Calendar of Events as of May 8, 2008:
May
8, Thursday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Open house, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program - Downtown Seattle: WSDOT, King County and city of Seattle will hold a series of open houses in May. Learn more about the process of projects and the plan to take down the viaduct by 2012. At each meeting, programs staff will be available to answer questions and discuss the project updates. We have also set aside time for public comments. Location: Seattle Center, Northwest Rooms, Lopez Room, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle.
8, Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m., Public Hearing, SR 522 Snohomish River Bridge to US 2 Widening Project - Monroe: WSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will hold an informal public hearing for the SR 522 Snohomish River Bridge (Cathcart Road) to US 2 Widening project and the recently completed environmental assessment. Exhibits will be on display, providing an overview of the proposed widening. The project team will give a brief presentation at 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Public comments are valuable to WSDOT and FHWA, and a court reporter will be on hand to take written and verbal statements. Location: Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Road, Monroe.
8, Thursday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Open house, Central Waterfront - Seattle: WSDOT, King County and the City of Seattle will hold a series of open houses in May. Learn the latest information about work done since January to develop options for the viaduct along the central waterfront, including strategies discussed for I-5, surface streets, SR 99 and transit. At each meeting, program staff will be available to answer questions and discuss project updates. We have also set aside time for public comments. Meeting information for this and other upcoming public events can be found at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/Calendar.htm.
13, Tuesday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Open house, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program - West Seattle: WSDOT, King County and city of Seattle will hold a series of open houses in May. Learn more about the process of projects and the plan to take down the viaduct by 2012. At each meeting, programs staff will be available to answer questions and discuss the project updates. We have also set aside time for public comments. Location: Madison Middle School Cafeteria, 3429 45th Avenue SW, Seattle.
Note: revised start time and location
14, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Groundbreaking ceremony, I-5 Grand Mound to Maytown - Maytown: WSDOT will host a community event to celebrate the start of construction for the I-5 Grand Mound to Maytown added lanes project. When completed, the project will reduce congestion by adding a new lane in each direction. Location: Northbound I-5 at the Scatter Creek Rest area parking lot (from southbound I-5 use Exit 88, turn left and get back onto northbound I-5 to access the rest area).
15, Thursday, 4 - 6:30 p.m., Open house, US 2 School Street Safety Enhancement Project - Wenatchee: The WSDOT project team for this US safety project is inviting the public to comment on a plan to restrict turning movements at the US 2 and School Street intersection to right-in and right-out only. Location: Sunnyslope Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 3109 School Street, Wenatchee.
15, Thursday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Open house, Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program - Ballard: WSDOT, King County and city of Seattle will hold a series of open houses in May. Learn more about the process of projects and the plan to take down the viaduct by 2012. At each meeting, program staff will be available to answer questions and discuss the project updates. We have also set aside time for public comments. Location: Adams Elementary School Cafeteria, 6110 28th Avenue NW, Seattle.
20, Tuesday, 4 - 7 p.m., Open house, SR 502 Widening - Battle Ground: Project team members will host an open house to share information about environmental studies for the SR 502 Widening project. People will have an opportunity to comment on the project's purpose and need and proposed alternatives. Location: Cherry Grove Friends Church, 9100 NE 219th Street, Battle Ground.
20, Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public Input meeting, Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll proposal - Gig Harbor: The Washington State Transportation Commission is holding a public input meeting to hear comments related to the proposed toll rate increase for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Location: The Inn at Gig Harbor, 3211 56th Street NW, Gig Harbor.
22, Thursday, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Alaskan Way Viaduct Open house, Central Waterfront - Seattle: The Washington State, King County and Seattle departments of transportation formed the Stakeholder Advisory Committee as a way to engage key interest groups, listen to ideas and conduct a transparent public involvement process for the central waterfront project. Meetings are open to the public. Location: Puget Sound Regional Council boardroom, 1011 Western Avenue, #500, Seattle.
27, Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m., Public hearing, Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll proposal - Gig Harbor: The Washington State Transportation Commission is holding a public hearing related to the proposed toll rate increase for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Following the hearing, the Commission is expected to set toll rates for July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. Location: The Inn at Gig Harbor, 3211 56th Street NW, Gig Harbor.
28, Wednesday, 3 - 6 p.m., Open house, SR 285 Sen. George Sellar Bridge projects - Wenatchee: WSDOT is hosting a public meeting to bring Wenatchee Valley residents up to date on the latest George Sellar Bridge project designs and schedules. This project will increase the capacity of the intersections immediately adjacent to the west end of the George Sellar Bridge, through additional lanes, limiting traffic movements at intersections and roadway improvements. Location: Wenatchee Community Center, 2 South Chelan Street, Wenatchee.
28, Wednesday, 5 - 8 p.m., Open house; 6 - 8 p.m. Public hearing, Columbia River Crossing - Vancouver: Project team members, project sponsor staff and task force members will host an open house to share information about the draft environmental impact statement (EIS). Starting at 6 p.m., a public hearing will provide people the opportunity to comment on the draft EIS, Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation and the Columbia River Crossing project. Location: Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay, 100 Columbia Street, Vancouver.
29, Wednesday, 5 - 8 p.m., Open house; 6 - 8 p.m. Public hearing, Columbia River Crossing - Portland: Project team members, project sponsor staff and task force members will host an open house to share information about the draft environmental impact statement (EIS). Starting at 6 p.m., a public hearing will provide people the opportunity to comment on the draft EIS, Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation and the Columbia River Crossing project. Location: Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive, Hall D, Portland, OR.
31, Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Test drive, I-82 Valley Mall Boulevard Roundabout - Yakima: WSDOT staff will be hosting a roundabout test drive for the public in the northwest corner of the Sundome parking lot. This is an opportunity for drivers to try out an identical version of the roundabout that will be built at I-82 and Valley Mall Boulevard. WSDOT engineers will be on hand to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project. Location: Sundome parking lot, 1301 S. Fair Avenue, Yakima.
June
5, Thursday, 4 - 7 p.m., Open House, I-205 Mill Plain Exit - 112th Connector - Vancouver: Project team members will host an open house meeting to share information about the construction plan and schedules. The project will provide a direct connection to NE 112th Avenue from the northbound I-205 exit ramp at Mill Plain Boulevard. Location: WSDOT Southwest Region Headquarters, 11018 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver.