The 2009 City Council Election– aka 3 or 4 Lanes on Island Crest Way

Here on Mercer Island, the November election has two City Council Seats and two School Board seats in play. The City Council race is effectively a vote about Island Crest Way. Let’s take a look at that one.

Ira’s extremely targeted campaign platform and the object of said platform.

Why does Election 2009 = Island Crest Way Vote? 2 Reasons.

1. Of the three seats at stake, only one (Council Position #2) is contested.
2. Of the two candidates for Council Position #2, one (Ira Appleman) has staked his campaign on fighting the decision to take ICW to 3 lanes.

Ira’s positioning is strong because it’s simple and memorable, but it’s a bit of a shame as well because Ira has done a lot in service to the Island that gets lost in his focus on this issue. A lot of his record I support, including preserving open space and cutting wasteful spending.

Road Diet: Pro & Con

But as I’ve written before, I can’t support Ira on this. I support taking ICW to 3 lanes. It’s too hard to turn now, too busy, and too hard to cross. Some citizens have put together a website outlining the reasons for 3 lanes instead of 4.  They’ve included a handy map showing neighboring communities that have successfully implemented  road diets.

Ira’s main arguments, as I read his letter, seem to me beside the point:

• Overwhelming opposition from Islanders to a 3-lane solution: I haven’t seen this in my friends but also don’t know if a survey has been done.
• A bad process with the result baked in from the beginning: Can’t comment on whether this is true, but having known nothing of the process or the people involved it still seems like a better solution to me.
• Plan favors bikes over cars: Doesn’t seem so. In fact, the case for 3 lanes doesn’t even mention bikes as one of the main rationales:

I both bike and drive to work, but mostly drive. And it’s hard to turn on ICW. I also walk and run around the neighborhood and it’s hard to cross ICW. Look, it’s Seattle– almost no one bikes in the winter rain and cold. So it’s hard to believe that bunch of rabid bike-freaks have taken over the process.

Funny thing is, I would vote for Ira Appleman based on his record. But I can’t vote for the guy who wants to keep Island Crest Way at 4 lanes.

Transportation Issues Wrap-Up

Trains (aka Light Rail)

The Bellevue Reporter has a good article on the options for the light rail routes on the East Side. Mostly the article concerns where the train will go in Bellevue and Redmond,  since the decision on Mercer Island is trivial. If you plan to be traveling to Bellevue in 2023 when the East Link is complete, read this.

Sound Transit’s simulation of Light Rail over I-90.

Buses

In more near-term news, Mercer Island’s own Fred Jarrett argues in Crosscut for a more metric-driven approach to planning transit: basically, cut service where it’s not working and don’t cut where it is. (The fiscal reality is that Metro has to cut somewhere.) The current system promises quantity of service by region: 20% Seattle, 40% East Side, and 40% South King County.

In Fred’s own words, why to shift Metro away from regional allocation:

“Measuring effort by neighborhood benefits no one moving between neighborhoods. Further, it has created a system that measures effort rather than performance and results in unacceptability high costs by almost every measure. The Municipal League has documented the agency’s high cost per mile. While that figure is troubling, the high cost per rider is cause for even greater alarm as it clearly indicates that the system’s routes aren’t as productive as they should be.”

Nicely said, Fred.

Cars

So different, yet so much the same.

A bubbling issue relevant only on our own Island is whether Island Crest Way should go to 3 lanes south of 40th or stay at 4 lanes. We’ve been debating this so long it’s becoming our very own Alaskan Way Viaduct. For those who don’t follow city politics or drive, the Alaskan Way situation has been debated since it was damaged in the 2001Nisqually Earthqauke until finally a resolution was reached in 2009– a resolution since reopened in the Seattle mayoral race.

What’s driving the Island Crest Way issue is the intersection at Merrimount, which had been the Island’s most dangerous intersection and now has temporary traffic control. This issue deserves its space– watch for a post soon.

Light Rail AND Carpool Lanes?

The Seattle Times reports that the state budget restored money for carpool lanes over I-90. This should quiet a lot of the opposition to light rail over I-90. It may also keep traffic moving, since the lanes must be in place before tracks can go over the Express Lanes. If you haven’t been following, there’s been a debate over how to compensate for the loss of the Express Lanes to Light Rail.

In other transportation news, the City’s seeking comment on the 2010-2015 transportation plan– find details and send comments here. And for inspiration, here’s the current plan of street improvements (click for pdf):

There’s a lot of work in Mid-Island, especially around the troublesome intersection at Merrimount Way.

Now let’s look at the history of street resurfacing- fun!

If you got a kick out of this post, you should definitely comment on the plan.

Blowdown at Island Crest Way and 40th

We had a windy Monday morning- at 4 am we woke to the trees swaying. One tree at Island Crest Way and 40th didn’t make it. This morning you could see what was left:

I always wonder about the trees in a windstorm, especially since more get cut down all the time and they need each other for support. Neighbors tell us that the people we bought our house from cut down three tall, old fir trees. We’ve been thinking about planting a couple of young ones to give the grove around us some strength in years to come.

Speaking of the Mercer Island Bulletin Board…

I took advantage of my stop to take some photos of the notices. Takeaway: there’s plenty to do if you’re a kid or a parent.

What Does Mercer Island Look Like In The Snow?

The mail still came through the sleet and snow, and cheerfully–

even though none of the side streets were plowed today:

Folks were driving on Island Crest Way when I took a walk this afternoon. It had been plowed but covered again in snow:

The buses were out too, as were the police, and some Mercer Island plows.

There were lots of people walking around Mercerdale enjoying the snow,

at least one intrepid biker,

and a passel of people boarding, sledding and skiing at Homestead Park.

I wasn’t crazy enough to go into work today, as 520 was closed and there were accidents everywhere. Did you go, and if so how was it? Anyone do anything fun at home?

I’m Calling the Mercer Island Election: Obama Wins

Perhaps it’s early to call the election, since no one’s voted yet. And perhaps it’s facile, since 2004 King County election results showed 65% for Kerry and 34% for Bush. But it also gets this post out in front of all others that will inevitably call the election in favor of Obama (aka “That One“).

On Sunday, biking through a few neighborhoods around Southwest Island, my husband and I counted yard signs. Our highly scientific survey resulted in 16 yards with Obama/ Biden signs and 3 with McCain/ Palin signs, if you count one car sticker. We gave that one to McCain given the otherwise poor showing.

That doesn’t include the grandaddy of yard signs at Island Crest Way and 40th:

One final note: there’s a debate watch party on the Island: sponsored by Obama fans, but open to everyone. This Wednesday, 5:50 p.m.

No One Could Seriously Believe That 4 Lanes on ICW are Better than 3, Right?

If you’ve driven regularly past Island Crest Way and Merrimount lately, you’ve seen the temporary traffic control. The stakes that protect right turns have improved matters (earlier accidents in the area made it the worst accident location on the Island) but the dented and somewhat run-over appearance of the stakes leads you to believe that work is still needed.

The problem intersection:

The question I pose: how could any but a three-lane solution make sense? The heart of the argument is that where ICW is four lanes, north of 53rd St, it’s an uninviting highway. Where it’s three lanes (two driving lanes, plus a turn lane with islands in between) it’s a relaxing boulevard.

As evidence, I present photos. Three lanes: pretty.

Four lanes: ugly. Not the house, the street.

There are reasons beyond aesthetics. Sometimes I run in the mornings, and ICW is virtually impossible to cross where it’s four lanes. Even my husband, who is almost universally in favor of faster traffic, all the time, thinks that the speed should be lower. Drivers don’t gain much time from a driving faster on ICW, and the speed creates a lot of danger in a residential community such as the Island.

The City Council has done research and held hearings on the subject. You have to applaud the City Council for being open enough to include, in the notes, this comment: “probably the worst traffic management scheme I have ever seen.” In general the comments included a mix of articulation of problems, like “there’s too much last minute lane shifting/merging” and solutions, such as “Just make ICW a 3 lane roadway.” The only obvious solution, of course.

Ironically, the decision had been made in favor of three lanes, and according to the Reporter, is being reconsidered.

My certainty aside, your comments are welcome. What do you think?

Where to Watch Fireworks If You’re Too Lazy to Leave Mercer Island

First, little flags appeared lining Island Crest Way today- how nice!

Thanks to the patriotic, unemployed people who must have set up these flags.

Now, the fireworks. By this post’s title I don’t mean to imply that those who stay on the Island for fireworks are lazy. There are lots of reasons you may not want to go far: you have small children, you’re wary of explosives in large crowds; or, like us, you’re lazy.

Our best bet seems to be Bellevue’s fireworks in Downtown Park, right across the short part of the lake. Luther Burbank Park’s probably your best bet. On South Island, you might be able to see the show at Coulon Park in Renton. You may be able to see them from Clark Beach Park, but I’m not sure. If you’ve got a killer view to the North, you may even be able to see over Medina to Kirkland’s Marina Park. There’s a list of local fireworks locations in Redfin’s Seattle Sweet Digs blog, if you do care to venture out.

But it’s my first 4th of July here. A question for you longitme residents: where’s the best place to watch the fireworks?

And here’s some early summer flowers, hoping the sun stays out for tomorrow.

Update: Unless you have a view from your house, you can’t watch the fireworks on Mercer Island. It’s not allowed. Tell the City Council: that’s just plain crazy.