>>> WE ARE RECORDING. TIME IS
9:30 A.M. JANUARY 17th. I'M
ALEX PEDERSEN PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> I WILL ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL
OF OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS AS THEY
ARRIVE. WELCOME TO THE FIRST
TRANSPORTATION SEATTLE PUBLIC
MEETING OF 2023. WE HAVE TWO
ITEMS. FIRST ON THE AGENDA,
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND IDEALLY
A VET ON BILL 120493, THE
SHARED TRANSIT STOPS PROGRAM.
THIS BILL WOULD MAKE PERMANENT
THAT EMPLOYER TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM THAT SHARES TRANSIT
STOPS TO ENCOURAGE COMMUTERS TO
LEAVE THEIR SINGLE OCCUPANCY
VEHICLES AT HOME. WE HAVE A
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT
CORRECTS SOME LANGUAGE IN
ATTACHMENT A. THAT'S SHOWN AS
AMENDMENT ONE ON THE AGENDA
TODAY. SECOND, WE HAVE AN
UPDATE FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON
THE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO
UPGRADE THE SWING BRIDGE, KNOWN
AS THE WEST SEATTLE LOW BRIDGE.
AS MANY ARE PAINFULLY AWARE,
AFTER THE BRIDGE EXPERIENCED
TECHNICAL DAMAGE AFTER THE ICE
STORMS IN DECEMBER, CREWS
REOPENED THE LOW BRIDGE THIS
PAST FRIDAY. THERE ARE STILL
SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD, WHICH
WE'LL DISCUSS. AT THIS TIME I'D
LIKE TO OPEN UP THE GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE. WE
HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE AND IN
PERSON. I'LL MODERATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY
STARTING WITH THOSE WHO HAVE
REGISTERED ONLINE, THEN CALL ON
THOSE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A COUPLE
SPEAKERS ONLINE AND NOBODY IN
CHAMBERS YET. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE UP TO 20
MINUTES, BUT IN THIS CASE WE
WON'T NEED THAT MUCH TIME. EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK. I'LL CALL ON TWO
SPEAKERS AT THE TIME IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH REGISTERED ON
THE SITE AND HERE AT CITY HALL.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER,
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY GOING
TO SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL OR USE
THE SIGN-IN SHEET NEAR THE
PUBLIC COMMENT MICROPHONE NEAR
THE FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL
CHAMBER. REMOTE SPEAKERS, STAFF
WILL UNMUTE THE MICROPHONE AND
A PROMPT WILL BE THE SPEAKER'S
CUE IT IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.
SPEAKER MUST PRESS STAR 6 TO
START SPEAKING. PLEASE BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU'RE ADDRESSING. PUBLIC
COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO AN
ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR TO
OUR COMMITTEE'S OVERSIGHT
RESPONSIBILITIES. ONCE YOU HEAR
THE CHIME, WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENT. IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT WRAP UP BY THE
END OF THE TIME ALLOTTED, THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED SO WE
CAN CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE
COMMENT REMOTELY, WE ASK YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT AND FOLLOW
THE MEETING THROUGH THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR OPTIONS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA. THE REGULAR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. FIRST WE
HAVE JAMIE CHENNY AND THEN
AARON HORN. GO AHEAD, JAMIE. I
WANT TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD
HERE. JUST A REMINDER THE FIRST
SPEAKER NEEDS TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
>> GOOD MORNING, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES. PLEASE SPEAK UP,
THOUGH.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE
CHAIR PEDERSEN AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JAMIE
CHENEY, DIRECTOR OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE
EMPLOYER SHARED TRANSIT STOPS.
FOR DECADES, SEATTLE CHILDREN'S
HAS BEEN A LEADER IN PRODUCTION
AND OUR 2010 MASTER PLAN
TARGETS A 30% RATE BY 2030.
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S CAN OPTIMIZE
AND CONTINUOUSLY INNOVATE,
PARTICIPATING WITH S-DOT IN THE
EMPLOYER SHARED TRANSIT STOP
PILOT TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY
AND RIDER EXPERIENCE. THE PILOT
HAS BEEN A SUCCESS FOR THREE
REASONS. ONE IS OPERATIONALLY
SYNERGISTIC. THE PILOT
DEMONSTRATED METRO AND
CHILDREN'S OPERATORS HAVE
OPERATED FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH
LITTLE OR NO FRICTION. IT
ALLOWS FOR CHILDREN'S TO
OPERATE INTEGRATED SERVICE IN
THE SAME CORRIDOR AS METRO
INSTEAD OF SEPARATE SERVICE IN
THE SAME CORRIDOR. FOR EXAMPLE,
CHILDREN'S STAFF STAND AT BUS
SPACE 5 OUTSIDE LINK STATION
AND BOARD WHATEVER COMES FIRST,
METRO TRANSIT OR SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S SHUTTLE. THIS
RESULTS IN GREATER RIDE
FREQUENCY FOR RIDERS,
STRENGTHENING THEIR CHOICE FOR
TRANSIT RELATIVE TO RIDING
ALONE. AND THIRDLY, THIS IS A
GATEWAY EXPERIENCE TO TRY
PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR A PORTION OF
EMPLOYEES WHO OTHERWISE HAVE
ONLY RIDDEN PRIVATELY. THE
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE
EMPLOYER SHARED TRANSIT STOP
PROGRAM OPTIMIZES RESOURCES AND
WE THANK YOU S-DOT FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
CALLING IN FROM SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S AND FEEL FREE TO
E-MAIL YOUR REMARKS TO US AT
COUNCIL@SEATTLE.GOV. UP NEXT,
AARON HORN.
>> GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE YOU CAN HEAR ME.
>> YES.
>> OKAY. HERE I GO. I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND ASKING YOU TO
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 120493,
ENABLING EMPLOYER SHARED
TRANSIT STOPS. THE UNIVERSITY
SHARES STOPS WITH METRO FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS, PRIMARILY FOR
THE SHUTTLES THAT SERVE THE
HOSPITAL SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM
SPREADS OUT AND THE ABILITY TO
SHARE THESE STOPS ALLOWS US TO
REDUCE TRIPS BETWEEN THESE
LOCATIONS, HELPS MEDICAL STAFF
MOVE AROUND EFFICIENTLY AND
QUICKLY, AND ASSISTS PATIENTS
WHO MAY HAVE APPOINTMENTS AT
MULTIPLE SITES. BASED ON OUR
EXPERIENCES, WE THINK EXPANDING
THIS TO OTHER EMPLOYERS MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE. WE HOPE YOU'LL
MOVE THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEAGUES, THAT CONCLUDES OUR
LIST OF SPEAKERS FROM THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, SO WE CAN MOVE
ON TO THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, ORDINANCE
RELATING TO USE OF BUS AND
SHUTTLE VEHICLE ZONES BY
PRIVATE EMPLOYER SHUTTLE
VEHICLES, MAKING PERMANENT THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S EMPLOYER
SHARED TRANSIT STOP PILOT
PROGRAM, AMENDING SECTIONS OF
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND
ADOPTING A TRANSIT AND MOBILE
FEE SCHEDULE.
>> WE DID SEE A PRESENTATION
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ON THIS
SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROGRAM BACK
IN SEPTEMBER, AND THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US WOULD
MAKE MORE PERMANENT THAT
PROGRAM, WHICH ENABLES SEATTLE
AREA EMPLOYERS TO SHARE TRANSIT
STOPS. I HAVE A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT TO FIX LANGUAGE TO
THE ATTACHMENT A, SHOWN AS
AMENDMENT ONE ON THE AGENDA.
FIRST LET'S GET TO OUR
PRESENTATION FROM S-DOT. WE
HAVE OUR TRANSPORTATION EXPERT
FROM THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE A GOOD
PRESENTATION COMING. I WANT TO
REMIND FOLKS THAT THIS PROGRAM
WAS IN EFFECT AS A PILOT SINCE
2017 UNDER EXISTING PROGRAMS SO
THIS IS ABOUT CLARIFYING THE
CODE AND ESTABLISHING A FEE
STRUCTURE TO MAKE THAT PROGRAM
PERMANENT WITH A NEW FEE. THE
PROGRAM WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED
UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IF
YOU APPROVE THIS, SO THE
FUNDAMENTAL PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IS TO ESTABLISH THE
NEW FEE.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR
THE MEMO THAT YOU WROTE FOR US
PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA AS
WELL. APPRECIATE THAT. WELCOME
TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION. GO AHEAD AND
SHARE YOUR SCREEN AND TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS BEN SMITH AND I'M
PROGRAM LEAD FOR THE TRANSIT
STOPS PROGRAM AND I WILL KICK
IT TO JEN.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M JEN
MALLEY-CRAWFORD, AND I'M THE
NEW TRANSIT SERVICE AND
STRATEGY MANAGER. I'LL PASS IT
TO MICHELLE.
>> HI, EVERYONE. I'M MICHELLE
AND I SUPPORT BEN AND JEN IN
THE DIVISION AND ON THE SHARED
STOPS PROGRAM.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. NEXT
SLIDE. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M JEN AND I'M
EXCITED TO REVIEW THE EMPLOYER
SHARED TRANSIT STOPS PROGRAM
WITH YOU. WE ARE BACK TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND
WE ARE ULTIMATELY LOOKING FOR
YOUR APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE.
NEXT SLIDE. AS A REMINDER OF
THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM, THIS
PROGRAM IS ABOUT MAINTAINING
PUBLIC TRANSIT'S PRIORITY IN
OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM,
MAXIMIZING PUBLIC BENEFIT AND
ENCOURAGING CLIMATE FRIENDLY
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS
CAN SUPPORT THE POSTCOVID
RECOVERY OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
TODAY WE ARE ASKING YOU TO TAKE
ACTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE
120493 WHICH PERMITS S-DOT TO
ESTABLISH A PERMANENT PROGRAM
AMENDING A NEW CODE AND
ADOPTING A NEW FEE STRUCTURE.
THESE SHUTTLES TRANSPORT
EMPLOYEES AND COMMUTERS FROM
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO
EMPLOYMENT SITES. THEY HAVE
EXISTED FOR DECADES IN SEATTLE
AND ARE ENABLED BY WASHINGTON
STATE LAW. OVER THE DECADES
EMPLOYER SHUTTLES HAVE BEEN
OPERATING IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE
BEEN LEARNING WHAT TYPES OF
PROGRAMS AND REGULATIONS WE
NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO USE
THE CITY'S SPACE AND
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. OVER
TIME WE HAVE LEARNED THAT LOAD
ZONES ALONE WEREN'T ENOUGH. IN
2017 WE LAUNCHED A SUCCESSFUL
SHARED STOPS PILOT WITH KING
COUNTY METRO, SEATTLE
CHILDREN'S, AND MICROSOFT.
>> THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HAS JOINED US. WE ARE
ALL HERE.
>> THANK YOU. THE EMPLOYER
SHARED TRANSIT STOPS PILOT
PROGRAM INCLUDES 12 STOPS
ACROSS THE CITY. THE EVALUATION
REPORT PUBLISHED IN 2018 SHOWED
NO MAJOR IMPACTS TO TRANSIT OR
ROADWAY OPERATIONS AND
INDICATED THE SUCCESS OF THE
PILOT WAS DUE TO THE GOOD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR EMPLOYER
PARTNERS. THE PILOT REPORT
DEMONSTRATED THE AMOUNT OF
ONGOING ANALYSIS THAT WOULD BE
NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE A
PERMANENT PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL.
WE BUILT THOSE LESSONS INTO THE
PERMANENT STRUCTURE OF THIS
PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE. I'LL PASS
IT TO BEN.
>> THANK YOU, JEN . KNOWING A
LOT OF WORK WAS DONE IN HOUSE,
WE HAVE A FEE STRUCTURE TO PAY
FOR THIS WORK. WE'LL FORMALIZE
ALL THE CRITERIA FOR SHARED
TRANSIT STOPS LOCATIONS AND NEW
SHUTTLE VEHICLE LOAD ZONES.
AND WE NEED MORE DATA TO ADD TO
THE EXISTING PROCESS. NEXT
SLIDE. THE POLICY WORKS ON MANY
LEVELS BUT FROM YOUR ACTION AND
CODE CHANGES AS WELL AS THE
DIRECTOR'S RULE, TODAY WE ARE
ASKING FOR YOUR ADOPTION OF
COUNCIL BILL 120493, UPDATING
DEFINITIONS RELATING TO SHUTTLE
AND TRANSIT . WE'LL TALK ABOUT
THE FEES FOR THE SHUTTLE IN A
BIT. ACCOMPANYING THAT, THE
RULE WHICH HAS THE DETAILS
DEFINING THE CRITERIA BY WHICH
WE'LL EVALUATE APPLICATION
REQUESTS FOR BOTH NEW SHARED
TRANSIT STOPS AND NEW SHUTTLE
LOAD ZONES. THIS UPDATES THE
SHUTTLE CONDITIONS TO INCLUDE
THE REQUIREMENT AND SETS
STANDARDS FOR ALL PERMITS
OPERATING ANNUALLY. IT ALSO
DESCRIBES THE PROCESS BY WHICH
WE OPERATE WITH KING COUNTY
METRO. NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE HAD
A LOT OF STAKE HOLDER OUTREACH.
KING COUNTY METRO IS OUR
PARTNER IN THIS AND WE WORK
WITH THEM CLOSELY. WE HAVE ALSO
REACHED OUT TO OTHER CITIES
INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO. WE
HAVE SPOKEN TO NEW YORK CITY'S
DOT AND EVEN BELLEVUE. WE HAVE
DONE OUTREACH TO INTERESTED
PARTIES AND TALKING TO THE
EMPLOYER COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE
PARTNERS AND POTENTIAL
PARTNERS. WE HAVE REACHED OUT
TO THE OPERATORS AT THE
COMPANIES AND TALKED TO COMMUTE
SEATTLE TO REACH THE BROADER
EMPLOYER COMMUTER WITHIN THE
CITY. I'LL PASS IT TO MICHELLE.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST WE ARE
IMPOSING AN INCREASE FROM $300
TO $600 AND TIED TO INFLATION
FROM THERE ON. THIS BRINGS IT
WHERE IT WOULD BE TODAY DUE TO
INFLATION. THIS MEANS EMPLOYERS
PAY FOR THE LABOR AND PROGRAM,
NOT TAXPAYERS. THE NEW HOURLY
STAFF FEE OF $332 FOR LOAD
ZONES, WE'LL USE THE SAME RATE
FOR SIMILAR REVIEW. WE ARE
PROPOSING THE ANNUAL TRANSIT
STOP USE FEE WILL BE $5,000 PER
LOCATION WITH REDUCED RATES FOR
MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS . THIS IS
ACCURATELY PRICING PRICING
PUBLIC USE OF RIGHT OF WAY.
NEXT SLIDE. THE PURPOSE OF THE
PROCESS IS TO CREATE A
STREAMLINED INTERNAL PROCESS.
THE VEHICLE PERMIT EXISTS TODAY
BUT THE DATA REQUIREMENTS HERE
ARE A NEW COMPONENT OF THE
PROGRAM. WE ARE PROPOSING
REVISING THE EXISTING ANNUAL
SHUTTLE VEHICLE PERMIT TO
INCLUDE THE NEW DATA
REQUIREMENT. WE HAVE INTEREST
IN COLLECTING DATA THAT WE
WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS
TO AND ENSURE SERVICE AND NEW
ZONES FOR STAFF INTAKE AND
REVIEW. CURRENTLY THERE'S NO
CENTRALIZED INTAKE OR PROCESS.
THIS IS MEANT TO REIMBURSE
STAFF FOR THEIR SHUTTLE VEHICLE
WORK. OUR PROGRAM WORKS WITH
EMPLOYERS WHO RUN SHUTTLES BUT
DO NOT PLAN TO USE SHARED
STOPS. NEXT SLIDE. WE ARE
PROPOSING A RED LIGHT AND
YELLOW AND GREEN LIGHT AREA.
RED LIGHTS ARE STOPS NEAR
UNPROTECTED BIKE LANES AND BUS
STOPS. THE REST OF THE CITY,
STOPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR
APPLICATIONS BUT APPROVAL IS
DEPENDENT ON THE STOP. THIS IS
DETAILED IN THE DIRECTOR'S RULE
BUT WE ARE PROPOSING AN ANNUAL
APPLICATION CAP PER EMPLOYER,
LIMITING THE NUMBER OF STOPS AN
EMPLOYER CAN APPLY FOR TO 20
STOPS A YEAR, AND CITY WIDE
CAPS FOR THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
APPROVED SHARE STOPS TO 50 FOR
ANY SINGLE EMPLOYER AND 250
CITY WIDE FOR ALL EMPLOYERS .
THE GREEN LIGHT IS AFTER STOPS
HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR SHARING,
WHERE CONDITIONS WILL BE
APPLIED. ALL PERMITS WILL BE
REVIEWED ANNUALLY. THEY ARE
NONVESTING AND REVOCABLE. THIS
IS IN HOPES OF REDUCING TRAFFIC
AND WILL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF
THE PERMIT CONDITIONS. THANK
YOU. BACK TO BEN.
>> SINCE WE PRESENTED TO
COUNCIL LAST YEAR, WE PUBLISHED
THE DIRECT DRAFT IN NOVEMBER
FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK. WE DID GET
SOME COMMENTS AND CLARIFICATION
ABOUT HOW TO COORDINATE WITH
KING COUNTY METRO AND THE
DEFINITION OF A RAPID RIDE
STATION. WE GOT A SUGGESTION ON
PRICING GUIDELINES AND GOT A
REQUEST TO INQUIRE ABOUT
SHUTTLE OPERATION IMMUNIZATION
STATUS. WE INCLUDE THE FIRST
TWO WHEN WE ISSUE THE FINAL
RULE LATER THIS QUARTER. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. FINALLY TO
SEPARATE OUT WHAT WE ARE ASKING
TODAY VERSUS HOW YOU SEE THE
PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE, TODAY WE
ARE ASKING YOU TO AUTHORIZE THE
PROGRAM, ALLOW US TO LAUNCH IT
LATER IN 2023. ALSO BY ADOPTING
THE FEE SCHEDULE, WE CAN LAUNCH
THE PROGRAM AS WELL. THEREFORE
ANNUALLY, WE'LL USE THE FEE
SCHEDULE AND AMEND IT ANNUALLY,
INCLUDING INFLATION GOING
FORWARD AND OUR HOURLY FEE TO
MATCH THE REVIEW RATE. THERE
ARE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS AND
UNKNOWNS AS WE LAUNCH, SO WE
ARE COMMITTED TO RETURNING IN
TWO YEARS AND DO A PROGRAM
REVIEW. WE WOULD SEE YOU AGAIN
IN EARLY 2025. WITH THAT, WE
WOULD EVALUATE LOOKING BACK
OVER THE PROGRAM AND THE FEE
STRUCTURE, OUR PROCESS FLOW,.
IF IT CHANGES ANY OF THESE
ASPECTS, WE WOULD PROPOSE THOSE
AS WELL. GOING FORWARD, AS THE
PROGRAM MATURES AND LANDSCAPE
CHANGES, WE WOULD ALSO CONTINUE
LIKE OTHER PROGRAMS TO UPDATE
THE DIRECTOR'S RULE IN THE
FUTURE AS NEEDED FOR PROGRAM
ALIGNMENT. THAT'S THE END OF
OUR SLIDES AND WE ARE READY FOR
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
THIS TEAM COMING BACK WITH THE
PRESENTATION ON THE SUCCESSFUL
PILOT PROGRAM AND THE COUNCIL
BILL BEFORE US. REALLY
APPRECIATE CALVIN'S MEMO AS
WELL, JUST NOTING SPECIFICALLY
WHAT'S IN THE COUNCIL BILL
VERSUS THE DIRECTOR'S RULE. THE
HARRELL ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO
MAKE THIS PERMANENT SO LET'S GO
TO QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR PEDERSEN
AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR A
GREAT PRESENTATION. I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN THIS. GREAT TO
SEE ALL THE INFORMATION
PRESENTED. I THINK WE HAVE A
REAL OPPORTUNITY IN SEATTLE TO
CONTINUE USING OUR PUBLIC
TRANSIT RESOURCES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE TO ASK THESE
PRIVATE CARRIERS AND MOVING
PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY TO AND
FROM THEIR JOBS AND HOMES. I
REALLY THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR CITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, CHAIR PEDERSEN,
I DID NOT RECEIVE A BRIEFING ON
THIS TOPIC AHEAD OF COMMITTEE,
SO I WILL BE ABSTAINING IF WE
VOTE TODAY. I WANT TO SHARE MY
INCREDIBLE SUPPORT TO THE S-DOT
TEAM, BUT I WANT TO DIG IN
FURTHER WITH YOU ALL. I LOOK
FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU ALL
BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE.
>> ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE HAVE,
WE CAN SET THE DATE OF THE FULL
COUNCIL MEETING. IT COULD BE
THE TUESDAY AFTER NEXT,
ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET YOUR
SPECIAL BRIEFING.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO DELAY
ANYTHING. I'LL FIND THE TIME TO
SQUEEZE IT IN.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE IF
THIS WAS COVERED AND I MISSED
IT, BUT I HAVE SEVERAL
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 250
PROPOSED LOCATIONS. I SEE ON
THE PRESENTATION, THERE'S A
PROPOSAL FOR WHERE THESE MIGHT
GO. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
SEVERAL THINGS SO LET ME GET
ALL MY QUESTIONS OUT. I'M
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE
NEED SO MANY IF WE HAVE A SENSE
OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING
THESE SHUTTLES, WHERE THEY'RE
GOING. I'M ASSUMING MANY ARE
GOING OUT TO REDMOND. HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE USING THESE AND WHY
DO WE NEED SO MANY, WHERE ARE
THEY GOING? I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND
BETTER IS HOW DO WE CREATE A
MORE ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSIT
SYSTEM SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO
HAVE ALL THESE PRIVATE ENTITIES
USING PUBLIC SPACE TO GET
AROUND. MAYBE YOU CAN SORT OF
FLESH SOME OF THAT OUT WITH ME.
>> OKAY, SURE. FOR THE 250,
THAT'S A CAP. THAT'S A MAXIMUM.
FOR THE LOCATIONS, WE DON'T
KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. WE KNOW
WHERE THEY WON'T BE. ABOUT 10%
OF THE STOPS IN THE CITY WILL
BE OFF LIMITS. THE BUSIEST ONES
ARE AVAILABLE NOT FOR SHARING.
THE 90% LEFT AROUND THE CITY
WILL BE OPEN FOR SHARING. THOSE
ARE THE YELLOW LIGHT ONES. WE
DON'T KNOW WHICH FACILITY
EMPLOYER PARTNERS MAY CHOOSE TO
SHARE. AND WE'LL ACTUALLY GET
MORE INFORMATION FROM THE
SHUTTLE PARTNERS. WE GET IT IN
PIECES RIGHT NOW BUT BY
REQUIRING THAT, WE'LL KNOW
ABOUT WHERE SHUTTLES ARE
RUNNING AND THAT COULD ALSO
GIVE US INFORMATION ON WHERE
THEY APPLY. IT'S ONE WHERE
WE'LL INVITE THEM TO ASK, ARE
THE REMAINING LOCATIONS
AVAILABLE? AND WE WANTED A SLOW
ROLLOUT, THE CAP OF 20
APPLICATIONS PER YEAR BECAUSE
WE WANT GOOD QUALITY
APPLICATIONS. EVEN ONE
EMPLOYER, IF THEY MAX OUT IN
ONE YEAR, IT'S A MAXIMUM OF 20
APPLICATIONS. THEN IT WOULD BE
UP TO 250 TOTAL CITY WIDE,
WHICH WOULD TAKE MANY YEARS TO
OCCUR. WE HAVE ABOUT 3,000 BUS
STOPS IN SEATTLE AND ABOUT
2,700 WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
PROGRAM. SO EVEN THAT 250
TAKING MULTIPLE YEARS WOULD BE
UNDER 10% OF THE STOPS IN THE
CITY. DID THAT ANSWER THE
QUESTION?
>> THE DESTINATION FOR THESE
SHUTTLES?
>> IT DOES VARY. THEY ARE USED
FOR KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT
THINGS, COMMUTER SHUTTLES TO
PICK UP EMPLOYEES AND TAKING
THEM TO EMPLOYMENT . WE HAVE A
GENERAL SENSE OF THAT. IT'S THE
SHUTTLE DATA REQUIREMENT THAT
WILL LET US KNOW ABOUT THE
SYSTEM THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW,
AND WHERE FOLKS ARE AND WHERE
THEY'RE HAPPY HOLIDAYING.
>> AND COUNCILMEMBER MORALES,
LOOKS LIKE CALVIN HAS HIS HAND
UP IF YOU WOULD LIKE HIM TO
CLARIFY ANYTHING.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE
IDEA THAT THE EXISTING PILOT
PROGRAM WAS FIVE STOPS PER
EMPLOYER. IT'S A SMALL PROGRAM
TO START. SO 250 REPRESENTS
ABOUT 50 EMPLOYERS
PARTICIPATING AT THAT LEVEL.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE
ANTICIPATE THAT IN THE FIRST
YEAR, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YEAH. I MEAN, I SEE THESE
SHUTTLES EVERYWHERE AND I WOULD
MUCH PREFER PEOPLE RIDE A
SHUTTLE THAN DRIVE A SINGLE
OCCUPANCY VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE
THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE TO
SERVICE THESE FOLKS TOO. I HAVE
ONE OTHER QUESTION, CHAIR.
>> OF COURSE.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE LOAD ZONES
WEREN'T ENOUGH. TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT, AND I'M WONDERING IF WE
COULDN'T REDUCE PARKING SPOTS
NEARBY .
>> YEAH, IN SOME CASES BEFORE
THE PILOT, THERE WERE PIECES OF
ROADWAY WHERE THERE WAS A BUS
ST. PETERSBURG AND WE CREATED A
SHUTTLE LOAD ZONE RIGHT NEXT TO
IT. THE EMPLOYER SAID, LET'S
USE THAT BUS STOP. IT IS A
TRADEOFF TRADEOFF. SETTING UP
A NEW ZONE COULD LET US BE MORE
EFFICIENT WITH THE CURB SPACE.
THE BEST SOLUTION MAY BE A PAY
LIKE AREA, AND THE SHUTTLE
COULD ADD AND SHARE WITHOUT ANY
FRICTION. THIS PROGRAM WOULD
ALLOW US THAT OPTION.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION, CHAIR.
>> OF COURSE.
>> I PROMISE THIS IS IT. SO WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT MOVING BEYOND
A PILOT PROJECT AND EXPANDING
IT SOMEWHAT OVER SOME AMOUNT OF
TIME. I APPRECIATE THERE WILL
BE AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT THE
DATA AND IDENTIFY WHAT NEEDS WE
MAY BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH KING
COUNTY METRO. IS THERE -- IF
THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE
LEGISLATION, IS THERE ANY SUN
SETTING OF THIS OR REEVALUATION
ONCE WE HAVE THE DATA WE HAVE
TO REASSESS WHETHER THIS IS
SOMETHING WE STILL NEED TO DO?
>> I CAN JUMP IN. SO LARGELY
THIS IS ALLOWING US TO USE
DIRECTOR'S RULES AND S-DOT WILL
COME BACK IN TWO YEARS TO
REVISIT WHAT THE PROGRAM HAS
BECOME, JUST THE STANDARD WAY
THEY OPERATE NEW PROGRAMS. I
GUESS THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO
EXPLAIN WHERE THEY'RE AT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' LINE OF
QUESTIONING. IT WOULD BE GREAT
IF THERE WAS A WAY TO LIMIT THE
GRANTS OF PERMITS TO EMPLOYER
SHUTTLES THAT WERE SERVING A
PURPOSE NOT ALREADY SERVED BY
METRO, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO
SOMEHOW INCLUDE THAT IN THE
APPLICATION PROCESS LIKE, WE
NEED THIS SHUTTLE BECAUSE OUR
WORKERS ARE GOING TO Y PLACE
AND Y PLACE ISN'T SERVED WELL
BY METRO. I GET CONCERNED ABOUT
THE IDEA OF HAVING SORT OF A
TIERED TRANSIT SYSTEM, ONE
THAT'S PRIVATE AND ONE THAT'S
PUBLIC . BUT MY QUESTION IS IN
A DIFFERENT VEIN, WHICH IS
SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO
-- I APPRECIATE THAT THERE WILL
BE -- THERE IS THIS RED, YELLOW
AND GREEN TIERING SYSTEM, AND
REALLY EMPHASIS IS TO BE SURE
WE ARE MINIMIZING CONFLICTS
WITH TRANSIT, WITH OUR PUBLIC
TRANSIT SYSTEM. I'M JUST
WONDERING IF EITHER DRIVERS OR
PASSENGERS ARE OBSERVING
PROBLEMS, HOW WILL S-DOT
COLLECT THAT INFORMATION?
>> OUR PILOT PARTNERS DESCRIBED
A LOCATION WHERE THEY HAVE A
SHUTTLE ROUTE WHICH DUPLICATES
AND COMPLEMENTS AND EXISTING
METRO ROUTE. FOR THEM, THEY SAW
SUCCESS. SOME EMPLOYEES USE
THAT SHUTTLE TO CONNECT FROM
LINK AND OTHERS USE BOTH. THEY
TAKE THE FIRST THING THAT SHOWS
UP, WHETHER IT'S THE BUS OR
SHUTTLE TO CHILDREN'S. WE THINK
THERE ARE PLACES TRANSIT CAN BE
DUPE CALIFORNIATIVE
DUPLICATIVE AND IT'S PART OF
OUR APPLICATION PROCESS. WE'LL
LOOK AT THE NEED, ASK THE
EMPLOYER WHAT'S BEING SERVED BY
THEM, REMIND THEM OF OPTIONS
THAT MAY DO WHAT THEY ARE
TRYING TO DO. WE CAN SERVE NEW
MARKETS THAT METRO AND THE
PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE ISN'T
SERVING. WE DEFINITELY WERE
LOOKING FOR MULTIPLE WAYS THAT
FOLKS CAN TELL US ABOUT
ANYTHING THEY SEE. I WILL SAY,
SHUTTLES ARE VERY VISIBLE. IN
THE PAST WHEN WE HEARD OF
SHUTTLES STOPPING AT THE CURB
WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T, WE HAVE
HEARD ABOUT IT . I'LL KICK IT
TO MICHELLE.
>> WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT
HOW BEST TO COLLECT THE
INFORMATION AND MAKE IT EASY
FOR FOLKS TO REPORT . WE HAVE A
FORM ON THE WEBSITE WHERE
PEOPLE CAN REPORT WHAT THEY ARE
SEEING SO WE CAN TAKE IT INTO
CONSIDERATION IN THE FUTURE. I
THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT
IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE THERE
MIGHT BE DUPLICATIVE SERVICE.
WE IN THE APPLICATION RIGHT NOW
HAVE EMPLOYERS SUBMITTING TO US
THEIR ENTIRE TRANSIT LINE WITH
STOPS AND TIMES OF DAY AND
FREQUENCY. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY IF THERE'S A
PREEXISTING LINE AND CREATE
ALTERNATIVES OR ENCOURAGE THEM
TO USE THE LINE THAT'S ON THAT
ROUTE. IT'S A VERY SPECIALIZED
PROCESS FOR EACH APPLICATION,
DIVING INTO EACH APPLICATION
AND LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE STOP
AND EVERY SINGLE TIME.
>> I'LL JUST FURTHER SAY, WE
SHARE THE GOAL ABOUT NOT SIMPLY
DUPLICATING TRANSIT SERVICE. WE
ARE ALWAYS PRIORITIZING PUBLIC
TRANSIT. I THINK THAT TODAY,
THE SHUTTLES THAT I MENTIONED
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES.
THEY ARE HERE. ONE OF THE
BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM IS
THAT IT COLLECTS DATA WE DON'T
HAVE AND CREATES MORE
VISIBILITY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON THEN MAYBE HOW
WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES. TODAY
THEY ARE THERE ALREADY AND THIS
I THINK HELPS CREATE OVERSIGHT,
WHICH SEEMS IMPORTANT TO SHARE
THAT GOAL AND MAKE THAT GOAL
HAPPEN.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
LEVEL OF DETAIL, SO THANK YOU
SO MUCH. WHAT I THINK I HEAR
YOU SAYING, AND I'M SURPRISED,
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
EVALUATING STOPS AND MAKING
DECISIONS ABOUT PERMITTING NOT
JUST BASED ON AVOIDING COMPLEX
AND NOT JUST BASED ON THE TOTAL
NUMBER, BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
SAY NO TO APPLICANTS WHOSE
PERMIT REQUEST INVOLVES A ROUTE
THAT IS DUPLICATIVE? OKAY, I
WASN'T PICKING UP ON THAT .
>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
>> AND YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL FOR
ANYTHING THAT'S NOT RELATED. IT
WILL GET BACK TO US, WE'LL HEAR
ABOUT IT. AND AS MICHELLE
MENTIONED WITH THE RED, YELLOW
AND GREEN LIGHT, WE ARE NOT
RUBBER STAMPING EVERY
APPLICATION THAT COMES IN. WE
ARE SAYING, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU
TRYING TO ACHIEVE, WHAT IS YOUR
SHUTTLE DOING AND WHERE ARE YOU
TRYING TO GO? WE SUGGEST TO
EMPLOYERS, TRANSIT DOES WHAT
YOU'RE PROPOSING BUT WE HAVE
HEARD THESE OTHER NEEDS THAT
DON'T HAVE ACCESS. WE ARE
EXCITED TO WORK WITH SERVICES
THAT CAN TRY THINGS ON A
SMALLER SCALE. SO WE REALLY SEE
THE ROLE THAT SHUTTLES AND
EMPLOYER TRANSPORTATION CAN
COMPLEMENT AND EVEN SEEK OUT
NEW MARKETS IN TIME.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THOSE
QUESTIONS. I KNOW THIS TEAM
KNOWS THE PILOT PROGRAM SO WELL
AND ITS SUCCESSES AND THE DATA
THEY WILL COLLECT AND COME BACK
TO US WITH. IT'S GREAT FOR THE
PUBLIC TO HEAR THIS FROM SO
MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES. I WOULD
LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET THE
LEGISLATION ON THE TABLE HERE
AND THEN ALSO THE AMENDMENT,
WHICH IS A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.
I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY
TECHNICAL AND IT'S NOT BUT THIS
IS REALLY TECHNICAL. AMENDMENT
ONE ON THE AGENDA, IT'S THE
TRACK CHANGES THERE. THEY ARE
SIMPLY ADDING THE WORD "ANNUAL"
DOWN BELOW THERE SO WE KNOW
THEY ARE CONTINUALLY CHARGING
FOR THESE FEES. AND THERE WAS A
TYPOGRAPHICAL PROGRAM WHERE WE
LOST SOME OF THE WORDS AND NOW
THEY'RE BACK. SO THAT'S THE
AMENDMENT. I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO
THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TO
PUT THE BILL IN FRONT OF US AND
GET THIS AMENDMENT AS PART OF
IT, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE ONE
FINAL DISCUSSION IF YOU WANT.
COUNCILMEMBERS, I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
BILL 120493. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL GO AHEAD AND
MAKE THE MOTION AND INTRODUCE
THE AMENDMENT. NOW MOVE AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120493 ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN ADOPTED
SO AMENDMENT ONE IS NOW BEFORE
US FOR DISCUSSION. WE CAN VOTED
ON THIS AND INCORPORATE IT INTO
THE BASE.
>> I THINK WE HAVE COVERED
EVERYTHING THAT'S RELEVANT TO
THAT.
>> OKAY. GREAT. COLLEAGUES,
I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST MAKE
SURE NO QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO
COLLEAGUES, AMENDMENT 1,
TECHNICAL IN NATURE, ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. MOTION ONE IS
ADOPTED. ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE
VOTE AMENDED COUNCIL BILL? ALL
RIGHT, REALLY APPRECIATE
S-DOT'S TEAM AND THEIR
THOROUGHNESS TODAY. WILL THE
CLERK CALL THE ROLL AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
PASS COUNCIL BILL 120493.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> ABSTAIN.
>> CHAIR PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, ONE
ABSTENTION AND NO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WILL GO TO
THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. WE
HAVE A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION
ONLY, SO WILL THE READ THE
SECOND AGENDA ITEM?
>> SPOKANE STREET SWING BRIDGE
UPDATE FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE KNOW THE
SPOKESPERSON SWING STREET
BRIDGE EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL
FAILURE AND WE HAVE THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE AND
WHAT WORK THEY HAVE IN THE
FUTURE. S-DOT WILL CONTINUE TO
ADDRESS THE DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE OF THE LOW BRIDGE.
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE
PRESENTATION, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, ANY OPENING REMARKS?
>> JUST WANT TO THANK YOU,
CHAIR PEDERSEN, FOR MAKING SOME
TIME FOR YOUR INTEREST AND
SUPPORT OF MY EFFORTS TO GET
QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THIS. AND
I WANT TO THANK THE S-DOT ROADS
AND STRUCTURES STAFF. THEY HAVE
BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK
GETTING THE BRIDGE BACK UP AND
RUNNING ON JANUARY 13th, LAST
FRIDAY, AFTER THE CLOSURE ON
DECEMBER 23rd. A LOT OF THAT
WORK TOOK PLACE DURING THE
HOLIDAY SEASON, SO AGAIN, THE
FOLKS OUT THERE DOING THAT WORK
HAD THEIR TIME DISRUPTED WITH
FAMILY AND LOVED ONES, AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR PUBLIC
SERVICE. ALSO JUST WANT TO
UPLIFT THE FACT THAT THESE
CYLINDERS WERE SCHEDULED FOR
OVERHAUL FIRST QUARTER THIS
YEAR AND PREPARATIONS FOR THAT
WORK BEGAN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO
AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE EFFORT
THAT INCLUDED THE STRUCTURAL
REHABILITATION WORK ALREADY
INCLUDED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
OF LAST YEAR. SO YOU KNOW, IT
WAS SERENDIPITOUS THAT THE
STORM RESULTED IN THE NEED TO
MOVE THAT WORK UP. I WANT TO
NOTE THAT S-DOT HAD BEEN
PLANNING TO DO THIS WORK AND
COUNCIL PROVIDED FUNDS TO DO
THIS WORK. AND THAT I THINK IS
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS
CONTEXT WHENEVER WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT EMERGENCY BRIDGE WORK. I
WANT TO THANK S-DOT FOR THEIR
FREQUENT UPDATES ON THE WORK ON
THE BRIDGE THROUGHOUT THE
CLOSURE AS WELL.
>> THANKS. WELCOME, TEAM S-DOT.
GO AHEAD AND PUT YOUR
PRESENTATION UP AND HAVE AT IT.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU AND GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR THOSE
KIND WORDS. WE ARE INCREDIBLY
GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE STAFF THAT
WORKED OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND
WORKED HARD TO DEVELOP NEW
SOLUTIONS CAME UP WITH WAYS TO
DEVELOP SAFETY AND URGENCY AT
THE SAME TIME, AND WE ARE
INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR NOTING THAT . I'M
FRANCISCA STEFAN, AND THE
BRIDGE IS FUNCTIONAL AS OF
FRIDAY. THERE WERE 21 DAYS OF
INTENSIVE WORK THAT MADE THAT
POSSIBLE . MEGHAN SHEPARD AND
MATTHEW DONAHUE WILL BE KICKING
IT OFF BUT WE ARE ALL HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE
THEM. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE FOR THE UPDATE.
IF WE COULD GET THE SLIDES UP,
I JUST WANT TO START WITH A
QUICK LOOK AT THE PARTS IN THIS
REALLY UNIQUE STRUCTURE. THE
LOW BRIDGE IS REALLY ONE OF A
KIND, PROBABLY IN THE WORLD,
AND IT WAS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED FOR THE NARROW
CONDITIONS HERE CROSSING THE
DUWAMISH. THERE ARE THREE MAIN
PARTS THE TEAM WAS WORKING TO
ASSESS. ONE WAS THE LIFT
CYLINDER, THEN THERE ARE TURN
CYLINDERS, AND IT WAS A TURN
CYLINDER THAT WAS CAUSING THE
PROBLEM. THEN THERE WAS THE
ARMS OF THE BRIDGE OPENING AND
CLOSING. ALL THIS IS POWERED BY
A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WITH MANY
PUMPS AND MOTORS. THAT'S OF
INTEREST HERE AS WELL. I'M
JOINED TODAY BY MATT DONAHUE,
THE CITY'S BRIDGE NGINEER AND
HE'S GOT THE TECHNICAL SPEAK,
THEN I KIND OF BRING THE BRIDGE
SPEAK. THESE ARE THE THREE MAIN
PARTS THAT NEEDED ATTENTION
OVER THE LAST WEEK. SO WHAT
HAPPENED? WE HAD THE ICE STORM
ON THE 23rd. WE'VE GOT A FULL
SLATE OF WORK PLANNED FOR THE
LOW BRIDGE, HAD BEEN PLANNED
THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
>>> SO THESE TURN CYLINDERS
WERE SOMETHING WE KNEW WE
NEEDED TO OVERHAUL. WHEN THE
ICE STORM HAPPENED ON THE 23rd,
WE LOST POWER TO THE BRIDGE AND
IN EFFORTS TO GET THE BRIDGE
FIRED BACK UP, WE HAD TO OPEN
IT TO A SHIP THAT NEEDED TO
COME THROUGH. THAT'S THE LAW.
AND IN GETTING THAT OPENED, IT
WAS LIKE THERE WERE SEVERAL
PERIODS OF HAVING TO RESTART
AND MOVE IN INCREMENTS. ONCE
THE BRIDGE WAS OPEN, WE WERE
ABLE TO SEE THERE WAS HYDRAULIC
FLUID COMING OUT OF ONE OF THE
TURN CYLINDERS. YOU CAN SEE
THAT HERE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE
THE SLIDE, THE TRAIL OF LIQUID.
NOT GOOD. SO WE NEEDED TO COME
UP WITH A REMEDY AND A PLAN,
BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUED TO USE
THE CYLINDER, WE RAN THE RISK
OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE
CAUSING DAMAGE TO A LOT OF THE
EQUIPMENT THAT'S INSIDE THE
PIER HOUSE. THEN WHEN THE KING
TIDE CAME THROUGH, WE HAD THE
IMPACT ON THE ELECTRICAL
CONDUIT TO THE BRIDGE'S LOCK.
SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING
. WE WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THE
WIRING AND RESTORE POWER TO THE
BRIDGE. THE REMEDY HERE, I
MENTIONED THE TWO TURN
CYLINDERS ON EACH SIDE. THIS
SHOWS YOU ONE IN THE FOREGROUND
AND ONE BEHIND IT. ONE OF THEM
HAD TO BE REMOVED. THIS
ENTAILED A 12-HOUR OPERATION
WITH SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE
AND TALENTED MECHANICS AND
ELECTRICIANS THAT I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WORKINGS AS
A TEAM ALONG WITH OUR VENDORS
AND VOLITANTES CONSULTANTS.
WHILE WE GET THAT FIXED, WE ARE
OPERATING THE BRIDGE NOW ON ONE
CYLINDER AND HAVE BEEN
OPERATING ON ONE CYLINDER ON
THE EAST SIDE SINCE WE REOPENED
THE BRIDGE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
IT WILL OPEN AND CLOSE MORE
SLOWLY. WE ARE MONITORING THIS
VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE HOW THE
BRIDGE PERFORMS. SO THAT'S THE
PLAN FOR THE CYLINDER. AND WE
WERE ABLE TO REPLACE A SERIES
OF VALVES ON THIS SIDE WHILE WE
WERE IN THERE. SO WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO NOW IS REFURBISH
THAT CYLINDER, PUT IT IN, TAKE
OUT THE NEXT AND REFURBISH
THAT, AND KEEP THE CYCLE UNTIL
ALL FOUR CYLINDERS HAVE BEEN
REFURBISHED WHILE WE CONTINUE
THE WORK FOR THE LOW BRIDGE
HERE. NEXT SLIDE. I WANTED TO
TAKE A MOMENT ON THE CYLINDER
REMOVAL. THIS IS A PROCESS
WE'LL BE REPEATING SEVERAL MORE
TIMES. THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT
SHOWS YOU THE CYLINDER
SUSPENDED FROM THE INTERNAL
CRANE SYSTEM BEING TAKEN OUT OF
THE PIER HOUSE. YOU CAN SEE THE
LONG JOURNEYED THE TO MAKE TO
BE TAKEN OUT OF THE DOOR. IT'S
IN A CUSTOM BUILT CRADLE HERE.
WE LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS AND
WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR
EFFICIENCY AS WE GO THROUGH THE
OTHER REMAINING CYLINDERS. NEXT
SLIDE . THESE ARE THE MOTORS
AND THE PUMP. THIS IS WHAT
LIFTS AND OPENS THE BRIDGE. SO
WE FOUND SOME FAILED VALVES IN
HERE ON THE 11th. EVERYTHING IN
GOOD WORKING ORDER ON CYLINDER
OPERATIONS AND THAT WILL ENSURE
WE DON'T GET ANY HYDRAULIC
FLUID INTO THE MOTOR. NEXT
SLIDE . THIS IS A PRETTY VITAL
CONNECTION, AS WE LEARNED, NOT
ONLY FOR TRUCKS HEADED TO
TERMINAL FIVE. BUT WE HAVE 450
PEOPLE BIKING ACROSS THE LOW
BRIDGE EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S A
REALLY CRITICAL CONNECTION.
PEOPLE ARE WALKING, DRIVING,
AND WE HAVE A FIRE STATION ON
THE WEST SEATTLE SIDE. THIS IS
ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S A VITAL
CONNECTIVITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN
REALLY FOCUSED ON TAKING CARE
OF THIS AGING STRUCTURE. SO WE
STRENGTHENED THE BRIDGE,
FINISHED THAT WORK LAST FALL AS
PART OF THE WEST SEATTLE HYBRID
SAFETY PROGRAM WHICH WAS CARBON
FIBER WRAPPING AND OTHER
TECHNIQUES WE APPLIED TO THE
HIGH BRIDGE TO STRENGTHEN IT AS
WELL. THAT PHOTO OF THE WHITE
MOTORS AND VALVES, THERE ARE
THREE PUMPS IN THERE AND WE
HAVE BEEN TAKING THOSE OUT AND
REFURBISHING THEM AND BRINGING
THEM BACK. TWO IN THE FALL, AND
WE HAVE PLANS WITH THE COAST
GUARD FOR THE MIDDLE OF
FEBRUARY, 11th THROUGH THE 14th
TO REPLACE NEWLY REFURBISHED
PUMPS. THEN THE EAST SIDE
CYLINDER, WHICH DOES THE HEAVY
LIFTING, WE NEED TWO OF THEM
AND WE HAVE THREE. WE HAVE THE
SAME REFURBISHMENT UNDERWAY AND
WE HAVE ONE THAT WE'LL PUT BACK
IN THE BRIDGE ON THE EAST SIDE,
AND THAT'S GOING TO OCCUR THIS
SPRING. THEN THE CONTROLS AND
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM THAT LETS
THE BRIDGE OPERATOR COMMUNICATE
WITH THE BRIDGE, THOSE ARE
BEING REPLACED FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE THE BRIDGE OPENED 30
YEARS AGO. THE TECHNOLOGY HAS
ADVANCED IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS,
AND THIS WILL INVOLVE TAKING
THE CONTROLS AND COMMUNICATIONS
ON THE HIGH BRIDGE GOING
UNDERNEATH THE DUWAMISH, AND IT
WILL JUST BE A WHOLE NEW
IMPROVED SYSTEM. THIS IS A
SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED AND
WHAT WILL OCCUR. NEXT SLIDE.
>> WHEN WE CLOSE IT ON THE
23rd , THE AVAILABLE CROSSING
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE BIKING
AT THAT TIME ADDED SEVERAL
MILES TO THEIR ROUTE, BROUGHT
THEM DOWN THE DUWAMISH TRAIL
WHERE WE ARE MISSING A PORTION.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS ON PLANS AND
TESTING TO SEE ABOUT PUTTING
IN A PORTION . THEN, PEOPLE
WOULD COME DOWN TO THE FIRST
AVENUE SOUTHBRIDGE AND ONCE
THEY CROSS THE BRIDGE, THERE
WAS NOT ANY SORT OF PROTECTED
WAY TO GET BACK INTO DOWNTOWN.
WE ARE WORKING ON A DOWNTOWN
BIKE ROUTE THAT IS EXPECTED TO
BE CONSTRUCTED BEFORE BUT THERE
IS NOT ANOTHER WAY. IN ONE OF
THE FASTEST ACTIONS I HAVE
SEEN, WE DECIDED TO MOVE AHEAD
WITH PUTTING OUT A TEMPORARY
PROTECTED BIKE LANE AS WELL AS
ALL THE WAY ON 1st AVENUE SOUTH
UP THROUGH SOTO . THERE IS
OVER 1700 HOMES . THE FACILITY
WENT IN ON JANUARY 4 AND FIFTH.
THERE WAS ONE DAY WHERE WE
MADE 72 SIGNS JUST IN ONE DAY
AND PUT IT OUT THERE THROUGH
COMMUNICATING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS. THEN, ONCE IT
WAS OUT , THE MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATION CREWS WERE GOING OUT
THREE TIMES A DAY TO CHECK THE
CONES AND THE SIGNS TO MAKE
SURE THEY WERE IN SAFE
LOCATIONS. WE WERE ALSO MEETING
WITH BUSINESSES ALONG FIRST
AVENUE SOUTH . A LOT OF THEM
GET DELIVERIES FROM FREIGHT
TRUCKS . TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO
MAKE THE FACILITY AS
COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE WITH
BIKERS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES
ALONG THERE. WE TOOK COUNT ON
ALL OF THE ROUTES . WE DON'T
HAVE THAT SUMMARIZED YET FOR
THE REPORT BUT WE ARE EXCITED
BY THE WILLINGNESS OF THE
PEOPLE BIKING AND BUSINESSES
ALONG THERE TO COMMUNICATE
WITH US AND GIVE US FEEDBACK
WHILE WE TRY THIS LIGHTNING
FAST APPROACH TO THE EMERGENCY
SITUATION.
>> IN THE NEXT SLIDE -- WE
WILL MOVE REALLY QUICKLY. A
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
METRO TO MAKE FREE TRANSIT
RIDES AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE USING
THE WATER TAXI AND RIDING
BUSES ACROSS THE DUWAMISH. THE
FUNDING CAME FROM THE TRANSIT
MEASURE AND THAT IS HOW WE MADE
THE FREE TRIPS AVAILABLE TO THE
REWARDS APP . THIS IS AN APP
THAT WE PROMOTED HEAVILY AND
WIDELY IN WEST SEATTLE AND THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY WHILE THE
HIGHBRIDGE WAS CLOSED . PEOPLE
HAD THE APPLE READY. THE FREE
RIDES WERE OUT THERE FROM
JANUARY 6 AND THEN THEY ENDED
ON THE 13th WHEN WE OPENED BACK
UP. WE WILL BE EXCITED TO GET
THE METRICS ON THE USE OF THE
FREE TRIPS AS WE SORT OF
CONTINUE TO SEE WHAT WORKS
WELL DURING THIS UNFORTUNATE
CLOSURE AND WHAT STRATEGIES WE
MAY WISH TO EMPLOY AGAIN IN THE
FUTURE SHOULD WE FIND OURSELVES
IN A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH
THIS FACILITY OR ANY OTHER
MOVABLE BRIDGE IN THE CITY.
>> WITH THAT, MATT AND I ARE
EAGER TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MEGAN
. I AM SO THANKFUL TO THE TEAM
FORGETTING THAT PROTECTED BIKE
LANE ENNIS SO QUICKLY. I
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT BEING NIMBLE AND
BEING PREPARED TO MOVE ON TO
SOMETHING OVERNIGHT TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS ARE SAFE . I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO MORE
OF THAT AND I AM INTERESTED TO
KNOW IF THERE IS ANY PLAN TO
STUDY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
THERE, DO WHATEVER SURVEYS YOU
NEED TO KEEP THAT PARTICULAR
BIKE LANE LONGER -- WHAT WOULD
IT TAKE TO MAKE THAT MORE
PERMANENT? THAT IS ONE
QUESTION. THEN I AM WONDERING
IF THERE ARE OTHER PLACES
ACROSS THE CITY WHERE YOU ARE
CONTEMPLATING BEING ABLE TO
RESPOND THIS QUICKLY TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BIKE
LANES WE HAVE , PROTECTED BIKE
LANES.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE IN
PLACE RIGHT NOW WHILE WE
CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WE DO HAVE A PLAN FACILITY IN
THAT LOCATION . WE WANT TO
UNDERSTAND NOW WHAT THE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE ABOUT MOVING
TOWARD THAT PLANNED FACILITY.
FOR THE 1st AVENUE SOUTH
ALIGNMENT , WE CHOSE THIS ONE
SPECIFICALLY IN THIS EMERGENCY
SITUATION BECAUSE ON THE
ROADWAYS , WE FELT LIKE WE
COULD BE THE FASTEST AND MOST
NIMBLE THERE. FOR SODO, WE DO
HAVE ANOTHER ROUTE THAT WE ARE
HOPING THAT PEOPLE'S ENTHUSIASM
RIGHT NOW CAN BE BROUGHT TO
THE GEORGETOWN TO SOUTHBOUND
ALIGNMENT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
BEEN LOOKING TOWARD. WE ARE
DESIGNING IT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE
WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS RIGHT
NOW. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR
STAKEHOLDERS BRING THEIR INPUT
TO THAT.
>> IN TERMS OF OTHER PLACES,
WE JUST DID IT QUICKLY AND IT
WENT OKAY AND WE LEARNED A LOT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING
EVERYTHING WE LEARNED AND I
THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO
MORE NEXT TIME AND BE MORE
NIMBLE WHEN WE NEED TO. WE
ALSO ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT SO
THANK YOU.
>> I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE -- THIS
GENERATED -- IT SPARKED JOY
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE , YOU KNOW,
FOR FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THERE
WAS A SAFE WAY FOR THEM TO GET
TO WORK, TO DO WHAT EVER
COMMUTING -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY PEOPLE MIGHT USE THIS
PARTICULAR ROUTE TO GET THEIR
KIDS TO SCHOOL BUT THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN REACT
QUICKLY WHEN WE NEED TO AND
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT FOLKS
WHO CAN'T DRIVE WHO REALLY DO
RELY ON THE BICYCLE TO GET
AROUND THE CITY, HOWEVER DIDN'T
IT IS FOR THEM TO FEEL SAFE,
BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS
THEY NEED TO DO. THANK YOU FOR
ALL THAT YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A REAL
GOOD REMINDER TOO ABOUT THE
LOW BRIDGE AND WHO IT HAS
TRADITIONALLY SERVED IN TERMS
OF FREIGHT AND CYCLISTS,
PROVIDING THAT MORE DIRECT
ROUTE. WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF
THESE MULTIMODAL BRIDGES.
UNIVERSITY RIDGE SERVES ALL
LOAD . THESE ARE AGING BRIDGES
THAT OBVIOUSLY NEED UPGRADES
-- THE HEROIC WORK THAT THE
STRUCTURES CREW DID TO QUICKLY
GET IN THERE AND ASSESS THE
SITUATION AND PROVIDE A
TEMPORARY FIX AS YOU CONTINUE
TO UPGRADE THE LOW BRIDGE , IN
SOME WAYS , THEY SHOULD NOT
ALWAYS HAVE TO BE CALLED UPON
TO BE HEROES. I KNOW SDOT IS
TRYING TO WORK ON ITS ASSET
MANAGEMENT OVERALL INCLUDING
ITS BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE . WE
WILL HAVE SDOT RETURN FOR A
BROADER DISCUSSION ON
IMPLEMENTING THE AUDITOR 'S
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
SEPTEMBER 2020 REPORT , WHICH
HAS REALLY FOCUSED ON ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND BEING MORE
PROACTIVE TO GET AHEAD OF THAT
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE SO WE
DON'T HAVE UNEXPECTED
BREAKDOWNS LIKE THIS THAT
AFFECT MULTIPLE MODES OF
TRANSPORT . I REALLY APPRECIATE
THIS THOROUGH EXPLANATION
TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF
HOPEFULLY QUICK QUESTIONS. ONE
, GIVEN THAT THE BRIDGE WILL BE
OPERATING ON ONLY ONE CYLINDER
AND THAT IS GOING TO RESULT
IN 10 TO 15 MINUTES LONGER
THAN USUAL ARE THE OPENING AND
CLOSING TIMES , SOME
CONSTITUENTS HAVE REACHED OUT
AND ARE WONDERING HOW FDOT
MIGHT BE COMMUNICATING WITH
BRIDGE OPENING TIMES GIVEN
THESE ADDITIONAL DELAYS,
WHETHER OR NOT IT IS POSSIBLE
TO PUT SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC
SIGN OUT THERE SO THAT WHEN
PEOPLE ARE COMING UP TO THE
BRIDGE, THEY ARE NOT JUST
TACKING ON 10 TO 15 MINUTES
FROM WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT
ACTUALLY NO. MAYBE 10 MINUTES
HAS ALREADY GONE BY AND IT IS
ONLY THREE MINUTES. THAT
IMPACTS PEOPLE'S
DECISION-MAKING ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THEY WILL WAIT OR GO A
DETOUR ROUTE . THAT IS ONE
QUESTION. THE SECOND QUESTION
IS, WHAT IS OUR SCHEDULE AND
OUR TIMEFRAME FOR RESUMING TO
NORMAL OPERATIONS WITH FULL
CYLINDER CAPACITY? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. I THINK I CAN TAKE
BOTH QUESTIONS. THERE IS TWO
WAYS THAT WE COMMUNICATE OUT ,
THE DIFFERENCE IN TIMING FOR A
BRIDGE OPENING. ONE IS WITH
BARRIERS . WE HAVE HAD
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COAST
GUARD AND ADDRESSED THE
SYSTEMS THAT GO OUT TO NOTIFY
MARITIME IN GENERAL THAT THEY
CAN TAKE UP TO 10 TO 15
MINUTES LONGER FOR THE OPENING
. IT IS ALSO A QUESTION I KNOW
THAT OUR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
DIVISION IS ADDRESSING TO SEE
HOW WE CAN PUSH THAT OUT IN THE
SHORT TERM OR MIDTERM WHILE WE
HAVE THREE OTHER CYLINDERS TO
DO THE SWAPOUT . WHEN IT COMES
TO THE TIMING TO GET BACK TO
NORMAL OPERATIONS, WHILE WE
WERE GETTING THE BRIDGE BACK UP
AND RUNNING, WE WERE ALREADY
CRACKING OPEN THE CONSULTANT
WE USE OUT OF AUBURN FOR
SOME HYDRAULICS. WE NEED A BIT
MORE TIME TO DETERMINE THE ROOT
CAUSES FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT
FAILED ON THAT CYLINDER . THEN,
MEGHAN MENTIONED HOW
TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED AND HOW
MANY OF OUR UPGRADE PROGRAMS
FOR THE BRIDGE ARE BRINGING THE
NEWEST TECHNOLOGY. WE WILL DO
THAT WITH THE CYLINDER AS WELL.
THERE HAVE BEEN MATERIAL
ADVANCEMENTS OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS FOR THE COMPOSITES
THAT WE USE . WE ARE NOT JUST
GOING TO REPLACE THINGS IN
TIME, WE WILL USE THE NEWEST
MATERIALS WE CAN ON THE
REFURBISHED CYLINDER . WE NEED
MORE TIME TO DETERMINE WHAT THE
BEST METHODS ARE FOR
REHABILITATION AND THERE WILL
BE OTHER TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY
FINAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THIS LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA?
OKAY. I WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE
SDOT TEAM, THEIR CREWS BEING
OUT THERE IN THE FIELD TO
RESTORE THE WEST SEATTLE LOW
BRIDGE AND FOR THEIR CONTINUED
WORK ON IT REPLACING THOSE
CYLINDERS AS ORIGINALLY
SCHEDULED FOR 2023. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SDOT
TO ENABLE THEM TO ACCELERATE
THEIR ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
AND WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE TO
DISCUSS THAT LATER THIS YEAR.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY. THAT WAS THE LAST
ITEM ON OUR AGENDA .
COLLEAGUES, THE TIME IS 10:41
A.M. AND THIS CONCLUDES THE
JANUARY 17, 2023 MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMITTEE. THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMITTEE WILL BE
FEBRUARY 7 . THANK YOU. WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.