SHE
REALLY EMBRACED VISION ZERO AND
ASK US, AS THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, TO LEAD 25
AGENCIES ACROSS THE CITY AND
FORMING AN ACTION PLAN BECAUSE
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
TRANSPORTATION. IT'S EVERYTHING
FROM FIRST RESPONDERS TO PUBLIC
WORKS HINDU PARKING ENFORCEMENT
THERE.
>> WE DEVELOPED A SET OF
STRATEGIES AROUND ENGINEERING
AND DIFFERENT ENFORCEMENT
APPROACHES, AROUND HOW WE
COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC AND
WE HAVE PUT THEM INTO PLACE.
SOME OF THEM, TOUCHED ON THE
LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS,
THOSE TYPES OF ENGINEERING
CHANGES.
>> WE ALSO REALLY TRIED TO
TARGET WHERE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT WAS BEING DONE SO
IT WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS BIKE
LANE BLOCKAGES, OR CROSSWALK
BLOCKAGES FOR PEDESTRIANS.
THE DISTRICT HAS A PRETTY LONG
HISTORY OF AUTOMATED TRAFFIC
ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE WORKED TO
MAKE THAT MORE SAFETY CLEARS TO
THE PUBLIC, SO IT WAS CLEAR THE
AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT WAS ABOUT
SAFETY.
>> WE FOUND VERY GOOD
CORRELATION BETWEEN AUTOMATED
ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH REDUCTION
FOR BOTH RED LIGHT AND SPEED
ENFORCEMENT. BUT WE ALSO HEARD
A LOT OF CHALLENGES ABOUT HOW
AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT WAS
HAPPENING.
SO FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS WE
HAVEN'T SEEN THE DOWNWARD TREND
WE WERE SEEING FOR A FEW YEARS
AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY GONE BACK
UP A LITTLE BIT FROM A LOW IN
2012.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE
SEEN A SLIGHT, BUT STEADY
INCREASE.
THAT LED US OVER THE LAST YEAR
TO REALLY DOUBLE DOWN SOME OF
THE ENGINEERING SIDE OF THINGS
AND TRY SOME NEW THINGS.
SOME OF THE WORK THAT NEW YORK
CITY HAS DONE AROUND LEFT TURN
TRAFFIC CALMING TO REDUCE THE
SPEED WITH PEOPLE ARE MAKING
LEFT TURNS, THEY DID CITYWIDE
RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT WAS A
LEADING CAUSE OF PEDESTRIAN
CRASHES AND IN VERY PACIFIC
CASES THEY MADE AGGRESSIVE
MOVES TO SLOW DOWN LEFT TURNS.
>> WE ADOPTED THAT AND HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYING IT.
WE HAVE WORKED TO REMOVE ALL
DOUBLE TURN CONFLICTS WITH
PEDESTRIAN RIGHT-OF-WAY IS SO
SOMETIMES WE WERE ELIMINATING
THE SECOND TURN LANE AND
SOMETIMES WE WERE ADDING A LEFT
TURN RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BECAUSE
THAT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR
TO THE NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN
CRASHES IN WASHINGTON DC.
>> IT HAS REALLY BEEN ROOTED IN
DATA AND OTHER EXPERIENCES FROM
OTHER CITIES TO FIND
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS AND MAKE
CHANGES THAT ADDRESS THINGS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I
THINK THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT
FROM A PUBLIC SECTOR AND
SOMETIMES A CHALLENGE FOR
AGENCY MORALE.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY GET A
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY WANTS
THERE TO BE ZERO TRAFFIC
FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES.
>> IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE PUBLIC
, ON THE TRAVELING PUBLIC IN
TERMS OF RESPECTING EACH OTHER
AND OTHER TRAVELERS.
I KNOW FOLKS HERE DON'T
NECESSARILY SEE THAT, BUT I SEE
A MUCH BETTER RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN PEOPLE TRAVELING OUT
THERE THAN I DO IN WASHINGTON
DC.
WE GET VERY AGGRESSIVE ON ALL
SIDES WHEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT
NICER HERE.
BUT I THINK THE AGENCY STAFF
TAKE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY
AND PRIDE IN KEEPING PEOPLE
SAFE AND GET THE SAME
FRUSTRATION THAT YOU ALL AS
ELECTED LEADERS GET WHEN WE ARE
NOT MAKING THE KIND OF PROGRESS.
>> I THINK MAKING SURE WE CAN
CONTINUE TO MAKE THE TYPES OF
IMPROVEMENTS THAT SDOT HAS MADE
, ACCELERATING LOWS, ENHANCING
WELLS AND MAKING SURE WE ARE
ADDRESSING THE PLACES WHERE
THERE ARE CRASHES, THAT IS
REALLY SOMETHING THAT I BRING,
IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING THE
AGENCY AND THEN MAKING SURE
WE'RE COMMUNICATING WHY WE ARE
DOING CERTAIN THINGS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW . I
REPRESENT D7, DOWNTOWN, WELCOME
TO D7.
A COUPLE OF ITEMS WE TALKED
ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS DOWNTOWN AT
ITS MOST CONGESTED POINT ARE
ONLY NINE BLOCKS WIDE.
WE ARE ALWAYS COMPETING FOR
REAL ESTATE.
MICHAEL IS RECOGNIZING WE WILL
HAVE TO PRIORITIZE STREETS.
WE HAVE DONE THAT WITH THIRD
AVENUE WITH BUSES.
I AM LIKE OTHERS AT THIS TABLE
AND I USE MY BIKE.
>> AM A MAJOR ADVOCATE, AS PART
OF MOVING PEOPLE.
BUT IT HAS GOT TO BE SAFE AND
CONNECTED.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE
YEARS, PLANS FOR A BIKE NETWORK
AND WE ARE DOING IT IN LITTLE
CHUNKS. I AM WONDERING IF
THERE IS A WAY THAT SDOT AND I
, I SEE MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
THE WORK SDOT HAS BEEN DOING
OVER THE YEARS . BUT AT SOME
JUNCTURE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE
JEANETTE SO I CAN'T MODEL, WE
ARE GOING TO MOVE THIS AND TRY
THIS.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
SHE USED TO SAY ABOUT BLOOMBERG
IS IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL OTHERS
BRING DATA. WE'VE GOT THE DATA,
WE KNOW THAT IF THESE NETWORKS
ACTUALLY EXIST, PEOPLE WILL
RIDE THEIR BIKES AT THE
SIDEWALKS, OR WIDER AND GREENER
AND THERE ARE AGE FRIENDLY
BENCHES APPOINTED.
>> PEOPLE WILL USE THOSE, THEY
WILL WALK AND RIDE THEIR BIKES.
CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN
WASHINGTON DC?
WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR BIKE
NETWORK PLANS RIGHT NOW, AND
HOW YOU WOULD PROPOSE MOVING
FORWARD.
>> SURE, SO MY EXPERIENCE IN
WASHINGTON DC WAS, I FELT
OVERALL SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF
INTEGRATING PROTECTED FACILITIES
, MOSTLY PRETTY WELL CONNECTED
INTO THE DOWNTOWN AND
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> WE FACED REAL CHALLENGES AT
THE ENDS OF THOSE FACILITIES
AND MAKING SURE THEY WERE
SAFELY CONNECTED.
I THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD OFTEN
GET VERY FRUSTRATED THAT WE
WOULD DO MOST OF IT AND THEN
THERE WOULD BE THE REALLY HARD
THING AND WE WOULD BE LIKE WE
WILL COME BACK TO THAT.
SO WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO MOVE
AWAY FROM JUST GETTING THINGS
AND BECAUSE IT WAS CONVENIENT
AND EASY AND TRYING TO MAKE
SURE WE WERE MAKING ALL OF THE
DIFFICULT CONNECTIONS AS
PARTNERS FACILITY INSTALLATION.
>> THOSE DIFFICULT THINGS WERE
ACTUALLY VERY DIFFICULT AND
REALLY INVOLVED TRADE-OFFS AND
SOMETIMES REQUIRED ADJUSTMENTS
AND TWEAKS TO MAKE THEM WORK. I
DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE
OVERALL NETWORK AND HOW THE
CITY WORKS TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER
THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN FACILITY
DESIGN GENERALLY HAS BEEN VERY
GOOD AND SORT OF MEETS
EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE SEEN HAS
WORKFLOW.
YOU'RE ASKING SAID ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN
INSTALLED.
I THINK THOSE ARE PLACES I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ENGINEERING AND PLANNING TEAMS
I SDOT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
MOVING AND PUTTING FORTH
DESIGNS AND PROJECTS THAT
ADDRESS THOSE THINGS AND REALLY
CAN DO AND AND.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
HAVE SEEN IS I'VE BEEN WALKING
AROUND DOWNTOWN, IS JUST WE
TALK ABOUT THE PERIOD OF
MAXIMUM CONSTRAINT AND ALL THE
THINGS GOING INTO IT, A LEVEL
OF CONSTRUCTION AND THE LEVEL
OF DISRUPTION AROUND IS
SUBSTANTIAL MAKING SURE THAT WE
CAN COMMUNICATE TO ALL OF THE
TRAVELING PUBLIC EXACTLY WHAT
THEIR SAFE ROUTES ARE IN THAT
THEY ARE CONNECTED AND AND FOR
THEIR TRIPS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE LAST
THREE WEEKS.
THE FIRE DOOM THAT PEOPLE ARE
PREPARED FOR, BECAUSE WE WERE
PREPARED PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED,
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO
HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION ON
DOWNTOWN?
>> I THINK COUNCILMAN JOHNSON
WANTED A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
>> JUST A FOLLOW ON YOUR
QUESTION, I THINK YOU BRING A
REALLY INTERESTING POINT SAM,
WHICH IS SOMETIMES THAT LAST
LITTLE BIT IS THE MOST
COMPLICATED AND THE COUNSEL
SEVERAL YEARS AS A CONSULTANT
TO DO SOME ANALYSIS OF THE
MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
WITH THE CITY AND YOU GOT A LOT
OF GOOD IDEAS IN YOUR RESPONSES
TO US ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT
PERFORM SOME OF OUR CAPITAL
PROJECT DELIVERY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS LEFT OUT
AS POLITICS.
I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT TALK
ABOUT HOW YOU NAVIGATE
SOMETHING THAT IS POLITICALLY
CONTENTIOUS IN THE FACE OF
CAPITAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS OUR
CONSULTANTS, THE COUNSEL
CONSULTANTS FOUND, WAS THAT
SDOT'S RESPONSE HAS HAD
SUGGESTING SOME OF THE
TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS YOU
PROVIDED, BUT THEY ALSO
SUGGESTED SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES REALLY ABOUT
POLITICAL FISTED CUFFS TO
GETTING TO A SOLUTION.
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE IN
DC AT NAVIGATING THE POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENTS WITH DIFFERENCES
IN OPINION?
>> SURE, SO IN DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA WE HAD A SYSTEM CALLED
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS,
WHICH ARE ELECTED, LOCAL
OFFICIALS THAT ARE VOLUNTEER
AND SUB COUNSEL DISTRICT LEVEL
THAT PROVIDE AGENCIES WITH
GREAT WEIGHT ON THINGS THAT
AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WHEN WE HAD A PROJECT, WE WOULD
DIRECTLY WITH THE ADVISORY
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, SOMETIMES
TO USE THAT AS BOTH A VENUE FOR
PUBLIC INPUT, BUT ALSO OUR OWN
AGENCY LED PROCESSES.
>> SOMETIMES WE WOULD GET TO A
POINT WITH THEM, WHERE THEY
WOULDN'T AGREE FULLY WITH WHAT
WE WERE PROPOSING. AND WORKING
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE ANCS
, SOMETIMES WE MIGHT HAVE TO
NAVIGATE THOSE WATERS. BUT THAT
WAS SOMETHING I AM VERY USED TO.
>> THAT CAME THROUGH DIALOGUE,
OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY ABOUT
THE TRADE-OFFS, SO THAT THERE
CAN BE CLARITY ABOUT WHERE THE
DECISIONS WERE. AS I LOOK
FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW THE
CITY, I ALSO LOOKED ALL OF YOU
REPRESENTING DISTRICTS TO HELP
ME WITH THAT AND I AM HAPPY TO
ENGAGE IN GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
DISTRICTS AS WELL.
>> SAM, I WANT TO PIVOT A BIT
FOR A SECOND CLIMATE CHANGE
ISSUES. I THINK WE ARE ALL AWARE
TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG
COMPONENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
RIGHT NOW NOT JUST IN SEATTLE
AND WASHINGTON STATE, BUT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TRANSPORTATION IS THE BIGGEST
SECTOR OF CARBON EMISSIONS.
>> SIMULTANEOUSLY WE HAVE THE
INTERNATIONAL PANEL ON CLIMATE
CHANGE FROM THE UN NATIONS A
FEW MONTHS AGO TELLING US WE
HAVE LESS THAN 12 YEARS NOW TO
RADICALLY REFORM WE WANT TO
PREVENT IRREVERSIBLE AND
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THAT ALONE SAYS WELL, WE HAVE
TO DO A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION
IN A REALLY SHORT TIME.
THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY.
AS WE SHOW IN SEATTLE THINKS OF
OURSELVES AS LEADERS, WE HAVE A
LONG WAYS TO GO.
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW WE
WILL RADICALLY REFORM OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND I AM
LOCKED IN THE CURRENT DYNAMIC OF
WE JUST HAVE SIDEWALKS, ROADS
AND BIKES THAT FIT IN THERE AND
HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING
A LITTLE CHANGE WE HAVE MADE,
AND PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE,
BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.
IT CAN GET HOPELESS.
>> BUT THEN I STARTED THINKING
ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY AND NEW SYSTEMS AND
INNOVATION HAPPENING IN
TRANSPORTATION AND IT STARTS TO
GIVE ME HOPE.
>> YOU HEARD TODAY ABOUT FOLKS
TALKING FROM BIKE SHARE BIKES,
SCOOTER SHARES, THOSE ARE THE
COUPLE THAT ARE OBVIOUS RIGHT
NOW AND THOSE HAVE COME FORWARD
IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO. I FEEL
THAT THAT HELPS WITH URGENCY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I REALLY
FEAR THAT THE BURDEN OF THESE
NEW TECHNOLOGIES WILL
DISADVANTAGE THE MOST VULNERABLE
VOTERS ALREADY.
AND WE HAD SOMEONE COMMENT
ABOUT BEING A PEDESTRIAN AND
PEDESTRIAN INTERFERENCE.
HOW YOU DEALT WITH THIS A
LITTLE BIT IN DC?
>> THE MAYOR AND COUNSEL ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THIS, HOW FAST
WE DEPLOY THESE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES WE NEEDED
YESTERDAY, BUT DO IT IN A WAY
THAT IS NERVOUS DOESN'T REDUCE
MOBILITY OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND
SOMETHING I'VE STRUGGLED WITH
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AS
MOBILITY OPTIONS HAVE COME INTO
WASHINGTON DC.
YOU'RE FRAMING IT, I THINK
RIGHTLY SO, AS PART OF THIS
LARGER URGENCY ABOUT CLIMATE
CHANGE AND WHAT WE DO IN
RESPONSE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS
IN MAJOR CONSTRUCTION WILL BE
SLOW AND STEADY, WHICH HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO REALLY SHIFT
THINGS ON SOME LEVELS.
THEN THERE IS THESE SMALLER
LEVEL CHANGES THAT CAN ALSO
REALLY AFFECT HOW PEOPLE GET
AROUND.
I THINK ADDRESSING HOW WE GET
AROUND, WHICH IS REALLY
ULTIMATELY HOW WE DEAL WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE, IS ABOUT MAKING
SURE PEOPLE HAVE SAFE AND
RELIABLE OPTIONS SO THAT WHEN
THERE IS A SHIFT IN WHEN PEOPLE
GIVE UP CARS, OR DRIVE LESS,
THERE ARE SAFER OPTIONS AND
PEOPLE DON'T FEEL STRANDED.
>> AND SOME PEOPLE MAY CONTINUE
TO DRIVE AND THEY HAVE THAT
ABILITY, WHILE WE ARE MAKING
SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND RELIABLE
OPTIONS FOR EVERYBODY.
ONE THING THAT I THINK HAS BEEN
A CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF ASSURED
MOBILITY DEVELOPMENT, IS THAT
THERE IS REAL GREAT POTENTIAL
OUT THERE FOR DUCTLESS BIKES
AND SCOOTERS TO PROVIDE ACCESS
IN WAYS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO PROVIDE BEFORE.
>> BUT THERE ARE ALSO THOSE
REAL TRADE-OFFS. WE STARTED A
LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN SEATTLE
DID AND WASHINGTON.
NOW THERE IS A LOT OF SCOOTER
OPERATORS.
WE ARE SLOWER ON THE BIKES
INSIDE BCAUSE WE HAD A PUBLIC
RUN PROGRAM THAT WAS AND STILL
IS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE GONE A LITTLE BIT
QUICKER ON THE SCOOTER SIDE.
BUT SEEING SOME OF THE SAME
CHALLENGES THAT I THINK FOLKS
HERE ARE WORRIED ABOUT, MICHAEL
IN HELPING TO BRING THAT
KNOWLEDGE HERE IS REALLY WE
LEARNED ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR
THE COMPANIES TO MANAGE THEIR
EQUIPMENT, THE ABILITY OF HOW
ALL OF THESE DECENTRALIZED USERS
, WHO HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES,
THAT THEY MAY NOT EVEN
UNDERSTAND OR KNOW THEY ARE NOT
FOLLOWING, HOW THAT PLAYS INTO
THE EXPERIENCE EVERYBODY HAS.
>> I THINK THERE IS GREAT
POTENTIAL AND THERE ALSO ARE
DRAWBACKS AND YOU NEED TO
MITIGATE THE IMPACTS WHILE
GETTING SOME OF THOSE BENEFITS
OUT OF SYSTEMS.
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR A COUPLE
MORE QUESTIONS.
>> CAN I JUST THROW IN AGE
FRIENDLY?
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BECAME THE
104th AGE FRIENDLY CITY THAT IS
AARP AND WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION.
SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN VERY
INTERESTING AND IN, BECAUSE IF
WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY AND OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE SAFE ENOUGH FOR
SOMEBODY WHO IS 80, BUT ALSO A
PARENT PUSHING A STROLLER OR A
CHILD LEARNING TO RIDE A
SCOOTER, IF WE CAN DO ALL OF
THAT, EVERYBODY BENEFITS.
>> I AM AN ADVOCATE OF THAT.
WE HAVE AN AGE FRIENDLY ACTION
PLAN THAT WAS PUBLISHED LAST
YEAR.
I AM WONDERING FIRST OF ALL IF
YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT.
AND SECONDLY, WHAT AND HOW CAN
WE WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT
SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> I HAVE SEEN IT, I HAVE NOT
HAD A CHANCE TO DELVE INTO IT.
IT IS IN THE BIG BINDER OF
THINGS I WILL TAKE HOME AND
SOMETIMES I WILL SLEEP ON IT,
SOMETIMES I READ IT UNTIL I
FALL ASLEEP.
BUT I WILL GET THROUGH IT.
>> BUT WE WERE IN AGE FRIENDLY
CITY IN WASHINGTON ALSO AND TOOK
EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
THE APPROACH. I IMAGINE THE
PLANS ARE PRETTY WELL ALIGNED
IN TERMS OF HOW WE MAKE A CITY
MORE ACCESSIBLE AND FRIENDLY
FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES.
>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT I TRULY
COME FROM IN TERMS OF MAKING
SURE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN
GET AROUND AND DON'T FEEL
ISOLATED, REGARDLESS OF AGE AND
ABILITY. HOW WE MAKE THAT, IT'S
REALLY A PEDESTRIAN FORWARD,
PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY WAY TO
THINK ABOUT HOW WE BUILD THE
CITY.
>> IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
SCOOTERS, I THINK OF A PHRASE I
LEARNED IN COPENHAGEN A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO WHICH IS
PRIORITIZING SOFT OF HER HARD.
THAT MEANS SOFT PEDESTRIANS
HAVE PRIORITY OVER HIS THE
SCOOTER, WHICH HAS PRIORITIES
OVER THE CAR AND THE BIKE IS IN
THE MIDDLE.
IF WE HAVE THIS CONNECTED
BICYCLE NETWORK IN THE BE USED
BY BIKES AND SCOOTERS, GET THEM
OFF THE PEDESTRIANS.
FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH
SKATEBOARDERS.
>> IF THE WHOLE CITY
CONSCIOUSNESS AS WE ARE OUT
HERE TOGETHER, WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RESPECT THE
SPACES.
IF WE HAVE THE SPACES
DESIGNATED, PEOPLE USE THEM
MORE OR LESS AND MORE IS
BETTER, OBVIOUSLY.
IF YOU KNOW AS A BY GREATER I'M
GOING TO BE ON FOURTH AVENUE
AND THERE IS A PAINTED LANE
RIGHT NOW AND THEN YOU GET TO
SPRING AND IT GOES AWAY AND
THEN IT IS THE GOOD LUCK SCHOOL
BICYCLE RIDING FOR THE NEXT
EIGHT BLOCKS, THAT I DON'T
THINK IS A GOOD THING.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU AS A
NEW SDOT LEADER, TO HELP WITH
YOUR STAFF TO SAY, LET'S GET
THESE PRIORITIES AND LET'S
REALLY MOVE FORWARD FASTER AND
TRY THEM.
>> IF WE ARE WRONG, WE CAN FIX
THEM.
BUT LET'S NOT KEEP WAITING FOR
THAT PERFECT MOMENT.
>> JUST ONE FINAL ONE AND I
KNOW WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER
CHANCE IN FEBRUARY, SO ONE OF
THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT IN
YOUR OPENING REMARKS IS ABOUT
HALF MORALE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT
MYSELF AS SOMEBODY WHO IS A
DEFENDER OF THE BUREAUCRACY.
WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES
TO ADOPT THE STREET DESIGN
GUIDELINES.
WHERE THOUGHT OF AMONGST THE
MOST PROGRESSIVE TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY, BUT
ALL DEITIES STRUGGLE WITH THE
MORALE ISSUES, PARTICULARLY
OURS THAT HAS BEEN LED BY A
SERIES OF INTERIM DIRECTORS.
I WONDER, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
STRATEGIES YOU WILL BRING
FORWARD IN YOUR FIRST COUPLE OF
MONTHS TO REALLY GET FOLKS IN
LINE ON A CLEAR AND COHERENT
VISION?
AND HOW DO WE BUILD BACK SOME
OF THAT MORALE AND TRUST AND
FAITH IN BUREAUCRACY?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE HARD
WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER
THE AGENCY OVER THE LAST YEAR
AND 14 MONTHS HAS REALLY
POSITIONED THE AGENCY AND ME TO
BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT REGARD.
>> I THINK THE ORGANIZATION
STRUCTURE, THE EVALUATIONS
HONEST INTERNALLY OF SOME OF
THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE
CHALLENGING HAS PUT EVERYBODY
IN A POSITION TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH EACH OTHER
WITHIN THE AGENCY.
I'VE GOT EXPERIENCE IN FD.
BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO
USED TO SORT OF BE IN CONFLICT
WITH HOW PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
ARE DELIVERED.
WE MANAGE THAT PRIMARILY BY
TALKING TO EACH OTHER IN MAKING
SURE THEY WARRANT THESE SORT OF
INTERNAL DIVISIONS THAT CAPPED
FOLKS APART FROM BEING ABLE TO
GO OUT IN ONE VOICE AND ENGAGE
WITH COMMUNITY AROUND PROJECTS.
>> FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, THAT
IS ALREADY HAPPENING WITHIN
SDOT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY PROVIDING
THE SPACE AND LEADERSHIP
DIRECTION TO HAVE THAT CONTINUE.
RIGHT NOW I AM IN FULL LEARNIN
MODE, SO I'M TRYING TO GET
BRIEFED UP AS QUICKLY AS I
POSSIBLY CAN ON THINGS.
EVEN THE PROCESS OF, NO SDOT
FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE BROUGHT ON
SEVERAL LEADERS OVER THE LAST
YEAR OR SO, BUT JUST THE
PROCESS OF EXPLAINING TO
SOMEBODY WHO IS NEW WHAT YOU'RE
DOING REQUIRES PEOPLE TO TALK
TO EACH OTHER.
>> AS WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE
INTRODUCTORY BRIEFINGS IT'S NOT
JUST EACH PROGRAM TELLING ME
WHAT THEY DO INDIVIDUALLY, THE
WHOLE SENIOR TEAM IS INVITED TO
THOSE AND IS SITTING IN AND
LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER AS
THEY ARE ALSO BRINGING ME UP TO
SPEED.
SO YOU KNOW, I THINK AS I MOVE
FORWARD, I'M SURE I WILL FIND
THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY NEED
SOME HELP.
I THINK MAKING SURE THAT THE
OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY ALIKE
TO BRING TO THE PUBLIC IS ALSO
HAPPENING WITHIN THE AGENCY IS
IMPORTANT AS WELL.
>> SAM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THE TIME WITH US TODAY, I
REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT I HAVE
HEARD FROM YOU IN OUR PRIVATE
CONVERSATIONS AND I THINK A LOT
OF THINGS THAT CAME OUT TODAY.
WE WILL TAKE A COUPLE MORE
WEEKS AND MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC
úHAS A CHANCE TO SEE THE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
THERE MAY BE SOME BACK AND
FORTH BETWEEN NOW AND THEN AND
WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A
SLIGHTLY SHORTER VERSION OF
THIS WITH FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
IN A COUPLE WEEKS.
>> BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
OPENNESS AND BOTH YOUR
EXPERIENCE AND WILLINGNESS TO
COME AND LEARN HOW THINGS ARE
WORKING IN SEATTLE AND BRING
YOUR EXPERIENCE TO FIT IN AND
ALSO RADICALLY TRANSFORM OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AT THE
SAME TIME.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER TWO.
I WILL INVITE THE PRESENTERS
FORWARD ON THE RENAMING OF THE
STREET, JASMINE YOU WANT TO
READ THAT?
>> COUNSEL BILL 11945, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY
STREETS, CHANGING THE NAME OF
PORTION OF A RAVEN AURORA
AVENUE NORTH AND DENNY WAY .
BETWEEN BATTER STREET AND DENNY
WAY TO BOREALIS AVENUE . AND
SUPERSEDING PRIOR ORDINANCES TO
THE X DIDN'T INCONSISTENT.
>>FROM THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> ERIN HARRIS FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> WELCOME YOU BOTH, WE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE CHANGES
FOR NUMBER OF YEARS.
WHAT ARE YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE
ON WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU
ARE ASKING US TO DO TODAY.
>> TODAY WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT A SECTION OF ROADWAY AND
THE REASON FOR MY FAUX PAS IN
MY AGENCY IDENTIFICATION IS THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION THINKS THIS IS
HIGHWAY 99.
IT IS A ROADWAY THAT WAS
HISTORICALLY SEVENTH AVENUE
NORTH AND WAS RENAMED AS PART
OF THE PROCESS WHEN THE STATE
HIGHWAY WENT THROUGH.
IT HAS KIND OF A DUAL NATURE
TODAY.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A
PROCESS WHERE WE ARE OPENING A
NEW TUNNEL IN SEATTLE.
>> PART OF THE PROCESS AT THE
NORTH PORTAL IS REDEFINING THIS
SECTION OF ROADWAY AS MORE OF A
COMMUNITY STREET, NO LONGER THE
MANAGED ACCESS FACILITY WE TEND
TO ASSOCIATE WITH HIGHWAY 99 OR
AURORA.
>> TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY
PLOTTED AS SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH
AND WILL MOSTLY TALK ABOUT
THAT.
WE WILL SEE HERE IN THE BLUE AT
THE BOTTOM, OR FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO DON'T ALLOW COLORS EXACTLY
THE SAME, IN A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT TONE, TO THE BOTTOM
HALF IS NORTH OF DENNY BETWEEN
DENNY AND HARRISON STREET IS
THE SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH
SECTION WE ARE PROPOSING.
>> TO THE SOUTH OF THAT, WE END
UP WITH WHAT IS CURRENTLY
AURORA AVENUE.
BUT THERE IS ALREADY A SEVENTH
AVENUE ADJACENT TO THE.
IT LEFT A LITTLE BIT OF AN
ORPHAN SEGMENT, WE DIDN'T WANT
TO LEAVE AURORA BECAUSE WE WERE
CONCERNED IT WOULD PROVIDE
CONFUSION OR POTENTIAL FOR
ADDITIONAL DELAY WITH EMERGENCY
SERVICES.
WE HAVE SELECTED BOREALIS
AVENUE FOR THAT IS A BIT OF A
HEAD NOD TO THE NAME OUT THERE
CURRENTLY, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES
A UNIQUE NAME WITHIN THE GRID
THAT WILL ALLOW FIRST
RESPONDERS TO GET ALONG WITHOUT
NAME CONFUSION.
>> THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THAN THE ANNUAL, OR SEMIANNUAL
VISITS I HAVE HAD RECENTLY TO
TALK ABOUT RENAMING STREET
NAMES THAT WERE KIND OF A
CLEANUP OF DATA ISSUES WITHIN
THE SYSTEM.
THIS WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE
COMMUNITY TO US AND IT'S BEEN
ABOUT SIX YEARS WORTH OF PROCESS
. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THE
LAST TWO.
IT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AS A
REQUEST TO RETURN TO THE
SEVENTH AVENUE NORTH NAME PART
OF THIS IS DIRECTLY.
>> THAT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
THAN THE OTHER ONES WERE WE
DISCOVERED A CONFLICT WITHIN
THE ORDINANCES THAT I AM
NORMALLY HERE FOR.
>> IT'S FUN TO BE PROACTIVE,?
>> IT IS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO
NOTE IS IT AFFECTS FIVE
DIFFERENT PARCELS.
NORMALLY WE WOULD MAIL OUT TO
THEM AHEAD OF TIME A NOTICE TO
THIS MEETING.
IN THIS CASE, WE HAD A CHANCE
TO TALK WITH REPRESENTATIVES OR
THE OWNERS THROUGH SOME OF OUR
EARLY OUTREACH OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT MAILING
OUT.
WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GETTING
US IN ON A TIMELY MATTER FOR
TODAY'S MEETING.
>> WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP THE
MEETING WITH THE MAILINGS
INSTEAD OF LEADING THE MEETING
WITH THEM.
>> FOR THEM THE BIG ISSUES IS
THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE ADDRESS
AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE
TO TOUCH FROM A BUSINESS
STANDPOINT. OTHER THAN THAT, IS
THERE A DIFFICULTY?
>> FROM A FUNCTIONAL STANDPOINT
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS
BASICALLY I'VE GOT TO CHANGE MY
LETTERHEAD AND ROMA ITEMS ARE
SENT.
I HAVE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW
THAT CORRESPONDS WITH ME.
IN THIS AREA WE ARE LOOKING AT
A FAIR AMOUNT OF CURRENT
DEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO
PUSH FORWARD IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS OPEN I
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CHANGE IN
THEIR ADDRESS AS PEOPLE TRY TO
MOVE IN.
>> OKAY.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY PUSHBACK?
>> WE HAVE HAD SUPPORT AND SOME
QUESTIONS AS WE HAVE RECEIVED
TO THE PROCESS HERE, AS FAR AS,
CAN ALL BE NAMED SEVENTH?
THAT PULLED INTO THE QUESTION
OF SOUTH OF DENNY WE DON'T WANT
TO HAVE 2 SEVENTH AVENUES.
IT CAN CREATE CONFUSION AND WE
DON'T WANT PEOPLE GOING TO THE
WRONG INTERSECTION IF YOU NEED
HELP FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR
OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
>> ON THE BOREALIS AVENUE
STRETCH ARE THERE ANY ADDRESSES
THERE?
>> I BELIEVE THE EXISTING
ELEPHANT CARWASH IS ADDRESSED
OFF OF THAT.
>> I WASN'T SURE WHICH SIDE OF
THE BLOCK THEY WERE ON.
>> I NEED TO VERIFY, BUT I
BELIEVE THERE IS ONE PARCEL
OFFICE BOREALIS AVENUE.
SO AS WE STEP THROUGH, ONE OF
THE BIGGER REASONS THIS MAKES
SENSE IN THE RECONNECTING OF
THE GRID IS WEIRD THERE
REDEVELOPING WHAT IS AURORA
AVENUE NORTH BETWEEN DENNY AND
HARRISON.
AS A SURFACE STREET IT WILL NO
LONGER BE A HIGHWAY YOU DRIVE
ON TODAY.
IT WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
FOR A PHILLY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF TIME AS OUR PARTNERS GO
THROUGH AND REBUILD THAT AND
REDEFINE IT AS WHAT IS GOING TO
LOOK AND FEEL MORE LIKE A
TRADITIONAL CITY STREET.
>> THAT IS KIND OF RECONNECTING
THE GRID FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE
STANDPOINT AND THIS IS THE
NAMING PORTION OF THAT.
THEN TO JUST FOLLOW UP, WE HAVE
TWO DIFFERENT NAMES WE ARE
PUTTING FORWARD, WE WANT TO
COMBINE THOSE TOGETHER AND KEEP
THAT TOGETHER SO WE DON'T END
UP WITH AN ORPHAN BLOCK OF
AURORA AND CREATE CONFUSION.
>> SO NORTH OF DENNY WAY WE
WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE AURORA
AVENUE NORTH TO SEVENTH AVENUE,
WHICH IS THE HISTORIC NAME FROM
DENNY TO HARRISON.
AND THEN SOUTH OF DENNY,
CREATE THE NEW AND UNIQUE
BOREALIS AVENUE.
>> JUST SO I'VE GOT IT, ON THIS
MAP THAT WE HAVE HERE MAYBE YOU
COULD GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS
SLIDE. I'M LOOKING AT FROM
DENNY UP TO WHAT IS THE NEW
99?
THAT REMAINS 7th?
>> SO FROM DENNY TO THE NEW
RAMPS TO SR 99 THAT WILL
BECOME 7th AVENUE NORTH. YOU
CAN SEE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF
YOUR IMAGE, SIXTH AVENUE NORTH
WILL THEN HAVE A 7th AVENUE
NORTH PARALLEL.
>> HOW MANY BLOCKS, BOREALIS
AVENUE IS ONE?
>> WE HAVE A THREE BLOCK
SECTION OF BOREALIS AVENUE
NORTH.
>> ESSENTIALLY THE BUS STOP.
>> CORRECT.
>> IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.
OTHERWISE, OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD
BE IF YOU CHOOSE TO PASS IT
THROUGH COUNSEL, WE WOULD BE
INSTALLING SIGNS IF THE
MARRIAGE CHOOSES TO SIGN IT.
>> AND IS THAT A QUESTION?
>> AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
>> COLLEAGUES, I AM PREPARED TO
GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS TODAY.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
FOR A WHILE AND PUBLIC
COMMENTS, ONE OF THEM MENTIONED
JOHN CONEY AND COUNCILMEMBER
JOHNSON AND I WERE ON A
COMMITTEE WITH CONEY AND HE WAS
A REALLY GREAT ACTIVIST FOR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT IS
EXCITING TO DO THIS NOT BECAUSE
OF JOHN, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A
THING THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS
AND IT IS SOMETHING HE HAS BEEN
TALKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE
COUNTABLE 119455.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS.
>> AND OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM.
>> COUNSEL BILL 119456 AN
ORDINANCE GRANTING NATIONAL
RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION
PERMISSION TO CONSTRUCT,
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE BELOW
GRADE UTILITY LINES UNDER AND
ACROSS SOUTH HOLGATE STREET
BELOW GRADE UTILITY LINES AND
ACROSS EAST OF OCCIDENTAL
AVENUE SOUTH. SPECIFYING THE
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS IS
GRANTED AND PROVIDING FOR THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERMIT AND
CONDITIONS.
>> I AM AMY GRAY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> AND ROB EATON AMTRAK.
>> TODAY WE ARE HERE FOR THE
SECOND STEP IN A TWO-STEP
APPROVAL PROCESS FOR TERM
PERMITS. LAST SEPTEMBER CITY
COUNSEL CONCEPTUALLY APPROVED
THE UTILITY LINES GOING UNDER
SOUTH HOLGATE STREET AND NOW
ALL THE REVIEWS, TECHNICAL
REVIEWS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLETED
AND WE ARE READY FOR COUNSEL TO
DECIDE ON THE PERMIT.
>> SO AMTRAK IS SEEKING A NEW
PERMIT FOR PRIVATE UTILITY
LINES UNDER SOUTH HOLGATE
STREET BETWEEN OCCIDENTAL
AVENUE SOUTH AND WEST OF THIRD
AVENUE SOUTH.
THESE UTILITY LINES WILL TREAT
INDUSTRIAL WAYS ON THE NORTH
AND SOUTH PROPERTIES THEY OWN
BEFORE IT IS DISCHARGED INTO
THE CITY SEWAGE SYSTEM. THEY
WILL SEPARATE SEWER SERVICE
FROM STORMWATER IN THE SYSTEM
AND CONNECT LOCOMOTIVES TO
SHORE POWER ALLOWING THEM TO
POWER OFF AND REDUCE IDLING
TIMES.
IF IT'S APPROVED, THE ANNUAL
FEE WILL BE IN 2019 $1044 AND
THE CITY HAS AN ORDINANCE BOND
IF AMTRAK WALKS AWAY FROM THE
PERMIT AND WE NEED TO REMOVE
THE UTILITY LINES, WE CAN DO SO
AND HAVE OUR COST COVERED, AND
THAT IS ABOUT $150,000.
>> AND THEN HERE IS THE MAP
SHOWING THE LINES AND
CONSTRUCTION, AS ROB WILL TELL
YOU, HAS BEEN ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY AND STOPPED
IMMEDIATELY AT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY
LINES.
THEY ARE READY TO GET MOVING.
THEY SOMETIMES HAVE SCHEDULES
THAT HAVE TO MEET. BUT THROUGH
THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION,
THERE WILL NOT BE IMPACTS TO
TRAFFIC ON SOUTH HOLGATE
STREET, NOR WILL IT IMPACT THE
CONSTRUCTION WORK HAPPENING AT
SOUTH LANDER FOR THE GREAT
SEPARATION.
THE NEXT MAP SHOWS THE GENERAL
LOCATION IN SOTO. COUNSEL
PROVIDED APPROVAL IN SEPTEMBER
AND WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR
RECOMMENDING APPROVAL FOR THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT CLEAN
STORMWATER AND WE CERTAINLY
SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF BEING
ABLE TO USE OUR CLEAN
ELECTRICITY, AS OPPOSED TO
DIESEL ENGINES WHEN POSSIBLE.
THAT IS A GREAT.
AMY, I ASSUME IN THE REVIEW
THERE WERE NO MAJOR CONFLICTS
THAT COULD BE RESOLVED AND THAT
IS WHY YOU ARE HERE TODAY.
>> YES, AS PART OF THE PERMIT
REVIEW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION,
THE REVIEWERS CONNECT WITH ANY
AFFECTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
SO SPU OR STC EYE COORDINATION,
THEY ALL WAY AND ENSURE THE
PLANS AND WE ANY CONCERNS
BEFORE SDOT GETS TO THE
POSITION OF HAVING THE
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY READY TO BE
ISSUED.
>> HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH AMTRAK
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
>> WE ARE EXCITED TO MOVE
FORWARD.
THE FACILITY LOOKS FANTASTIC.
WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE PLANS
OF WATCHDOG WITH THE STATE-
SUPPORTED SERVICE.
WE ALSO DO THE MAINTENANCE OF
TRANSIT TRAINS, SO THE LOCAL
AUTO SHOP WILL BE THE NEXT STEP
IN THE FACILITY TO PROVIDE A
MORE EFFICIENT AND CLEANER USE
OF UTILITIES.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> SOUNDS GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS?
I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE
COUNSEL BILL 119456.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY I.
>> I.
>> THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
, IT WILL BE A FULL COUNSEL
WEEK FROM YESTERDAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WOULD
LIKE TO THINK SDOT IN THE TEAM
WHO MOVED IT FORWARD AND WERE
GREAT PARTNERS TO WORK ON.
>> GOOD TO KNOW.
COLLEAGUES, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE
FOR TODAY, THANKS FOR YOUR
WORK.
WE WILL SEE YOU AGAINST IN A
WEEK, NEXT TUESDAY.
THANKS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.