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Jun

1

Capitol Hill Community Council’s Complete Streetcar Campaign

Filed Under Bicycling, Capitol Hill, Design, Environment, Gas prices, Parking, Pedestrians, SDOT, Seattle, Streets For People, Transit, Transportation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Great City volunteers and sustainable transportation advocates on Capitol Hill have been conspiring and brainstorming together for years.  We’ve been thrilled to see the great traction our friends on the Capitol Hill Community Council (CHCC) are getting with their innovative “Complete Streetcar” concept.  Here’s an update from the CHCC’s Mike Kent:

On Tuesday, May 4th, more than 50 transit advocates and active community members joined the Capitol Hill Community Council’s Complete Streetcar Campaign at Capitol Hill’s Sole Repair lounge in celebrating the group’s recent successes.

Million Dollar Nile regaled Capitol Hill Complete Streetcar fans with the world premiere performance of "My Streetcar's on Broadway" -- a twist on the Sir Mix-a-Lot classic.

The day before, the Seattle City Council voted into law legislation that brought the proposed First Hill Streetcar closer to completion.

Complete Streetcar Campaign supporter Web Crowell created the animations which ran on a loop throughout the event on Sole Repair’s flatscreen monitors throughout the night


The party honored the group’s success in advocating for an alignment that would run in both directions along Broadway north of Union Street, instead of looping around Cal Anderson park.

The group’s next steps include calling for an extension of the proposed streetcar route beyond Denny Way to the northern end of Broadway near East Aloha Street, as was originally envisioned, and pushing for a streetscape plan that includes, among other things, a separated two-way cycle track.

If you are interested in becoming active with the Complete Streetcar Campaign, send an e-mail to chcc.streetcar@gmail.com.

Feb

8

Green Alleys Competition (Submissions Due Feb. 22nd)

Filed Under Design, Innovation, SDOT, Streets For People, Sustainability, walking | 3 Comments

Great City is Pleased to co-sponsor the Green Alleys Competition!

Seattle’s alleys offer intimate, small-scale spaces that, properly staged, invite people to walk and promise a host of sustainability benefits. Introducing greenery to Seattle’s forgotten spaces can create a small ecological system of its own by filtering city runoff before it hits the Puget Sound.

How green is your alley? The City of Seattle, the International Sustainability Institute, People for Puget Sound, and the AIA Seattle is sponsoring a contest on how to green our alleys. An all-star cast of designers, planners, residents and other alley-lovers will judge the entries for their originality, cost-effectiveness and practical implementation.

Join us in a unique design competition to green Seattle’s alleys

For more information send an email to:
green_alleys-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

OR email darby.watson@seattle.gov

Here is a PDF document containing project info, submission requirements and maps of the project area: Green_Alleys_info.pdf (836 KB)

greenAlley

Image by Gehl Architects

Interested parties can get more information by subscribing to (emailing): green_alleys-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Official Press Release Follows:

Guiding Principles

Alleys are a key resource in Seattle. Traditionally restricted to service uses, the Clear Alleys Program has opened up opportunities to use alleys in different ways. This design competition is focused on potential new uses that in combination could add functionality to our transportation and ecological systems as well as improving the aesthetic and community-building elements of our City. Below are some guiding principles to help you in your design of Seattle’s best Green Alley:

Green alleys should:

  • Welcome pedestrians, both as walkways and places to visit
  • Incorporate green stormwater infrastructure in both functional and aesthetic aspects
  • Encourage building design to provide doors, windows, and other elements that support non-service uses
  • Continue to provide access for service vehicles

Judging Criteria

  1. Design innovation and quality: 40%
  2. Thoughtful integration of green stormwater infrastructure: 20%
  3. Response to culture, community, and context: 20%
  4. Transferability of ideas and approach to other alleys: 20%

    5. Submittal Requirements

    Registration fee $10, payable at the time of submission to International Sustainability Institute, (ISI) (cash or check only)

    Up to two (2) 30″x40″ presentation boards (orientation may be landscape or portrait), include a CD with electronic versions of all boards in PDF or JPG format

    Address specifically the Nord alley within the project area (see project area information packet)
    Design on one side only of presentation boards, backsides should list submitters’ name(s), contact information and submission category

    Graphics may be any combination of sections, plans, and sketches that helps to convey your design
    Limit one submission per individual or team
    Submission Categories
    Submit under one category only:

    Student or New Professional: include current quarter enrollment information or proof of graduation from a degree or certificate program within the last three years.

    Non-affiliated designer: include a personal statement that you are not currently employed with a firm or agency where your primary role is design work.
    General: includes individuals, firms, or groups that are currently employed in a design field.

    Assumptions and notes:

    For this exercise assume that soils beneath the alley right-of-way are sufficient for stormwater infiltration (1″/hour permeability)

    The use of the Nord Alley does not preclude designs that may not comport with the Pioneer Square historic guidelines, the judging criteria includes the ability of a design to be transferable to other alleys within the City

    Designs may be proposed for within the right of way of the alley as well as retrofitting the existing buildings as those designs support the Guiding Principles for creating a Green Alley

    All electronic submissions become the property of the City of Seattle

    All submission materials will be available for pick up at ISI offices on March 5 during regular business hours

    Prizes:

    Grand Prize: Open to general submissions
    Best Student/New Professional:
    Best non-affiliated designer:
    People’s Choice: Winner selected at the alley party – see schedule

    We are awaiting confirmation of a cash award for each prize along with a super-cool trophy!
    All submissions will be published on the SDOT blog.

    Schedule

    Week of January 11: Release schedule, regulations, and base information on Yahoo Groups

    February 22: Entries due to ISI offices by 5 pm PST (314 1st Avenue South, 206-381-1630)

    February 24: Judging panel reviews and selects winners

    March 4: First Thursday Alley party, all entries displayed and winners announced in the Nord Alley

    Co-sponsored by:

    Great City, AIA Seattle, Pioneer Square Community Association, People for Puget Sound, City of Seattle, Great City, Downtown Seattle Association, Feet First, and the International Sustainability Institute.

Oct

23

Action Alert: Ensure Council Designates Funding for Bike/Ped Projects

Filed Under Bicycling, Policy, Politics, Seattle, Streets For People, Sustainability, Transportation, planning, walking | Leave a Comment

This next Monday, October 26, Seattle City Council will be considering whether or not to repeal the Employee Hours Tax (aka, the “Head Tax”). Regardless of how you feel about the repeal of the tax, the potential loss of a funding mechanism for Bridging the Gap sends a dangerous signal about Seattle’s transportation priorities. The Mayor has stated he wants to make Seattle into the most pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city in the United States. This is the time for us to walk our talk! The improvements identified by both plans make it safer for our children to walk to school and in their neighborhood. They help our seniors to continue to be mobile. They help us reduce our reliance on the automobile and reduce our carbon footprint. They also ensure the health of our business districts and other community places.

Please email city council members today and urge them to allocate funding sources for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. And if you are free, please consider attending the city council hearing on Monday at 5:30 pm at the Council Chambers in City Hall.

Aug

20

This Weekend — aLIVe: a Low Impact Vehicle exhibit

Filed Under Bicycling, Environment, Gas prices, Great City, Neighborhoods, Public Art, Streets For People, Sustainability, Transit, Transportation | Leave a Comment

Saturday 10am-3:30pm
Seward Park, 5895 Lake Washington Blvd. S, Seattle, WA 98118

Attendees are encouraged to use less environmentally harmful transportation choices to arrive at the event such as transit, carpools, vanpools, bicycling and walking. Parking will be limited.

aLIVe

Please join us for a Great City event that promises to re-energize how we think about our transportation system. On Saturday, August 22nd a Low Impact Vehicle exhibition (aLIVe) will be at Seward Park from 10am – 3:30pm.

The term “low impact” has a dual meaning describing both the impact of a vehicle on a pedestrian, as well as the environmental impact. The implementation of low impact vehicles would generate a huge range of public benefits, including increased mobility for transit and freight.

A bicycle is a low impact vehicle, but what else can we imagine? Great City board member and artist Cheryl dos Remedios artists, inventors and community members to imagine a transportation system designed around the human body. Everything from poetry to prototypes will be on display!

Artists/Inventors:

Vaughn Bell, Susanna Bluhm, Clair Colquitt, Nicole Kistler, Joseph Kochanowski, Brian McAllister, meadow starts with p, Lucas Spivey, Peter Reiquam and Kristin Tollefson

Activities:

  • Sustainable Ballard’s Undriver Licensing Station
  • SvR Design’s DIY LIV table and Haiku Project
  • People’s Choice Awards

Performances:

  • Opening Ceremony by T’ilibshudub, 10:30am
  • Barefoot in the Park by Alex Martin, 1:00pm

Sponsors:

4Culture, Cascade Bicycle,greenmuseum.org, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Seattle Parks & Recreation, Anne McDuffie and SvR Design, in conjunction with “Healthy Parks/Healthy You”

Brought to you by Great City
Organized by Cheryl dos Remédios

Participate at http://seattlegreatcitynetwork.ning.com/group/alive

Event Press
Event Podcast

Weekend of Eco-Art activities in Seattle

August 22 and 23 is a great weekend to vacation in Seattle. There are several exciting grass roots events that promise to be both fun and meaningful. Start with aLIVe on Saturday morning. Join the Rainier Valley Sustainable Garden Tour. Then hook-up with the Bicycle Music Festival in the late afternoon or evening. Attend Arts-In-Nature at Camp Long on Sunday.

Rainier Valley Sustainable Garden Tour

Saturday 10am-4pm
www.rainiervalleygardentour.org

Bicycle Music Festival / Seattle

Saturday 10am-11pm
Various Seattle locations, including:

  • 10am at Waterfront Park, 1300 Alaskan Way
  • 3pm at Denny Park, 100 Dexter Ave N.
  • 7pm at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater, Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street

www.seattlebicyclemusicfestival.com

2009 Arts in Nature Festival

Saturday 11am-9pm and Sunday 11am-6pm
Camp Long, 5200 35th Ave. SW at SW Dawson St, Seattle, WA 98126
Suggested donation: $5 per person
www.naturec.org/festival

Transit: For Camp Long: Metro bus #21, Click here for a map of Camp Long and vicinity.

Questions?

Questions are welcomed! Please contact Cheryl dos Remédios, exhibition organizer atcheryldosremedios@gmail.com. This is a volunteer position, so please anticipate a response within 1-3 business days.

Jul

30

Want 600 miles of new bike facilities?

Filed Under Bicycling, Environment, Pedestrians, Politics, Streets For People, Sustainability, Transit, Transportation | 1 Comment

We have a tremendous opportunity to support a more bike-friendly future- please submit your comments by Friday to make the right choice for our region.

The Puget Sound Regional Council is updating the current regional transportation plan. Five alternatives have been analyzed, and the choice made will greatly impact how we plan our communities and get around. (You can read the draft environmental impact statement of Transportation 2040 here.)

Out of five alternatives:

- Only Alternative Five makes significant reductions in all harmful pollutants measured.

- Only Alternative Five comes close to meeting the goals established in state law for reducing vehicle miles traveled.

- Only Alternative Five makes significant investments in bicycling for transportation. It would use only one percent more of our transportation funding to build 600 more miles of bicycle trails and other facilities!  None of the other options focus on walking, biking or transit to solve congestion and health problems.

Click here and tell the Puget Sound Regional Council it’s time to change our transportation priorities.

Your voice will help create more sustainable communities.

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