Building a Better Bellevue (BBB) has come out with a piece that suggests that the South Bellevue Park and Ride in Bellevue could be returned to a park/wetland status if the B7R alignment is adopted for Sound Transit’s East Link light rail, utilizing the A2 station option.

Another aspect of this plan would be that the B7R alignment protects the only property on the National Register for Historic Preservation (NRHP) on the Eastside, by avoiding it altogether.

The B2M alignment would pass directly in front of the historic stucco house, and there is concern from historians that vibration from the trains would damage the stucco, and eventually require the house to be removed from NRHP status.

Muddying the (peat) water further (much of the land near Mercer Slough is a thick peat bog), is the fact that Sound Transit must show due diligence in a good faith effort to “avoid” historic properties when it accepts federal funds for transportation projects, per federal laws 106 and 4(f), or to show why it is “necessary” to choose an alignment that adversely impacts a historical property.

Sound Transit’s FEIS was just released; it remains to be seen whether they have proven their case regarding due diligence, when B7R has been studied to a 5% level of engineering, and B2M has been studied to a 30% level of engineering…

Additionally, a fact unacknowledged by supporters of B2M is that the B2M alignment actually utilizes land in the wetland on the east side of Bellevue Way and 112th Avenue…

See BBB’s article at www.betterbellevue.org :

 

“Rejuvenation and Revival of Mercer Slough Wilderness and Wetlands, Once B7R Is Implemented

Preserving Mercer Slough, and creating a unique Nature Park there, has been a vision and desire of many nature supporters starting from the 1960s. As time progressed and development pressures intensified in the late 1980s several major commercial developments were in preparation to be constructed in the Mercer Slough wetlands.  They included the Enatai Plaza Office Complex, Enatai Corporation Office Complex, White PUD and the North West Building Corporation Office Complex.

At that time a proactive group was formed called “Save the Mercer Slough Committee” — our objective to save the remaining lands of the Mercer Slough and ensure that they would forever be kept for the public benefit and enjoyment.

Working with the City, King County and The Trust for Public Lands we were successful in having Park bond measures placed on the ballot for public approval. The levies were approved and the remaining lands saved.

There was one significant piece of land, some 11.5 acres, located along Bellevue Way that had already been covered in asphalt for a Park and Ride facility. This was recognized by our committee and by the public at large as an environmentally damaging result for the Mercer Slough.

Fast forward to today as “Building a Better Bellevue” (BBB) and the majority of our City Council are supporting the B7R light rail alignment (along I-405) rather than Sound Transit’s B2M alignment along Bellevue Way that will result in further expansion of the existing Park and Ride facility, and thereby creating further damage and blight to the Mercer Slough.

The B7R alignment with a new Parking/Transit (A2) station  (on firm lands) near I-90 will result in the existing Park and Ride facility along Bellevue Way becoming redundant, with an attendant opportunity to remove the asphalt and return the 11.5 acres of land to a natural vegetative state to become part of a larger, better and  more complete Mercer Slough Nature Park.

As a steering committee member of BBB I whole-heartedly support the B7R alignment and of the opportunity to enhance the Mercer Slough Nature Park and protect the historical Winters House.”

~Geoffrey Bidwell, a Steering Committee member of BBB

and former Chair of the “Save the Mercer Slough Committee”

 

 

Building a Better Bellevue has posted a study titled: “Inconvenient Truths That Prove the Feasibility of B7R for East Link”, which argues that the B7 alignment for Sound Transit’s East Link light rail in Bellevue is:

• cost-effective,
• has similar or better ridership,
• would have less traffic impacts during construction,
• and would reduce some impacts to the community.

See the post at Building a Better Bellevue’s site (click here).

Years ago, Fred Jarrett told us that Sound Transit’s own estimates indicated that there would x # of deaths per year with an at-grade alignment on MLK Way.

Unfortunately, it has eventually come to pass- a man has been killed while crossing the street. Yes, apparently the man might not have been paying attention to the flashing lights and arm down across the crossing- but that is exactly the point!

Wherever there is at-grade light rail, there are at-grade accidents, because no amount of education seems to keep 100% of the people out of harm’s way (there was an earlier death in July 2009 that was termed a suicide- click here ). At grade alignments are inherently more dangerous than grade-separated alignments.

Smart planners would eliminate at-grade alignments and grade-separate whenever possible at the next stop for Sound Transit’s light rail line- Bellevue – for obvious reasons.

Unless we are comfortable with more train vs. pedestrian accidents throughout the East Link line…

Reference to the man’s death was buried by the Seattle Times on page  B3 of the NW Friday section (January 7, 2010), presumably because it was more important to cover the NFL playoffs on most of the front page today…

Details from the accident are grisly- “He was thrown or possibly dragged 30 to 40 yards, according to a police”…

Download BBB’s new, comprehensive review of  Sound Transit’s work on the B7 alignment at: www.betterbellevue.org

See BBB’s “Optimized B7” proposal :

“Building a Better Bellevue has also included an “Optimized B7” alignment that offers a B7 alignment with improved cost considerations.”

Tonight, the case for a potential conflict of interest was laid out re: Bellevue City Council member Grant Degginger and his law firm Lane/Powell by a Bellevue citizen during public comment. Lane/Powell apparently represents Sound Transit and Degginger admitted he has tried and won a case for them.

After Degginger’s comments re: his involvement, he called out his challenger by disparaging a group she belongs to.  That led to an escalation of conflicts between Council members.

See the streamed 09/27/10 City of Bellevue Council meeting on their website at: http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/bellevue_tv.htm

The Building a Better Bellevue effort is truly a citywide, non-partisan one. We are receiving support from all over the City of Bellevue, either in direct financial support, volunteer time, or technical expertise. As evidence of that, large signs are going up on private property in the Enatai neighborhood along Bellevue Way, where property owners are showing support for the BBB message- the Sound Transit light rail alignment through Bellevue belongs on the B7 alignment! If you would like to support our cause and make that support a visual statement on your private property, please contact us at info@betterbellevue.org. ...

Building a Better Bellevue released a letter this morning that outlines why B7 and “Home Rule” should prevail in the selection of a light rail alignment through the City of Bellevue. Read the article here: http://betterbellevue.wordpress.com/

An excerpt:

“Sound Transit has made its own interpretation of its authority under the enabling Washington State legislation, RCW Chapter 81.112, which established its role and responsibilities. The Sound Transit Board believes that it has full power, under its reading of this law, to require a local jurisdiction to abide by its (Sound Transit’s) route determinations. This reading has never been tested in court, and it is fundamentally at odds with our City’s land use planning and permitting authority, granted by the state legislature under the Growth Management Act, RCW Chapter 36.70A, and Local Project Review, RCW Chapter 36.70B.“

Read the whole article at the BBB site:

“Our City of Bellevue’s Rights, Under Law, To Require Sound Transit to Fully Consider and Utilize Our City’s B7 Route Preference”.

Building a Better Bellevue is a newly created grassroots organization, which was created to preserve the quality of life in Bellevue neighborhoods, and to support the placement of the Sound Transit light rail alignment in a corridor that aligns with:

 

1. Bellevue’s Comprehensive Plan,

2. Land Use Code,

3. Subarea Plans for neighborhoods, and

4. Best Practices Study for light rail.

 

Here is the organization’s statement:

“The Problem

 

Our neighborhoods are a cherished part of Bellevue – and they didn’t get this way by accident.  Decades of smart City Council decisions and laws, along with informed and involved residents have helped plan and shape our beautiful community into the gem it is today.

 

However, there appears to be a plan afoot to turn Bellevue into something that is not wanted – a clone of Seattle driven by a Seattle-centric planning.  This plan would change our ‘City In A Park’ to a city in a parking lot (or city amid pavement.).  Our quality of life is under attack by outside groups who would do harm to the very things that brought us to Bellevue.

 

We are not opposed to transit and we have tried for years to work cooperatively with Sound Transit to bring light rail to Bellevue in a way that respects our mutual goals.  Many of you have attended City Council meetings, attended public hearings, sent numerous emails, and made phone calls in support of your neighborhood – and we are glad to stand with you. 

 

Still, Sound Transit continues its refusal to respect the rights of the City of Bellevue and our Bellevue City Council decision on routing.

 

We have advocated for an alignment that respects the neighborhoods, the environment, and our pocketbooks. 

 

That alignment is B7. 

 

This alignment proposed crossing I-90, turn north on a section of the BNSF railroad right of way and then proceed into downtown adjacent to 405.  There are several ideas on entering downtown, whether from a tunnel or from an elevated station on the western edge of 405 at NE 6th.

 

We are proud to stand with the majority of our City Council members, the overwhelming majority of residents and the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce who all support the alignment known as B7.

 

Our goal is to continue to work with our Bellevue City Council, consistent with state and Bellevue laws, as well as our City’s Comprehensive Plan that protect ALL of our neighborhoods. 

 

We invite YOU to help us do this. 

 

All of us working together are Building a Better Bellevue for us and our future.”

Learn more about Building a Better Bellevue at (http://betterbellevue.wordpress.com/)

Longtime Bellevue City Councilmember Don Davidson was elected mayor Monday in Bellevue. The city's main issues now are budget and light rail, as Sound Transit makes its final decision on light-rail alignment for the Eastside.

The City of Bellevue has strong new leadership tonight, as the duties of the Mayor were passed to Dr. Don Davidson, a longtime Bellevue Councilman who advocates for fiscal responsibility, a healthy business climate, and protection of Bellevue’s neighborhoods.

Longtime Bellevue Councilman Conrad Lee was also swept in as Deputy Mayor.

Both Councilmen were part of a Bellevue City Council majority that recently refused to raise taxes on Bellevue citizens in the currently depressed economic climate, and who are supportive of a Sound Transit light rail alignment through Bellevue that is intended to serve the region’s commuters, while doing a better job of protecting Bellevue’s businesses, historic resources, parks, wildlife & endangered species, natural resources and neighborhoods.