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Home My WebLink AboutCommittee of the Whole Packet for 10/16/2017 AGENDA Committee of the Whole Meeting 6:00 PM - Monday, October 16, 2017 7th Floor, Conferencing Center, 7th Floor, City Hall – 1055 S. Grady Way 1. PARKS/TRAILS/COMMUNITY FACILITIES 2. REGIONAL ISSUES .. , �'� 4�1c�wi�+� i J��/a�i 7 � Denis Law Mayor _ _ �Ili _ _ _ ,.: May 24, 2016 Sound Transit Board 401 South Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104 RE: Renton City Council Comments on ST3 Dear Chair Constantine and Sound Transit Board Members: The Renton City Council discussed the ST3 System Plan with particular emphasis on project E-02, bus rapid transit along I-405. This project is the portion of ST3 that will provide high capacity transit service to Renton. The City Council adopted the comments to the plan listed below during their May 23, 2016 Council meeting, and directed the administration to deliver these comments to you. They are consistent with the request that Renton representatives made to Board Member Balducci during their meeting with her on May 17, 2016. The Rentvn City Council requests that ST3: � 1) Provide the Intensive Capital Option of the I-405 BRT project from Bellevue to Renton. 2) Provide enhanced parking and access improvements to the South Renton Transit Center. 3) Provide a study of the future potential for light rail in Renton. Please note that providing an in-line bus rapid transit station at NE 44th Street is a key feature of the Intensive Capital Option of the I-405 BRT project between Bellevue and Renton. We understand that the Sound Transit Board is in the process of considering amendments to the ST3 plan, and Renton is asking that these requests be incorporated into those amendments. Providing adequate access to the I-405 BRT system for Renton residents is essential to obtain the support of Renton for the ST3 System Plan. Thank you for your consideration. ' cerely, Denis Law Mayor cc: Renton City Councilmembers 1ay Covington,Chief Administrative Officer Gregg Zimmerman,Public Works Department Administrator ,_ !im Seitz,Transportation Systems Division Oirector 16-082 Renton City Hall,7th Floor 1055 South Grady Way,Renton,WA 98057• rentonwa.gov Denis Law -� C1}�'Of Mayor ;� ,� ��, r,..,,� —'.�„"., (�S`tY "O� t . �� •� � � i i � �� : :� --- -- � � __ � Aprii 28, 2016 Mayor's Office � Sound Transit Board c/o Board Administrator Sound Transit � 401 South Jackson Street Seattle,WA 98104 - � Re: City of Renton Sound Transit 3 Comment Letter Dear Chair Constantine and Members of the Baard: The City of Renton appreciates.tfie opportunityto provide additional feedback on the Draft Sound Transit 3 (ST3)System Ptan. In our previous two comment letters�in the . � past nine months, as well as through joint Eastsl'tle city communications,we have stated to the Board our urgent need for high quality transit projects in the I-405 corridor. We have reviewed the latest draft ST3 plan and have the following comments. _ 7he I-405 corridor needs a High Capacity Transit (HCT) investment consistent with that � of light rail. Although we appreciate the inelusion of bus service on I-405 in tfie draft plan,what is described as "I-405 Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)" does not qualify as HCT, but rathec regiona) express service with�impcoved headways. Fuli BRT, as we have • requested ofthe Board.in our previous communications, and as envisioned in the 1-405 Master Planning efFort that was sponsored by Sound Transit and WSDOT, is the � equivalent of light rail on rubber tires. This includes branded vehicles with multipie . doors for entry/exit(designed to "dock"with stations to eliminate a step up onto the . bus) and off-board fare coliecfiion. We have seen little evidence of tNese characteristics - of full BRT in the draft plan. On I-405,full BRT will include center-running operations the length of the system and • serve in-line stops and direct access ramps throughout the corridor: To our disappointment,there are no stops at ail between downtown BelleVue and south � Renton described in the draft plan. Although we do appreciate that a new transit center in south Renton has been incfuded in the plan,there are no direct access ramps or locai ' street improvements to provide access to the station. . We again ask the Board to work with Sound Transit staff to deliver fuil BRT in the I-405 eorridor, as described in the 2002 WSDOT/Sound Transit I-405 MaSter Pla�. .To maximize taxpayer transportation investments,it is essential that Sound Transit work in -- close coordination with WSDOT during the continuous build-out of 1=405 to capitalize on Renton City Hall • 1055 South Grady Way • Renton,Washington 98057 • rentonwa.gov � Chair pow Constantine Members of Sound Transit Board Page 2 of 2 �` April 27,2016 • ' one another's efforts. The Board should consider dedicating funding for further study of additional,l-405 system BRT stations and/or light rail in the 1-405 corridor to help plan for this coordination now and to prepare for ST4. We are ready to work with Sound 7ransit and WSDOT staff to identify the most expedient locations for stops in every segment of the corridor as pianning continues to move forward. For BRT to be successful there must be a robust bus feeder system in place. Sound Transit shouid preserve and add significantly to the 600,000 regional bus service hours outlined in the draft plan throughout the duration ofthe ST3 package to ensur.e a high quality bus network continues to feed riders to the BRT system. These investments should also be adding service to overcrowded and high ridership routes and creating new routes such as a Renton-to-Seattle Express Bus route. As for the timing of the development of the South Renton.BRT station at the corner of Rainier Avenue South and South Grady Way,we again ask that you purchase the property at this time using a portion of the$68 million that has been set aside for Renton projects as agreed upon in our 2002 settlement agreement with Sound Transit, This slte offers the opportunity to expand commuter park-and-ride access in this high demand area with the creation of shared-use parking as part of a transit-oriented joint development project. � .`` � ' cerely, Denis Law� � M ayor cc: Renton City Council � Jay Covington,Chief Administrative Officer Gregg Zimmerman,Public Works Admin(strator Chip Vincent,Community and Economic Development Administrato� Doug Jacobson,Deputy Publlc Works Adminlstrator,Transportation Jim Seitz,Transportation Planning,Manager � 16-069 � � _ . , ' . �F�BFt�� fi � l'1 T Y t)P Ctn, � � ` -��,�,.., ��1�1C�e " ;.�► '�� 1 � ,� �s1��oa SN1N6'� City of 6othell� h'CA April 28, 2016 RECEIVED Sound Transit Board APR 2 S zo�s c/o Board Administrator MAYO R� Sound Transit S OFFICE 401 S.Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104 Re: I-405 corridor cities joint ST3 comment letter Dear Chair Constantine and Members of the Board: The cities of Bellevue, Renton, Bothell,Newcastle, and C(yde Hill and the Town of Beaux Arts Village appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback on the Draft Sound Transit 3 (ST3) System Plan. In the past nine months, through individual city comment letters, as well as through joint city communications, we have stated to the Board our urgent need for high quality transit projects in the 1-405 corridor.The following shared comments are in addition to those from our individuai jurisdictions. • The Eastside is a vital and growing area, and an integral component of the regional economic engine, Eastside cities are projected to reach nearly 700,000 residents and more than 550,000 jobs by 2040. We are interconnected both geographically and economically, and have many comrnon interests and goals. Our cities are united in our desire for quality High Capacity Transit(HCT) the length of the J- 405 corridor,the transportation spine of'the Eastside. This corridor connects the east to the north and to the south. tt carries nearly a million trips of people to job and housing centers throughout the region every day, and the need for additional transit capacity is only growing. The I-405 corridor needs a HCT investment consistent with that of light rail.Although we appreciate the inclusion of bus service on I-405 in the draft plan, what is described as"I-405 Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)"does not qualify as HCT, but rather regional express service with improved headways. Full BRT, as we have requested of the Board in our previous communications, and as envisioned in tlie I-405 Master Planning effort that was sponsored by Sound Transit and WSDOT, is the equivalent of light rail on rubber tires. Full BRT will include center-running operations the length of the system and serve in-line stops throughout the I-405 corridor. As described in the draft plan, there are no in-line stops planned north ofKirkland, and perhaps even more concerning, no stops at all between downtown 1 � Sound Transit Board April 28,20167 Re:I-405 corridor cities joint ST3 comment letter Pa�e 2 Bellevue and south Renton.Full BRT will also include branded vehicles with multiple doors for entty/exit, designed to "docfc"with stations to eliminate a step-up onto the bus, and off-board fare collection. We have seen little evidence ofthese characteristics of ful( BRT in the draft plan. We again ask the Board to work with Sound Transit staff to deliver full BRT in the I-405 corridor, as described in the WSDOT/Sound Transit I-405 Master Plan. We understand that building a BRT system the equivalent of light rail on rubber tires is costly. To offset these costs and to maximize taxpayer transportation investments, it is essential that Sound Transit work in close coordination with WSDOT during the continuous build-out of I-405 to capitalize on one- another's efforts. The Board should consider dedicating fiinds for further study of additional I- 405 system BRT stations to help plan for this coordination and to prepare for ST4. Our jurisdictions are ready to work with Sound Transit and WSDOT staff to identify the most expedient locations for stops in every segment of the corcidor as planning continues to move forward. Lastly, for BRT to be successful, there must be a robust bus feeder system in place. Sound Transit should preserve the 600,000 regional bus service hours outlined in the draft plan throughout the duration of the ST3 package to ensure a high quality bus network continues to feed riders to the system. These investments should include adding service to overcrowded and high ridership routes. ST3 has the potential to create transit connections within the Eastside, and provide connections between the Eastside and the rest of the region. It is critical that our cities, Sound Transit and WSDOT work in unison to address the important ties between land use and transportation in the early planning phases of ST3 to realize the maximum potential of this regional investment. Thanlc you for considering our comments as we plan for our region's future mobility. Sincerely, ' � J,C� �� r v John Stolces Dennis Law Rich Crispo Mayor, City of Bellevue Mayor, City of Renton Mayor, City ofNewcastle _._._._,� _-� r _ .. ,.. - - _,,. ; ,r��/�y�� ...�_,'"j' �.` ; .. Andy Rheaume Richard Leider George Martin Mayor,City of Bothell Mayor,The Town of Mayor, City of Clyde Hill Beaux Arts Vitlage