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Help Protect the Arboretum!
The Foundation Supports Call for New 520 Bridge Plans

The Arboretum Foundation is strongly advocating on behalf of Washington Park Arboretum interests in the debate over the SR 520 floating bridge replacement project. In September 2009, our Board of Directors adopted a formal statement entitled Guiding Principles and Priorities for 520 Expansion, outlining the Foundation’s position and requesting that any proposed design plan for the bridge minimize environmental impacts on the Arboretum and preserve its historic features and collections.

Our two highest priorities are: (1) reducing the traffic on Lake Washington Boulevard headed to and from SR 520, and (2) narrowing the width and reducing the bulk of SR 520 as it crosses the Arboretum's Foster Island and adjacent wetland areas.

SR 520 Bridge and Arboretum wetlands.

(Photo by Erik Stuhaug. Seattle Municipal Archives; #115059)

In late December 2009, we published an advocacy statement asking area residents to urge their city and state representatives to only approve 520 bridge design options that minimize traffic on historic Lake Washington Boulevard. All the original design options contain elements that would negatively impact the Arboretum.

Building Consensus

The Foundation has been working in collaboration with others on this issue. On February 1, we joined Mayor Mike McGinn, House Speaker Frank Chopp, Senator Ed Murray, Representative Jamie Pederson, Seattle City Council Members Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien, the Cascade Bicycle Club, and the Sierra Club at a press conference to oppose the design proposal favored by the State at that time—the A+ option—and support a consensus position calling for

• The exclusive dedication of two lanes on the new six-lane bridge to high-capacity transit vehicles (rather than to HOV traffic lanes, as is planned in the current WSDOT design)
• Reduction of the bridge footprint on the west side landing
• Reduction of the environmental and traffic impacts on the Arboretum
• Reduction of the height and impact of the planned floating bridge
• A new, context-sensitive design

A poll carried out by the Coalition for a Sustainable 520 Bridge in late January found strong support for these positions among residents of Seattle and the East Side.

The call for dedicated transit lanes and a rethinking of the configuration of the westside interchange echoed that made by the Seattle City Council in a letter to Governor Christine Gregoire and state leaders in late January. In her response, the Governor declined to consider revising the HOV lane plans, citing the likelihood of long delays to the project; however, she did offer to work with the Council on specific issues.

An Appeal to the Mayor
On February 5, the Arboretum Foundation 520 Committee sent a letter to Mayor Mike McGinn encouraging him to establish a new 520 West Side design team to develop viable alternatives and refinements to the WSDOT plans. In mid-February, the Mayor and Council jointly hired a transportation consulting firm, Nelson/Nygaard to examine how light rail could be added to lanes in the current proposed design, as well as how to reduce the size of the future Montlake interchange.

Public Testimony

On April 8, Nelson/Nygaard presented their findings at a public hearing in the City Council chambers. Arboretum Foundation Executive Director Paige Miller testified on behalf of Arboretum interests at the hearing. Read a copy of her written testimony.

Making Headway

The state DOT's most recent design, released in May 2010, is evidence that our work—along with that of our partners—is bearing fruit. The updated design:

• removes all current ramps from the Arboretum and obviates the need to build new ones;
• eliminates general purpose on-ramps from Lake Washington Boulevard to the 520, reducing traffic impacts on the Arboretum;
• includes a traffic management plan to reduce traffic flow on Lake Washington Boulevard below current levels (this may include tolling);
• calls for the use of “quieter” pavement on the bridge’s main line going across the Arboretum to reduce noise levels;
• creates good pedestrian and bicycle connections among the Arboretum, the 520, and the Montlake and University neighborhoods.
  

There are many details to hammer out, and much more work to do to keep the plan on track, but our collective voices do seem to have been heard. Thanks to all of you who have supported us thus far in our efforts to protect this special place!

More Information

For more details on our advocacy efforts, email Paige Miller or call her at 206-325-4510.

Last updated, May 27, 2010