by Kirby Lindsay, posted 20 January 2012
While the City of Seattle, and King County METRO, make what they call improvements in transit service and building practices, Fremonsters take note – but not always with a smile, or any sense of satisfaction.
Transit Planning, Through Fremont?
On January 12th, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce hosted its quarterly land use meeting, and invited David Hiller of the Office of the Mayor to report on the latest in transit planning. For a Chamber land use meeting, it had a good attendance – most attendees having heard rumors about a streetcar route planned for Fremont.
Hiller explained that, under Sound Transit 2, the City of Seattle is negotiating a scope of work agreement for a joint project to analyze and construct connector service between the Ballard Rapid Ride and the light rail in the University District to Downtown Seattle. A 2005 Sound Transit survey identified the need for better connections across North Seattle, and this analysis will identify the need and find ways to address it. The analysis will cost approximately $2.9 million, and examine all options (i.e. buses, streetcar, light rail) as required under Federal standards.
The analysis will ultimately identify one corridor – one route that connects areas of North Seattle that will serve the most riders possible. Resident and employee numbers in Fremont make it a potential area along this corridor, but nothing has yet been decided. Attendees on January 12th had read about a route already identified in the media, but Hiller responded, “that plan doesn’t hold weight with the Feds,” as it has not been weighed against all the other options available. Analysis data will show the costs, performance, and viability of all options, and include a public process allowing citizens to look at the options, and give input, most likely coming this summer.
The City Council will soon adopt the Transit Master Plan which has identified the number of people that need to use transit, and where they come from and go to. It goes into great detail, Hiller said, on different kinds of transit, potential speeds, and maneuverability (light rail cannot traverse any roadway with more than a 9% grade.) The Transit Master Plan also identified a potential need for another water crossing for the Ship Canal/Lake Union to accommodate transit. It does not, however, commit the City to specific routes or corridors for future transit development. The Plan does note an increase in the population of Seattle, and that buses alone will not support the expected numbers of riders.
Serious Changes Coming for Fremont Transit
At the end of the meeting, Eugene Wasserman of the North Seattle Industrial Association (NSIA) ran through the proposed changes for September 2012 for METRO bus service through Fremont. METRO has proposed bringing the #5 bus through Downtown Fremont, and across the Fremont Bridge. Both the #26 and #28 locals will be eliminated, with the #28 express to run on North 39th and the Aurora Bridge, and the #26 express to use Bridge Way to connect Stone Way to the Aurora Bridge. Route #30 will be eliminated, and replaced with two routes – #31 and the new #32 – with routes similar to the current local #26, connecting the U-District and Downtown Seattle through Fremont and Queen Anne. Route #18 would pass through Fremont, to replace the #17 local service. Route #16 would see a few changes at the north end of the line, and increase its trips. Complete information can be found by downloading the ‘Suggested All-Day Transit System’ .pdf, where it also promises more public input sessions on these proposed changes to take place in late-January.
Energy Benchmarking Program
At the next NSIA meeting, on January 24th, the agenda will include a discussion of new energy reporting requirements recently demanded by the City of Seattle. The City Department of Planning & Development sent letters to owners of properties over 10,000 square feet, and/or residential dwellings of more than 5 units about the Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Program.
The letter refers recipients to the City of Seattle Energy Benchmarking website, which contains information on four more training workshops planned – from 8a – Noon on January 25th, February 22nd, March 14th and March 28th. This free training – reservations are required – will hopefully help property owners complete independent audits of their properties before an April 1st deadline – as per Seattle Municipal Code, Section 22.920.
The letter, and the website, put forward the benefits of this program – property owners gain a baseline for the energy performance of their buildings; prospective tenants/buyers of buildings can know, in advance, the energy uses of the property; the City gains information toward setting energy efficiency targets, identifies market sectors with the greatest needs and opportunities, and will be better able to develop future policies and incentive programs towards conservation.
That last is one of the concerns voiced by property owners I approached – all of whom chose not to go on the record without more knowledge. They did express fear about future restrictions and demands that the energy consumption be lowered, without understanding the real needs of the property occupants. Energy usage varies greatly – an established retail boutique may be able to install more efficient lighting, while a manufacturer steadily needs to increase its energy consumption to grow the business. Energy use also varies greatly between a building constructed in 1911 and 2011 – and some property owners might tear down older construction simply to meet energy conservation demands.
Finally, the most oft repeated concern is about this being a ‘make work’ project. The Energy Benchmarking website states, ‘We are hiring,’ and at least two property owners mentioned hiring consultants to help complete the report due on April 1st. In a time of high unemployment, building a new industry may sound good, except for property owners paying increased costs, tenants who often see these passed on in higher rents, and tax payers seeing more budget cuts and/or rising taxes.
Discussions of energy benchmarking or transit planning will never draw the crowds like a good show or a fascinating festival – yet they need our attention just as much. Organizations like the Fremont Chamber and the NSIA, and the Fremont Neighborhood Council, can help keep citizens informed and advocate on our behalf. If you want to learn more about these matters, or these organizations, just ask them!
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©2012 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.