OpenHouseSummary

BackgroundandPurpose
TheSeattleDepartmentofTransportation(SDOT)planstostudyalternativesforthelocationanddesign ofacycletrackalongWestlakeAvenueNorth,betweenLakeUnionParkandjustsouthoftheFremont Bridge.ApublicopenhousewasheldonOctober28,2013tointroducetheproject,shareproject purposeandneed,andencouragethecommunitytoshareprioritiesforthiscorridor. OpenHouseandPresentation Date:Monday,October28,2013 Location:B.F.DayElementarySchool,3921LindenAveN,Seattle,WA Time:5:00p.m.7:00p.m.(extendedto8:00p.m.toaccommodateinterest)

FormatandAgenda
Theopenhouseformatallowedthepublictimetoaskquestionsofmultipleprojectmembers,submit commentsverballyandinwritinginmultipleplacesandlearnmoreabouttheproject.Stationswith projectinformationandmapsprovidedopportunitiesforattendeestoreviewinformationandinteract withtheteamdirectlytodiscussconcernsandshareideas. Apresentationwasgiventwiceduringtheevent,backtoback,adjustingtheoriginalplantoensurethat allinterestedattendeeshadachancetohearthepresentation.Immediatelyafterthesecond presentationaquestionandanswersessionwasheld,withthepresentersconveyinginformationviathe microphonetothecrowd.Alsotoaccommodatethehighlevelofinterest,staffstayedanextrahour beyondtheplannedeventendtoanswerallquestionsanddocumentallcommentsandconcernsfor consideration. Agenda 5:008:00p.m. OpenHouse 5:306:10p.m. IntroductionsandPresentation 6:106:30p.m. Presentationrepeated,followedbyQ&Asession 8:00p.m. Meetingadjourned MeetingStations Staffmemberswerelocatedatthefollowingstations: StationName Materials&DisplayBoards Welcome - Projectfactsheets - CommentCards Whatisacycletrack? - Whatisacycletrack? - Intersectiontreatmentsandmethodsofseparationtoimprove safety - Possiblecycletrackalignments

Updated 12/2/2013 Open House Meeting Summary

 StationName Projectoverview Materials&DisplayBoards Projectbackground Bicycleandtrailnetwork Projectschedule GoalsandobjectivesInteractiveFeedbackExercise Designgoalsandguidelines Existingconditions Whatwelearnedaboutbicycleuse HowdoyouusetheWestlakeAvenueNorthcorridor?Interactive FeedbackExercise Resultsfromexistingconditionsdatacollection Aerialmaprollplot(withstickynotesavailabletomakecomments directlyonthemap)

Goalsandobjectives Design

Aerialmap

Participation
Approximately325peopleattendedtheopenhouse 264attendeessignedin;thedifferencebetweensigninandapproximateattendancereflects typicalpubliceventpatterns(typically,onlyonepersoninacoupleorfamilysignsin;some attendeeselectnottosignin) 160inclusionsigninformscollected

Results
InputExercise:GoalsandObjectives Attendeesuseddotstoindicateprioritiesfortheprojectgoalsandobjectives.Thetablebelowshows howmanydotswereplacedundereachoption,fromatotalof151dots.Themajorityofparticipants placeddotsintheveryimportantcolumnforallthelistedgoalsandobjectives.Theseresultsindicate thatallthestatedgoalsareveryimportanttomeetingattendeesandwillneedtobebalanced throughoutthedesignprocess. Somewhat Goal/objective Notimportant Important Veryimportant important Reducebicycle 0% 7% 11% 81% collisions (0/151) (11/151) (17/151) (123/151) Increase pedestriansafety Providesafe accessto businesses Provide convenient parking Provideaflat,low stressfacility 0% (0/118) 1% (1/120) 19% (34/178) 23% (29/127) 8% (9/118) 10% (1/120) 14% (25/178) 10% (13/127) 19% (23/118) 23% (28/120) 6% (11/178) 12% (15/127) 73% (86/118) 66% (79/120) 61% (108/178) 55% (70/127)
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Updated 12/2/2013 Open House Meeting Summary

 Attendeeswerealsogiventheopportunitytowriteinadditionalgoalsandobjectives.Theseadditional goalsandobjectivesincluded: PreserveWestlakebusinessesandresidents(52) PreserveparkingonwestportionnexttoeastlanesofWestlake(33) PreservefourlanesofWestlaketraffic(19) Safeaccesstohomes(10) Transitandcommuters(5) Freightaccessandcapacity(4) ConnectedbiketrailaroundLakeUnion(4) Connecttodowntownbikeroutes(4) Improveaccessibleparking(3) InputExercise:HowDoYouUsetheWestlakeAvenueNorthCorridor? AttendeeswereaskedtousedotstoindicatethedifferentwaystheyusetheWestlakecorridor.The resultsdemonstratethatmanytypesofWestlakeAvenueNorthuserswererepresentedattheopen house. Use Count Bicycling 144 Parking 98 Driving 90 Walking 81 Marineusage 75 Business 69 Residence/floatinghome 59 Woulduseforcyclingifimproved 42 Transitorfreight 35 Wouldlovetobiketobusinessesifimproved 13 Wouldbikemoreifbikespeedwerecontrolledmore 1 Running 1 *Italicsindicateusesaddedbyopenhouseattendees Comments:AerialMap Attendeesplacedstickynoteswithcommentsatspecificlocationsonanaerialmapoftheprojectarea. Themapwasdividedintothreezones.Representativecommentsfromthosezonesarecapturedbelow. Zone1LakeUnionParktoSouthofGarfieldStreet SouthendmustconnectwellwithnewfacilitiesonMercerandValley. Howwillvehiclesandfreightentertheparkingareawhencrossingcycletrafficlane? Improveaccesstobikelanealong9thAvefromWestlake.

Updated 12/2/2013 Open House Meeting Summary

DangerousintersectionwithrusheddriversgettingStarbuckslattesignoringtheped/bike lane. Zone2SouthofGarfieldStreettoWheelerStreet Cycletrackbelongsapproximatelywheretheloadinglaneis. Evenifmycarisparkedintheparkinglotthere'snoguaranteethatI'mgoingtothebusiness. I'mnot. ExtremelyhighparkinguseatChinaHarborbuilding.Notjustarestaurant.Familieswillbe forcedtowalktoofartokeepbusinessesopen. SincegettingrunoverbyacaronWestlakeabikelaneonthestreetwithcarsthatturnleftor rightisdangerous.That'showIgothit. Zone3WheelerStreettotheFremontBridge Weneedmoreparkingnotless.Whatisgoingtokeepthebikesinthebikelanesandnotriding throughboth? Bigdocks,bigtrucks,40passengerbuses,mobilecranes.Tightradiusparkingareasdon't work. ExtremedangeratrightofwayentrancebyDiamondMarina.Bikesgostraightacrossinstead ofusing90degreeturns. GeneralThemes Therewerealargevarietyofcomments,including151commentformsand79stickynotes.The followingsharesthemainthemesaftercategorizingeachcomment,aswellassamplecommentsthat arerepresentativeofthosethemes. Parking:Amajorityofpeoplewereconcernedwithlossofparking.Othersindicatedparkingwas notahighpriority. o Pleasepreservetheparkingspacesespeciallywheretheyareheavilyusedinthe south. o AsmuchasIappreciatethesubsidizedparking,Idon'tthinkthisisaresponsibleuseof thisspace.Muchbetterforthegreatestgoodtobuildacycletrack! o Thisprojectisagreatopportunitytofixtheunsafeandnoncompliant(ADA)accessible parking. o Westlakeiscomprisedofsmallbusinessandsmallbusinessowners.Reducingparking wouldbedevastatingtothosecompaniesandpropertyowners. Safety:Mostpeoplewhomentionedsafetywereconcernedaboutbicyclistandpedestrian safetyalongthecorridor.Someindicatedconcernwithpedestriansafetyaroundfastmoving bicyclists. o Acycletrackisaboutpedestriansafetytoo,andalldriversarepedestriansafter parking. o Carsareconfusedregardingwherebikesshouldbe;pedestriansandbikesareconfused regardingwhichsidewalksaresharedbike/walkroutes,andbusinessownersare unhappywithbikesonthesidewalk. o ThedumpstersandbushesblockthesitelinesandIvealmosthitabicyclistseveral times,whiletryingtoturnintotheparkinglotfromWestlake.

Updated 12/2/2013 Open House Meeting Summary

Pleaseprovideasafe/lowstressroutealongWestlakesothatIcansafelytransportmy sonawayfromautotraffic. Businessinterests:Anothercommonthemewashowthecycletrackwillimpactbusinesses, particularlyhowalossofparkingwouldrestrictaccessforcustomersandemployees. o IamveryconcernedaboutthepotentiallossofparkingandaccessonWestlake.Our businessisdependentonboth. o Safetyisimportantandsoisbusiness. o Ifparkingisdecreased,Iwillneedtoconsidermovingmybusinessoutofthecity. o IknowwewouldalladvocateforsaferbikingconditionsImabikerandhavebeen hitbyacyclistinthelot.Idasktopreserveparkingforresidents(allhours)andbusiness (duringbusinesshours). DexterAvenueNorthbicycleroute:Thereweremanyreferencestothebicyclefacilityon DexterAvenueNorth.SomecommentedthatanalternativetoDexterisneededandothers indicatedthatbicyclistsshouldusetheexistingDexterfacility. o Weneedasafe,directandprotectedroutealternativetoDexter. o IbikeWestlaketodowntownmeetings,andchooseitoverDexterbecauseitisflatand Icanavoidsweatinginworkclothesandstillmakedecenttime. o NocycletrackonWestlakeitisnotneeded.Dexterservescyclists. Publicengagement:Oneofthequestionsonthecommentformrequestedfeedbackonthe publicengagementprocesstohelpinformfutureoutreach.Peopleweregenerallyappreciative oftheopportunitytoprovidefeedbackandsuggestionsforfuturemeetings. o Underestimatedturnoutfromconcernedresidentsandbusinesses.Larger format/venuewouldbebetter. o Wouldbehelpfultohaveanotheropenhouseforumonaweekendtogetfeedback fromweekenduserstargetingfamilies,boaters,touristswhoaredifferentthanbike commuters&businessesalongWestlake. o IwashappytogetapostcarditwasinformativeandgotmetoameetingIcared about.Theeventwasnicestafferswerefriendlyandtheinfomadesense. Residentinterests:Residentsweregenerallyconcernedwithhowthecycletrackwouldimpact parkingandaccess. o IliveonWestlake,bikecommutetoworkandappreciateyourefforts.Pleasesaveas muchparkingasyoucanweneedtoparkatourhomes! o EliminatinghalftheparkingwillcauseproblemsforthoseofuswholiveonWestlake andhavebusinessesthere.

Commentsrelatedtodesign/alignments Someattendeesprovidedinputrelateddirectlytodesignfeatures.Ofthosewhomentionedalignments, thewestsideofWestlakeAvenueNorthandtheeastsideoftheparkinglotwerethemostcommonly mentioned. Generaldesignfeedback o Howaboutreducingtheparkinglanewidth(keeptheparking,makethedriveoneway) andputthebicyclelaneonthefarwestside?Thissavestheparkingandgivesasafer pathforbicyclists. o Pleaseensurethebikewayiswideenoughforpassingeachotherduringpeakhours.

Updated 12/2/2013 Open House Meeting Summary

 Cycletrackssoundgreat,butIdwatchtheintersections. Pleasenomoreplantedtrees!Theyblocktheviewofthelakeandblockvisibility. Nobollards!Hazardsonwet/darknight. Bettercrossings,signs,andturnboxesforcrossstreets. Twowaycycletracksarestrangeforvisibilitydriversdon'tusuallylookhardboth wayswhenturninginto/outofparkinglots. Rightdesigninvitesrightuse o Howdowecreatesharedspacestopromotecourtesy? o Pleaseconsiderwaystodesignittokeepbicyclistspeedsdown. Cycletrackalignments o WestsideofWestlakeAveN Dontputcycletracknexttothecliff.Itwouldntbegivenpriorityiftheres alandslide. PutWestlakeonaroaddietandaddaprotectedcycletrack. Pleaseconsiderbikeridersafetyandputcycletrackonwestsideof Westlake.Lotsofcarsenteringandexitingparkinglotsoneastside! o Eastsideofparkinglot Itwouldbeidealifthetrackranclosetothewatersowecanenjoythe viewasweride. Ireallysupportreducingthecomplexityoftheexistingparking,alleyand sidewalkareas.Lotsofcomplexitysharplyincreasesrisksofcollisions. Considerlocatingthecycletrackclosetothebusinesses.Sitingthetrack nexttotheroadwaywillnotreducecar/bikecontentionandcollisions. o Westsideofparkinglot CoveruptheplanterseparatingtheeastparkofWestlakeandturnthat intoabikelane. o o o o o

Updated 12/2/2013 Open House Meeting Summary