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Urgent Alert for
Advocates of Community Livability!!
Capitol Way Corridor Study
Public Open House
Monday, December 12, 2005
Come anytime between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
St. John's Episcopal Church - 19th Avenue & Capitol Way
Background
The City is holding its final meeting to gather community input on ways to improve safety and mobility on Capitol Way, between 14th Avenue and Carlyon Avenue (Capital Campus, south to City limits). This is a gateway to Olympia's downtown, running through an historic neighborhood. It crosses a walking route for Lincoln Elementary School, and is a regionally significant route for cyclists.
The main public concerns expressed about the Corridor were:
… Speeding
… Lack of safe pedestrian crossings
… Lack of safe and direct bicycle route
… Accidents at the curve south of 25th Avenue
Staff's Proposal is Inadequate
Staff's "Recommended Alternative" has several no-brainer improvements that any plan for Capitol could and should include. Because their proposal has four car lanes, however, it fails to fully address all the above public priorities. Furthermore, it falls far short of upholding the Comprehensive Plan's vision for how our community should look, feel and operate. Remember, the corridor is currently failing in several ways (i.e. the above public concerns). Your help is needed to voice the following:
… Staff's "Recommended Alternative" is not acceptable. A 3-lane cross section is preferred (one lane in each direction plus a center left turn lane) because it entails simpler and safer pedestrian crossings, and best ulitizes the existing roadway width to accommodate all travel modes (e.g. bike lanes without widening).
… Roundabouts at the Capitol/Carlyon and Capitol/Maple Park intersections should be considered. They will calm traffic, act as a gateway to Olympia and the South Capitol historic neighborhood, provide opportunities for civic art and beautification, and help maintain the flow of traffic (known as "maintaining the 'Level of Service' (LOS).
… Bike lanes must be on Capitol as City street standards require. Capitol is the only local option for cyclists needing to travel between Tumwater and Olympia. Proposed routes meandering through the neighborhood are discontinuous, and do not serve commute cyclists adequately.
… Traffic-calm Washington Street with a "diverter" at 22nd to prevent cut-through traffic in the neighborhood. This preserves access to Lincoln School for pickup and drop-off of children.
… Make pedestrian signal buttons at Capitol & 21st (Frog Pond) stop traffic immediately outside of "rush hour" peak traffic flows.
Staff Will Say "Can't be done"
With creative thinking, a 3-lane configuration will work well for all modes, now and in the future. Staff try to debunk it with "sky-is-falling" claims, but their language is riddled with vague statements (e.g. "problems could outweigh benefits"). The fact is that there are solutions to all of their concerns:
… Roundabouts at Carlyon and Maple Park eliminate two of the three signals in the corridor that "could" have backups affecting side streets. The remaining signal at 21st , meanwhile already stops traffic on Capitol, allowing left turns out of the neighborhood - the exact movement staff are so concerned about.
… The traffic calming mentioned above will prevent cut-through traffic from affecting the neighborhood, and enhances safety for schoolkids.
… Staff claim that regional traffic will use other routes, with the closest ones being I-5 and Deschutes Parkway. GOOD! Deschutes is greatly underutilized, and I-5 is supposed to be used for regional traffic.
… A properly designed 3-lane configuration will maintain access to the downtown, though staff imply otherwise. The real bottleneck to downtown is further north (downhill) than the project area, anyway.
Capitol Way Corridor Study
Public Open House
Monday, December 12, 2005
Come anytime between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
St. John's Episcopal Church - 19th Avenue & Capitol Way
Background
The City is holding its final meeting to gather community input on ways to improve safety and mobility on Capitol Way, between 14th Avenue and Carlyon Avenue (Capital Campus, south to City limits). This is a gateway to Olympia's downtown, running through an historic neighborhood. It crosses a walking route for Lincoln Elementary School, and is a regionally significant route for cyclists.
The main public concerns expressed about the Corridor were:
… Speeding
… Lack of safe pedestrian crossings
… Lack of safe and direct bicycle route
… Accidents at the curve south of 25th Avenue
Staff's Proposal is Inadequate
Staff's "Recommended Alternative" has several no-brainer improvements that any plan for Capitol could and should include. Because their proposal has four car lanes, however, it fails to fully address all the above public priorities. Furthermore, it falls far short of upholding the Comprehensive Plan's vision for how our community should look, feel and operate. Remember, the corridor is currently failing in several ways (i.e. the above public concerns). Your help is needed to voice the following:
… Staff's "Recommended Alternative" is not acceptable. A 3-lane cross section is preferred (one lane in each direction plus a center left turn lane) because it entails simpler and safer pedestrian crossings, and best ulitizes the existing roadway width to accommodate all travel modes (e.g. bike lanes without widening).
… Roundabouts at the Capitol/Carlyon and Capitol/Maple Park intersections should be considered. They will calm traffic, act as a gateway to Olympia and the South Capitol historic neighborhood, provide opportunities for civic art and beautification, and help maintain the flow of traffic (known as "maintaining the 'Level of Service' (LOS).
… Bike lanes must be on Capitol as City street standards require. Capitol is the only local option for cyclists needing to travel between Tumwater and Olympia. Proposed routes meandering through the neighborhood are discontinuous, and do not serve commute cyclists adequately.
… Traffic-calm Washington Street with a "diverter" at 22nd to prevent cut-through traffic in the neighborhood. This preserves access to Lincoln School for pickup and drop-off of children.
… Make pedestrian signal buttons at Capitol & 21st (Frog Pond) stop traffic immediately outside of "rush hour" peak traffic flows.
Staff Will Say "Can't be done"
With creative thinking, a 3-lane configuration will work well for all modes, now and in the future. Staff try to debunk it with "sky-is-falling" claims, but their language is riddled with vague statements (e.g. "problems could outweigh benefits"). The fact is that there are solutions to all of their concerns:
… Roundabouts at Carlyon and Maple Park eliminate two of the three signals in the corridor that "could" have backups affecting side streets. The remaining signal at 21st , meanwhile already stops traffic on Capitol, allowing left turns out of the neighborhood - the exact movement staff are so concerned about.
… The traffic calming mentioned above will prevent cut-through traffic from affecting the neighborhood, and enhances safety for schoolkids.
… Staff claim that regional traffic will use other routes, with the closest ones being I-5 and Deschutes Parkway. GOOD! Deschutes is greatly underutilized, and I-5 is supposed to be used for regional traffic.
… A properly designed 3-lane configuration will maintain access to the downtown, though staff imply otherwise. The real bottleneck to downtown is further north (downhill) than the project area, anyway.
… Funding is challenging for all transportation projects, and is not anything unique to a 3-lane option. True, it will require good design and creativity in using local dollars to pursue grants. Such out-of-the-box thinking was used for the 4th Avenue Bridge, resulting in a beautiful "legacy-quality" project that is inviting to all roadway users.
… A 3-lane configuration is not a problem for the Comprehensive Plan as implied. It is in fact the faithful enactment of the Plan by providing for all travel modes while maintaining livability for area residents. Failing to fully address the public concerns now will help create the future of congestion on Capitol with no realistic alternatives to driving.
Capitol Way Corridor Study
Public Open House
Monday, December 12, 2005
Come anytime between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
St. John's Episcopal Church - 19th Avenue & Capitol Way
Please attend, and please forward this to other
advocates of Community Livability!!
--
- Larry
Leveen
OlyBikes Locally-Owned
Bike Shop
"Bikes, Parts, Repairs and GREAT Customer Service"
http://www.olybikes.com
Phone: 360-753-7525
(website features FREE bike safety & advocacy materials)
"Bikes, Parts, Repairs and GREAT Customer Service"
http://www.olybikes.com
Phone: 360-753-7525
(website features FREE bike safety & advocacy materials)
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