Market Connections Committee
Meeting Agenda
Date: Monday, May 14th, 2018 Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Location: Classroom (Economy Building) Committee Members: Rico Quirindongo (Chair), Colleen Bowman (Vice-Chair), Jim Savitt, Gloria Skouge, David Ghoddousi, Devin McComb, and Mark Brady
4:00pm I. Administrative: Chair A. Approval of Agenda B. Approval of the Market Connections Committee April 9th, 2018 Meeting Minutes
4:05pm II. Announcements and/or Community Comments
4:10pm III. Key Issues and Discussion Items A. Washington State Convention Center Addition Update Jeff Blosser B. Construction Impact Updates Mary Bacarella
5:40pm IV. Action Items and Reports
5:45pm V. Items for the Consent Agenda Chair
5:50pm VI. Public Comment
5:55pm VII. Concerns of Committee Members
6:00pm VIII. Adjournment Chair
Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA) · [email protected] · pikeplacemarket.org P: 206.682.7453 · F: 206.625.0646 · 85 Pike Street, Room 500 · Seattle, WA 98101
Market Connections Committee z Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 9th, 2018 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Classroom
Committee Members Present: Rico Quirindongo, Gloria Skouge, Mark Brady, David Ghoddousi, Devin McComb
Other Council Members Present:
Staff/ Consultants Present: Mary Bacarella, Karin Moughamer, John Turnbull
Others Present: Howard Aller, Bob Messina, Chris Scott, Meghan Shepard, Gary Johnson, Wendy Paul
The meeting was called to order at 4:01 pm by Rico Quirindongo, Chair.
I. Administration A. Approval of the Agenda The agenda was approved by acclamation.
B. Approval of the Market Connections Committee March 12th, 2018 Minutes The March 12th, 2018 meeting minutes were approved by acclamation.
II. Announcements and Community Comments None
III. Reports & Discussion Items A. One Center City Presentation Meghan Shepard, strategic adviser with SDOT introduced herself and Gary Johnson, Office of Planning and Community Development. Meghan began by introducing the One Center City project which has spent two years looking at ways to keep people and goods to and through downtown during the time of maximum constraint. She continued by defining Center City, which is the ten neighborhoods that makes up downtown and includes Uptown, South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, Belltown, Denny Triangle, Pike/Pine, Commercial Core, First Hill, Pioneer Square and Chinatown-International District. Approximately 250,000 people commute to or through Center City each day and that number is going to rise over the next 20 years. Center City households will increase by 60% and increase jobs by 23% by 2035 but the city is feeling that impacts of that growth right now. In addition there are a lot of projects underway, both private and public, to support that growth, with the period of maximum constraint from 2019- 2021. A timeline of the major projects is included in the packet. The Convention Center construction will impact the city streets due to the closure of the tunnel to buses. Roughly 9-10 bus routes with 15,000 people that wait for their bus in the tunnel will move to 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA) · [email protected] · pikeplacemarket.org P: 206.682.7453 · F: 206.625.0646 · 85 Pike Street, Room 500 · Seattle, WA 98101
Meghan continued by noting that in 2018 there are 263 construction projects planned for downtown with 96 projects (37%) are by public agencies. SDOT is trying to step up their coordination and awareness of those projects. The people that are coming to work downtown are walking, biking, and taking transit. The percentage of people who drive alone is down from 35% in 2010 to 25% in 2017 with 48% taking transit, 10% participated in ride share, 8% walked, and 3% biked.
Meghan noted there are some mobility challenges in downtown with construction impacts, and increase in number of buses. If nothing is done it will take people longer to get to work in cars and on buses. It will cost transit a lot more money to operate in those constrained situations. The typical speed for a bus could be the same as walking during rush hour. SDOT has been working with the Office of Planning and Community Development, King County Metro, Sound Transit and the Downtown Seattle Association. There has also been an advisory group of 35 people who provide input and guidance in exploring different alternatives to move people and goods through downtown. During those meetings SDOT heard making streets, sidewalks and bicycle facilities safer for people is a top priority as well as designing for people first. People also wanted to make the user experience at transportation hubs safe, easy to use and comfortable as well as SDOT to consider impacts on movement and delivery of urban goods.
Meghan Shepard reviewed the list of recommended projects, which is shown on a map handed out. The projects taken together represent a $30M investment by City of Seattle, King County Metro, and Sound Transit and the goal is to have them ready to go by 2019 when the transit tunnel is closed to buses. The projects will be implemented in a sequence to improve safety for pedestrians, add safe bicycling options, provide more reliability and faster speed for people on transit, reduce transit operating costs, improve the quality of where people need to transfer, and increase people’s mobility options. Included in the plan is a signature transit project to create a new north bound transit pathway on 5th and 6th Avenues. Buses go against the flow of traffic on 5th Avenue to Marion Street before continuing on 6th Avenue.
Gary Johnson added that along Third Avenue people will be able to pre-pay and tap ORCA cards for all bus routes which will speed up bus operations on 3rd Avenue and increase capacity. Meghan noted there will be signal improvements at 2nd and 4th Avenues, adding turn signals to clear cars and allow buses to move more freely along those streets. Also included in the near- term projects are improvements to the Montlake Triangle transit area.
Meghan continued by sharing the three bicycle projects that are included in the One Center City plan. One is to complete the protected bike lanes along Pike and Pine (2017-2021). Another is a north-south protected bike lane on 4th Avenue which will take place in 2021. Gary added that when the Northgate light rail station opens that will reduce the number of buses that use 4th Avenue. The third is to connect the protected bike lanes along 2nd Avenue to Dearborn, which is a missing hole in the network.
There are a number of potential transit service revisions and the process is being run by King County Metro and Sound Transit. They are looking at routes that come from the eastside to identify ways to provide a safe, fast trip even if they ask them to connect to light rail at Husky stadium. Gary Johnson added those transit changes have to be approved by King County Council
and Sound Transit’s Board which is why they cannot say with certainty how this will be restructured.
Through One Center City they are looking at ways to enhance public spaces, including adding pedestrian lighting to Market to MOHAI, activation of Pine Street Plaza and additional spaces like that at McGraw Square and Westlake, improvements at International District/Chinatown Station, better curb ramps at a rate of 50 per year that are fully ADA accessible, leading pedestrian intervals, and no right on red. Gary Johnson highlighted the work on Third Avenue. The first is a find-it-fix-it effort that DSA is leading to improve the environment and the other is a long term planning process to bring a holistic look at Third Avenue around quality of public realm and retail. He’s optimistic this will be plan that people can get behind and make these changes.
Meghan Shepard continued by outlining the management strategies to help the users of this system. First, to help more commuters gain access to ORCA or ORCA Lift. Also, build on partnerships with Commute Seattle to expand their reach. They will also be looking at shared mobility hubs and new mobility strategies, better wayfinding for people looking for parking, and a partnership with UW Urban Freight Lab to pilot creative freight and delivery solutions.
One Center City project implementation began in 2017 but will ramp up beginning in 2019. Gary Johnson added that the beginning of the Convention Center expansion will depend on when they get their permits, but it could be as early as late spring 2019, but hoping its closer to September 2019.
Meghan reviewed what’s next which includes agency approvals, specific project design and implementation, on-going outreach and communications, and a 20-year vision for urban design, public spaces, and mobility. The 20-year vision and framework includes a unified and integrated plan for how we move through, connect to, and experience Center City. It will also include many communities, perspectives, and partners and a framework for future public realm and mobility investments. Gary Johnson added the near-term projects will cost roughly $30M; $10M from each King County Metro, Sound Transit, and City of Seattle. Sound Transit’s board will review that proposal on April 26th while the City and Metro already have that commitment in place.
Rico Quirindongo asked if Sound Transit’s Board will approve the funding. Gary responded he believes it will be approved.
David Ghoddousi asked what is happening with the Battery Street Tunnel. Gary Johnson responded the City Council decided to fill the tunnel with viaduct demolition debris. The tunnel was built in 1950’s and is not up to code so to preserve it for other uses would cost upwards of $100M and the Council was unwilling to be responsible for that amount of funding.
David Ghoddousi asked if there has been any conversation to use the tunnel for commercial use with a special permit, allowing deliveries easier access to downtown. Gary John responded it would be really challenging for tunnel access given the effort to reconnect the north exit of the deep bore tunnel.
Colleen Bowman asked for more information on the signal enhancements at Pine and Stewart at 2nd Avenue. Meghan Shepard responded those enhancements will be to help clear cars from a
transit lane by adding a right signal. Meghan offered to answer further questions and provided her email.
Colleen Bowman asked for clarity on the two projects slated for Third Avenue. Gary Johnson noted it’s really a short term let’s clean it up with a longer term vision for 20 years from now. The Downtown Seattle Association is leading both initiatives.
Colleen Bowman asked when the tunnel closes to bus service, which streets will they move to. Gary Johnson responded they will move to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th avenues but it’s still unknown which buses will move to what streets until Metro and Sound Transit develop their transportation plans which includes diversion of buses to Montlake or reduction in the number of buses to downtown. Gary anticipates those decisions will be made this fall.
Gary Johnson noted the Center City Connector has been paused and we’ll all have to wait and see how that plays out. An important part of the near-term activation plan is the coordination of these projects and the original intent was to get all the utility work completed this year so it could be fully open when the viaduct is being demolished. Timing is important.
Rico Quirindongo asked if the scope of Pike/Pine Renaissance has changed to extend all the way to the waterfront. Gary Johnson responded he does not believe the scope has changed but is guessing that for the image it made sense to show how Overlook Walk and MarketFront will provide a great connection between the waterfront and up to Pike/Pine corridor.
B. Construction Impact Updates Mary Bacarella began by noting her conversation with Natalie Quick regarding Center City Streetcar, which is on hold. The streetcar is still hoping to hire the construction firm picked next week but will still need approval. Currently the streetcar is working out next steps pending the current independent review imposed by the mayor.
Rico Quirindongo noted that by putting the streetcar on hold the impact to the Market and along First Avenue is far greater as utility work along First Avenue will continue but there is a possibility they will have to open up the road again once streetcar construction resumes.
Mary Bacarella continued by stating there should be a resolution presented at FAM next week on the skybridge demolition. The Hahn building passed the third design review meeting and moves into recommendation phase. Mary has reached out to Office of the Waterfront to see if they are able to provide an update on Overlook Walk at the April full council meeting. The PDA is in the process of reviewing how it can participate in the Overlook Walk and is currently pulling data prepared 2-3 years ago that includes a budget. Mary has a meeting with David Graves from Parks regarding Victor Steinbrueck Park on April 23rd to talk about security and fencing as they move forward with their designs.
PDA is working on an updated security plan. MarketFront has been incorporated but Victor Steinbrueck Park needs to be included. Quarterly security meetings open to the public will begin soon. The emergency response and preparedness manual is being updated and that will be available to the public and a community meeting is being considered to discuss. Steve and Randy are reviewing downtown crime statistics with our local precinct and will report back.
Mary continued that the PDA is working to update parking signage. Parking revenue is up for March compared to 2016 and 2017. Mary heard from Commute Seattle that parking was terrible in downtown last year during the first quarter. Out of the parking lots that are members of the downtown parking association app, the Market by far out performs those other lots. There will be a presentation on parking at FAM this month. Mary met with Tom Norwalk regarding the convention center addition and she is still waiting for more information on the Pike Pine Renaissance.
Mary met with Bob Davidson from the aquarium and they are just starting to fundraise for their addition. She will stay in contact with Bob. Rico Quirindongo asked what the aquarium’s fundraising goal is. Mary responded she believes $100M.
Mary provided an update on a recent meeting with SDOT, WSDOT, and Miller Hull to discuss who is owning what with regards to changes to the Market parking garage during viaduct demolition and changes to Alaskan Way. Structural code requirements are being looked at for the current garage. Current engineering drawings were provided to the PDA and the PDA will need to determine whether or not to request any betterances and determine those costs.
John Turnbull added that WSDOT is building Alaskan Way owes the PDA the design and construction funds to replace the existing entrance and exit with a new entrance and exit and a connecting link from our garage to roadway. SDOT is managing the Overlook Walk and Building B are on the hook for any design changes associated with that work. If the PDA wishes to do additional work the PDA is required to pay for the betterance. Miller Hill and MKA have authorized 30% on structural changes related to moving the entrances to the garage. When they are done the PDA will inherit that scope of work and the PDA will have an estimate of what it will cost to carry that work to bid, for which SDOT will pay for.
Rico Quirindongo asked what the schedule is. John Turnbull responded he does not know but getting Building B figured out for how it connects to the garage is a priority. Rico Quirindongo asked if the PDA will participate in the 30% design for Building B. Mary Bacarella responded that is what she understands.
Rico Quirindongo believes more conversations, and suggested a meeting take place, to talk more in-depth on the design, including elevators, and what the PDA wants.
Colleen Bowman asked if there is any sort of visual to go along with these conversations and if elevators are part of the drawings. John Turnbull responded structural plans exist in terms of how to connect the garage with the new roadway. Elevators are separate and MKW won’t be looking at that element until they are under contract with the PDA, however this is the time to review our options.
Rico Quirindongo noted there are items associated with MarketFront closeout that associated with some of these items while others would be associated with a betterance.
David Ghoddousi asked where the current elevators would go in the new structure. Rico Quirindongo noted it’s hard to have this conversation without some images to look at but the last design of the Overlook Walk has a dead end at the southeast corner which is close to where existing elevator is.
David Ghoddousi believes the previous conversations included talk of a walk way that brought people back to the main project. David believes having two elevators side by side in the main parking garage is very important to this project and shared his experience working at the Market on to have back-up elevators for when one goes down.
Mary concluded her report by noting the MarketFront leak repair is ongoing.
Mark Brady asked if security is going to be addressed at Connections or another meeting. Mary Bacarella noted there will be a report at full council.
David Ghoddousi would like to know at the next Connections meeting how much square footage is between Building B and the corner of the Market parking garage.
Colleen Bowman asked for clarification on if Rico, John, and Mary will discuss and then bring back to the Committee when there is something to look at. Rico Quirindongo responded yes and Office of the Waterfront needs to share their plans before moving forward.
Mark Brady asked how long the elevator in the old garage will be down for. Mary Bacarella responded she was not aware it was down. Rico Quirindongo asked to save this conversation and close out Mary’s report.
Colleen Bowman asked for more information on parking capacity. Mary Bacarella responded she will see if that can be included in the parking presentation at FAM.
IV. Action Items and Reports None.
V. Items for the Consent Agenda None.
VI. Public Comment Howard Aller stated that not only do people with disability rely on elevators, but so do people with scooters, strollers, and those delivering packages. He believes the elevators used between the waterfront and Market will be heavily replied upon and if at all possible to have two elevators right next to each other as elevators tend to breakdown.
Bob Messina encourages the PDA to have a holistic approach to signage to ensure they all meet the same needs and noted current signage is working. He would like to see the signage program be brought back when thinking about the new expansion.
Wendy Paul inquired about the internal meeting related to security at Victor Steinbrueck Park. Mary Bacarella responded it will just be staff and parks talking about the entrance and security. Wendy responded she lives near the park and is concerned about the lighting plan for Steinbrueck Park and hopes there will be no additional light from the park.
Chris Scott noted that Walker Macy has emphasized they will not add any additional light pollution to the area.
VII. Concerns of Committee Members Colleen Bowman noted that Market Historical Commission has guidelines about the warmth and temperature of lights and they will be reviewing the park design.
Mark Brady asked for an update on when the MarketFront elevator will be fixed.
Rico Quirindongo added there is an existing elevator at the southwest corner of the parking garage. His desire is that the new elevator at the southeast corner work in tandem with the existing elevator such that they support each other.
David Ghoddousi reiterated he would like to see two tandem elevators side-by-side.
VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:16 p.m. by Rico Quirindongo, Chair
Meeting minutes submitted by: Karin Moughamer, Executive Administrator
Update on WSCC Addition Project: Monday, May 14, 2018
Market Connections Committee Pike Place Market PDA
Jeff Blosser, President / CEO Washington State Convention Center
EXHIBIT HALL LEVEL LOBBY LEVEL FLEX IHALIL LEVEL LOWIER MIEETING ROOM LIEVEL UPPER MEETING1 ROOM ILEVEL BALLIROOM LEVIEIL
Next Steps 1. City Council approval 2. Next steps 3. Questions?