Don’t forget that the intersection of NW 85th Street and 8th Avenue NW will be closed again this weekend, so Seattle Department of Transportation crews can rebuild it. Large signs sit by the side of the road, warning drivers from every direction as they approach the intersection.

The rebuilt intersection is part of SDOT’s nearly year-long repaving of N/NW 85th Street from Ballard to I-5. The intersection will be closed from 6 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Work will continue around the clock, but noisy work (such as jack-hammering) will be limited between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Detour routes will be posted, and nearby businesses will be open, just a little harder to get to. Eastbound detours will remain in place on NW 85th St between 15th Ave NW and 8th Ave NW as part of the work on that stretch of road.

Metro bus routes 28 and 48 will be detoured. Check Metro’s Alerts Center for more information and to sign up for Transit Alerts.

Metro Transit had recently proposed drastically changing Route 28 bus service through Greenwood and Broadview, but those plans changed after Metro received feedback from the community.

The latest from Metro:

Now, Metro is seeking a second round of input to shape the final September plan that will be submitted to the King County Council later this spring.

During public outreach in November, Metro suggested replacing Route 28 and revising Route 28 Express as part of a package of related changes in Fremont and North Seattle. Metro has decided not to move forward with these changes now, but will consider making changes in this area with the launch of RapidRide E Line in 2013.

“Last fall, we received comments from more than 5,000 people, and that feedback was invaluable in helping us review and revise these proposals,” said Victor Obeso, Metro’s manager of Service Development. “Now, we want the community’s help again to continue moving forward with our vision for a transit system that is efficient, cost-effective, and best serves the entire county.”

The latest changes now being considered for this area include:

• New Routes: RapidRide D Line*
• Routes proposed for routing or frequency changes: 5*, 28*, 75, 16*, and 18*
• Routes proposed for replacement or deletion: None
• Routes with no change: 28X, 48, 48X, 355, and 358

* Route change proposal revised from November 2011

Most of the proposals support the launch of the RapidRide C and D lines that will connect downtown Seattle to Ballard and West Seattle starting on Sept. 29. For that reason, the changes primarily affect service in Seattle and adjacent communities. Some of the revisions, such as the proposed changes to the 2 (south), 10, 11, 12, 14, 123, and 125 will also improve the flow of buses through downtown Seattle, which will produce significant efficiencies for Metro’s overall system.

The introduction of the RapidRide lines and associated service adjustments will allow Metro to improve bus connections to jobs, shopping and other destinations – places in and around Seattle that have grown and changed over the years. Many bus routes serving these areas have not been adjusted for more than a decade.
People will have an opportunity to comment on the newly revised September service proposals during the second round of public review that is now underway. You can submit comments by attending one of several meetings and information tables Metro is hosting, or filling out an online survey.

To learn more about the proposals and ways to speak up about the changes, visit: www.kingcounty.gov/haveasay.

Metro is hosting another six open houses to get more feedback on final proposals. The closest public meeting to our neighborhood is in Ballard, from 6-8 p.m. next Monday, Feb. 13, at Ballard High School.

During this round of open-house meetings, customers will have an opportunity to review the revised proposals and share their comments. That feedback will help shape final September service recommendations that will be forwarded to the King County Council for action this spring (probably in May). Those unable to attend one of these forums can give us their comments via an online survey on Metro’s website.

And Metro is also testing a new version of its home page, and they’re asking for feedback through an online survey. The redesign is supposed to make it easier to find the most requested information, and should display better on mobile devices.

Just a reminder that the intersection of NW 85th Street and 8th Avenue NW is closed all weekend so Seattle Department of Transportation crews can rebuild the intersection. The intersection closed last night, and is scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m. Monday.

Rob sent us this photo last night shortly after construction started. (Thanks, Rob!)

The work is part of the nearly year-long repaving project of North/NW 85th Street from Ballard to I-5.

Update 12:10 p.m.: NW 85th Street is closed to through traffic at both 3rd Avenuw NW…

…and 6th Avenue NW.

A neighborhood “greenway” is coming to Greenwood and Phinney Ridge, and you can help make it happen. The next meeting of our neighborhood greenway group is from 6-7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.

The City of Seattle is creating 11 miles of greenways through seven neighborhoods this year as part of a pilot program. Greenwood-Phinney’s greenway will be along 1st Avenue NW from NW 85th Street to NW 58th Street.

“Greenways connect parks and schools, community centers and neighborhood business districts. Neighborhood Greenways help with transportation, and they help with getting people where they want to go within their own communities,” City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw said in a recent press release.

The Neighborhood Greenways under SDOT review total 11 miles: seven miles in Ballard, Beacon Hill, Greenwood, North Delridge, Wallingford, and the University District and an additional four miles in Laurelhurst (funded by Seattle Children’s Hospital). These projects are intended to form the backbone of a new network of Greenways that effectively connect people to the places they want to go by giving them a choice to travel on quieter, safer streets around the city.

Neighborhood Greenways are slow-speed, low-traffic residential streets made even more pleasant for the people who live, walk, and bike on them. By adding new park-like amenities and limiting cut-through traffic, Greenways are naturally attractive both for families, and for anyone seeking a safer, more connected community experience. By placing Greenways a block or two away from major arterials, Neighborhood Greenways create a great option for people who prefer to walk or bike away from congested streets. While many new dedicated walking and bicycling trails are beyond the reach of our City’s budget, 10 miles of Greenways can be built for the cost of a single mile of new trail, offering the potential to bring a high-quality network to all Seattle neighborhoods at a comparatively low cost. Greenways have the potential to serve neighborhoods where many people cannot afford a car. Neighborhood access by emergency service vehicles and freight delivery vehicles — and parking — is preserved along Greenways.

Motivated by concerns for public safety and a grassroots movement of citizens across Seattle demanding greater community connection, SDOT staff has been studying how other cities link people with their desired neighborhood destinations. By 2015 in Portland, for example, 85% of all residents will live within a half-mile of a Greenway. Portland’s safe streets policies have made streets safer for everyone whether they choose to walk, ride a bicycle, or drive. Portland’s traffic fatality rate is falling six times faster than the rest of the United States. Infrastructure that makes it safer for walking and bicycling automatically benefits drivers through improved safety and saved lives.

This post will be updated throughout the day with new information and pictures.

Update 4:30 p.m.: Seattle Public Schools just announced that all schools will be closed again on Thursday.

Update 11:30 a.m.: The 65th Street hill between Phinney Avenue North and 3rd Avenue NW was closed to traffic today, which meant it was packed with sledders. We saw some interesting items being used in place of sleds, including a skateboard with the wheels off and a large plastic bin that previously held Christmas decorations.

Cafe Bambino, just two blocks away at 65th and 5th, was packed with families drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, and it even had a firepot going outside.

Update 9:15 a.m.: Woodland Park Zoo is closed today; and Seattle Department of Transportation is temporarily suspending repaving work on 85th Street, because, obviously, crews can’t see the pavement under all that snow!

Phinney-Greenwood woke up to more than an inch of snow this morning.

The snow is beautiful, but will likely cause traffic problems today.

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has closed NW 65 Street from 3rd Avenue NW to Phinney Avenue North on the west side of the ridge, and from Phinney Avenue North to Linden Avenue North on the east side. SDOT deployed 30 plow trucks overnight to clear major arterials, and four tanker trucks applied anti-icer to elevated roadways and known trouble spots along the snow route network. Check SDOT’s Winter Weather page for updated information on closed roadways, and its Travelers Information Map for current traffic information and roadway images.

SDOT also reminds property owners that they are responsible for clearing snow and ice off sidewalks adjacent to their properties.

Metro Transit is on snow routes. Check out Metro’s Snow & Ice page for updates and transit alerts. Up to30 routes have been canceled, including the 355 through north Greenwood, and buses that are running may not stop at every bus stop. Metro advises bus riders to walk to major transfer points or cleared arterials.

Seattle Public Schools are closed today.

Seattle Public Utilities has canceled all garbage, yard waste and recycling pick-up today due to dangerous road conditions.

Today’s missed customers should set out their materials tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 19) by 7 a.m. If your materials still have not been collected by the end of the day Thursday, put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day.

Customers who were missed on Monday, Jan. 16, should set their materials out on their next regularly scheduled pickup day.

Missed customers will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling and yard waste at no additional charge.

When setting out extra waste, customers are encouraged to place perishable food items in their collection containers and set bagged, non-perishable items next to the containers.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will continue to post service updates on www.seattle.gov/util. Customers can also reach SPU for information by calling Customer Service at (206) 684-3000.

Seattle Public Library locations, including the Greenwood Library at 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., will be open from 1-5 p.m. today.

King County has closed District and Superior Courts today. King County closures are updated continually here.

The Seattle Department of Transportation will have crews working at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue North and North 80th Street tonight to finish up a few minor items after the intersection was completely rebuilt last October. Crews may also have to work on Thursday night if the work isn’t finished tonight.

From SDOT:

• Work hours: 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. – noisy work activities will end by 10:00 p.m.
• Traffic: traffic lanes will remain open in all directions but will be shifted around the work areas
• A uniformed police officer will be present during this work to help direct traffic
• Bicycles should merge with traffic and follow posted signs
• Pedestrian access will be maintained through the intersection

Want to stay up-to-date with the latest construction information?

• Sign up to receive email updates by emailing pave_85th@seattle.gov
• Visit the project website, updated weekly: www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_85th.htm
• Call the 24-hour project line at (206) 496-9993
• Look for construction flyers, distributed regularly to homes and businesses near the work area

Road crews will work this weekend on NW 85th Street between 12th and 13th Avenues NW, as part of the massive, nearly year-long repaving project of N/NW 85th Street from Ballard to I-5.

SDOT began work on Wednesday with eastbound NW 85th Street being closed between 8th and 15th Avenues NW, and traffic was detoured to NW 80th Street.

The latest from SDOT about this weekend’s work:

Residents, businesses and commuters should expect:

Construction activities:

• Breaking apart the existing pavement on NW 85th St between 13th Ave NW and 12th Ave NW (this work will be noisy)

Traffic routing:

• Eastbound lanes will continue to be closed and traffic detoured to NW 80th St
• Westbound traffic will be maintained

Weekend work hours:

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information:

• Call the 24-hour project line: (206) 496-9993
• Email: pave_85th@seattle.gov
• Visit: www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_85th.htm

The major NW 85th Street repaving project began today and so far there are no major traffic disruptions. Eastbound traffic, including Metro buses, is being detoured between 15th Avenue NW and 8th Avenue NW to NW 80th Street. The detour route was put in place after this morning’s commute.

SDOT workers cover up the left turn signal from southbound 15th Avenue NW onto eastbound NW 85th Street.

One of the employees of MidMountain Contractors Inc., who was stationed at the intersection of NW 85th Street and Mary Avenue NW, told me at 9:20 a.m. that traffic was flowing smoothly so far.

The intersection of NW 85th Street and Mary Avenue NW.

A Seattle Police Officer stationed at NW 80th Street and 15th Avenue NW told me at 9:30 a.m. that traffic was flowing normally.

The intersection of 15th Avenue NW and NW 80th Street.

The real test comes this afternoon during rush hour. The project to pave N/NW 85th Street from 15th Avenue NW all the way to I-5 will last until October. The work will be done in phases. Stay tuned to PhinneyWood for updates.

Here’s the official word from Metro for riders of the eastbound 48 and 81:

Eastbound bus routes (#48 and #81) detoured to NW 80th St

• Catch eastbound route #48 at 15th Ave NW just south of NW 85th St, or at 8th Ave NW and NW 85th St
• Catch southbound route #81 at 15th Ave NW just south of NW 85th St, or at 8th Ave NW and NW 80th St
• No temporary bus stops will be added to NW 80th St in an effort to keep traffic moving along the detour route
• Metro will post rider alerts to notify transit riders of detours and/or temporary bus stop closures

As we told you two days ago, the repaving of N/NW 85th Street from Ballard to I-5 begins Wednesday morning. Eastbound lanes on NW 85th Street will be closed from 15th Avenue NW to 8th Avenue NW, and traffic will be detoured to NW 80th Street.

The intersection of NW 85th Street and 15th Avenue NW. Construction begins on the east side of the intersection Wednesday morning.

The detour route will be put in place after Wednesday morning’s commute (this is a change from our earlier post, when the contractor had originally planned to put the detour in place early in the morning). However, eastbound Metro buses WILL be on the detour route from the first bus out of the base around 4 or 5 a.m., because Metro doesn’t change routes mid-shift. Rider alerts are posted at bus stops, and you can sign up for alerts online.

Westbound NW 85th Street will remain open for now, but may be narrowed to one lane at times.

SDOT Project Manager Jessica Murphy has told us that NW 80th Street is their best option for a detour route, but it won’t be able to handle all of the cars that would normally travel on NW 85th Street. So she encourages people to plan ahead and leave extra time, or switch to transit or walking.

For more information on the project, or if you have questions or concerns, check out the project’s website; email pave_85th@seattle.gov; or call the 24-hour project line (answered by a live person) at 206-496-9993.

Beginning this week, driving through Ballard and Greenwood is going to get a whole lot trickier.

The Seattle Department of Transportation’s major repaving project of North/NW 85th Street, from 15th Avenue NW in Ballard all the way to I-5, is scheduled to start on Wednesday morning. The two-mile long project will be done in five phases, moving from west to east.

Phase 1 is from 15th Avenue NW to 8th Avenue NW. Beginning Wednesday, the eastbound lanes of that seven-block stretch will be closed, and traffic will be detoured to 80th Street.

Construction will begin on the eastbound lanes 0f NW 85th St. on the east side of the intersection with 15th Avenue NW.

SDOT Project Manager Jessica Murphy said the plan is to set up the detour route in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, so that it’s all ready to go before the morning commute. after the morning commute on Wednesday (this is updated information as of 1-3-12).

However, “The detour is not able to accommodate all the displaced traffic. We don’t expect the detour to perform very well even when optimized,” Murphy explained. “We estimate that to keep the detour route functioning at a moderately decent pace, actually about 50 percent of the cars need to choose something else other than the detour.”

Eastbound traffic will be detoured from NW 85th Street to NW 80th Street.

And that becomes even more pressing during Phases 2 and 3, so Murphy said this is a good time to learn what your other options are, from your own detour route to carpooling, taking transit or walking.

“But that doesn’t include you cutting through our neighborhood streets,” she said, adding that drivers should stick to arterial streets, but if they must cut through, drive slowly. “We ask people to drive through their neighborhood streets as if it was their street and their children.”

Barriers recently installed on 15th Avenue NW at NW 83rd Street will keep cars from turning from southbound 15th to eastbound 83rd.

Murphy expects a transition period of about a week for traffic to level out to the “new normal.” Then SDOT will make traffic signal timing adjustments based on what that new normal is. SDOT crews will be observing traffic patterns and intersections all day on that first day, and uniformed police officers will be stationed at all of the affected intersections for the first few days.

“The detour will only function worse and worse from here, so we really need people to plan ahead,” she said. “With the beginning of any new traffic control change there’s an adjustment period. So, traffic is expected to get very bad at first.”

SDOT has done extensive outreach on the project, from mass mailings to emails, variable message signs on the roadway, and door-to-door hand delivery of 800 flyers to a one-block radius of the Phase 1 work.

Pedestrian access to homes and businesses on 85th will be maintained at all times, but driveways may be closed up to three times during the project, up to 48 hours at a time. On-street parking will be eliminated from 15th to 8th during the first phase, so expect more cars parking on side streets.

No parking signs on NW 85th Street.

Typical work hours will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but evening and weekend work will occur periodically. No jack hammering is allowed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Phase 2 will be from 8th Avenue NW to Greenwood Avenue North. SDOT will do some spot work in Phase 2 at the same time as Phase 1. It won’t require detours, but there will be intermittent lane closures in both directions. Both phases are scheduled to be done sometime in May.

Transit also will be detoured. Metro will have temporary stops for eastbound buses on 80th. Westbound buses will stay on 85th. Be sure and check Metro rider alerts.

There are two fewer empty storefronts in the neighborhood thanks to the project. SDOT has taken over the old Playmatters space at 7720 Greenwood Ave. N. for the duration of the project, and the contractor’s office is right next door in the old Lemon Meringue boutique space.

The project contractor’s office is on the bottom left, and SDOT’s office is on the bottom right.

Murphy said if people have concerns or issues, they can stop into the SDOT office if someone is there. (But please don’t go to the contractor’s office.) But the best way to contact someone with questions or problems is to call the 24-hour hotline: 206-496-9993. A live person will answer that phone any hour of the day or night.

Murphy said she knows it will be a real hassle for people to deal with the construction until October, but it will be fantastic when it’s finished. The new concrete roadways will last 40-60 years.

“There will not need to be a project of this magnitude on this corridor pretty much for as long as we all here will live,” Murphy said.

A note to bicyclists: SDOT has decided not to put bike sharrows on 85th between 8th and 15th as originally planned.

The $12 million project is funded by the taxpayer-approved 2006 Bridging the Gap Levy. SDOT estimates that 30,000 vehicles use North/NW 85th Street every day.

Phase 3 will work on 85th Street from Greenwood Avenue North to Aurora Avenue North. Phase 4 is from Aurora Avenue North to Wallingford Avenue North. And Phase 5 is from Wallingford Avenue North to the I-5 entrance.

Greenwood Avenue North is also getting a paving makeover as part of the project. That work will be mostly concurrent with Phase 2 work on 85th Street, but Murphy promises that it will be done before the Greenwood Car Show at the end of June. More information on that phase will come closer to the start date.

For more information on the project:

• Call the 24-hour project line: 206-496-9993
• Email: pave_85th@seattle.gov
• Check out the project website: www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_85th.htm

The Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board is accepting applications for new members.

The volunteer board, which was created by Seattle City Council in 1993, plays an influential role in implementing Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan. The board advises the Mayor and City Council, participates in planning and project development, evaluates policies and makes recommendations to all city departments including the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

Board members serve a two‐year term, with an opportunity to serve a second term. They are frequent walkers of a variety of ages, levels of mobility, and walks of life, and from areas throughout the city. Members must be Seattle residents, and may not be city employees. The group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall on Fifth Avenue between James and Cherry.

Interested persons should submit a resume and cover letter explaining their interest via email by January 20, 2012 to Brian Dougherty at brian.dougherty@seattle.gov.

For more information, call Brian Dougherty at (206) 684‐5124, or send e‐mail to the address above.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin this week to replace about a dozen broken concrete panels on NW 80th Street between 6th Avenue NW and 12th Avenue NW.

From SDOT:

Work will begin between 6th Ave NW and 8th Ave NW, and then will move west between 10th Ave NW and 12th Ave NW. Replacing the concrete panels involves three main steps: first, crews will saw-cut the roadway panels to be removed, then demolish the existing roadway, and finally pour new concrete panels. Work will alternate on the north and south sides of the street, and should take a couple weeks to complete in total, depending on weather.

During this work, traffic will be reduced to one lane on NW 80th St with flaggers directing traffic during the day in alternating directions. During non-working hours, temporary stop signs will be in place, and cars will have to take turns. This is like to create traffic congestion, especially at peak commuting times.

This work is being completed as a part of the N/NW 85th St & Greenwood Ave N Paving Projects.

For more information:

• Call the 24-hour project line at 206-496-9993.
• Email us at pave_85th@seattle.gov
• Visit us online at www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_85th.htm