-Okay, good morning everyone.
Good morning everyone!
-Good morning!
-Alright. I'm Greg Spotts, SDOT director.
I'm thrilled to begin work on one of SDOT's largest
and most complex construction projects,
the East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project.
This holistic, multi-benefit project,
is the result of years of thoughtful collaboration,
across industry, freight, the port,
the railroads and our bike community.
And it involves funding from a variety of partners.
This project exemplifies the collaborative values
of One Seattle
and I'm honored to introduce the mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell.
-Thank you Greg.
Thank you!
Test.
Test. Okey dokey. Just one sec here.
We're going to wait for just a little more noise
before I get started here.
I'm very excited that, thank you for that introduction,
Greg Spotts, about this project
that we're going to talk about a little bit here.
And you're going to hear from some speakers.
Let me do what's probably most important,
and that is to give some thanks to some incredible partners
in this work that we're doing.
You're going to hear from Ralph Rizzo,
the State Division Administrator
for Federal Highway Administration.
Geri Poor, from the Port of Seattle.
Who also serves as a member
of the Seattle Freight Advisory Board.
Anne Goodman is here for all the leadership
she does in our SODO area.
Basically, this project that we are describing today,
that East Marginal Way project, sort of begs the question of,
how do we integrate in a transportation system
freight mobility, economic development, bike safety,
pedestrian safety?
How do we put it altogether to make sure we have a smart
and intelligent and climate friendly ecosystem
of transportation.
And that's why I'm very excited to bring together,
in a collaborative way,
all the partners who make this project work.
This project will enhance safety and connectivity
for all the users.
Whether you're a freight driver getting to and from the port
or a cyclist coming off of the West Seattle Bridge Trail,
this project will stimulate economic growth.
Which is very important in ensuring reliable access
for businesses and industries reliance
on that critical corridor, here in Seattle.
This project is divided into north,
central and south segment, each with its own schedule.
This particular event is for the north segment.
This project shows that we can go farther together
and is the result of a collaborative spirit,
with the key stakeholders.
Including our labor partners, our maritime community.
Governmental officials, freight and our biking advocates.
Funding partners include the Port of Seattle,
Washington State,
the Federal Highway Administration, and the U.S.
Department of Transportation.
Key advocates include U.S.
senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray.
Representative Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith and many others.
And I had the opportunity over the weekend,
to communicate with Pramila and Adam.
And again,
our federal partnership could not be in better form right now
and I think many of you are reading about some
of the tremendous gains we are making with this leadership.
This federal leadership that we have.
We are designating infrastructure
to meet the diverse transportation needs
of our community.
And as many of you know that know this area,
East Marginal Way South is a designated, heavy haul route.
The critical last mile connector
and vital route for oversized trucks,
or those carrying flammable cargo.
And quite candidly, I mean,
some of you might have questioned the logistics
of putting this microphone right here.
We thought the visual was pretty strong
of what we were trying to do.
Even though it could get a little noisy.
This is a major connection for our bikes between West Seattle,
downtown and SODO.
And I can't thank enough our cyclist organizations
and advocates here, joining with us today.
This project will improve safety through the separation
of people walking and biking, from vehicle traffic,
benefiting everyone who uses this corridor.
As many of you know,
this project was one of many supported by the voter
approved 2015 levy to move Seattle,
7.1 million dollars for this project reflecting
the importance to the regional economy,
our local job creation in connection
between West Seattle and SODO, and of course downtown.
Yes, thank you.
Thanks for the affirmation, I appreciate that.
So as we prepare to unveil our
upcoming transportation levy renewal process,
one of our main focuses has been to ensure we have a robust,
interconnected and safe freight network.
But by prioritizing this project,
we're investing in a more resilient
and sustainable future for Seattle,
supporting our cities continued growth and prosperity.
Signal improvements
and intelligent transportation systems
will make it more efficient by reducing idling in traffic,
which we know is critically important,
reducing our carbon emissions.
And protecting our air quality. And of course,
reconstructing the pavement to higher standards
is an important part of the transition to electric trucks,
which we know are just simply heavier.
This week will also,
sort of describe this project in the context
of our upcoming levy.
And you'll see conceptually
that we're building around the concentric circles
of having a safer,
more reliable and better connected transportation system,
that works for all modes of travel.
Again, that's why I want to thank
the bicycle organizations and advocates here,
because here in Seattle we find a way,
through our collaborative spirits of our investors,
to make sure that we have a safe system.
We lead with safety.
The biggest investments will be in improving
and repaving our streets and bridges
to ensure that they are in good condition
to keep people and goods, moving efficiently.
So you will hear this theme, not only today,
but for upcoming levy
that we are incredibly excited about.
So next you will, I'll reintroduce Greg Spotts,
the Director of SDOT to take us through our presentation today.
And thank you very much for being here.
One Seattle!
-Thank you mayor.
Thank you so much, Mayor Harrell,
for your leadership and your support of department
and this incredible project.
The East Marginal Way Corridor Improvement Project,
is grounded in many of the values articulated
in our recently released Seattle transportation plan.
Enhancing safety, mobility and economic vitality
along this regionally significant water side corridor.
As we maintain and modernize East Marginal Way,
we're creating a multimodal street,
where trucks and bikes
can travel safely in their own, separate spaces.
In the process we're upgrading the road way
to handle heavy freight,
replacing underground water lines
and collaborating with rail
to better share the limited space
along this essential north/south corridor.
Our project embraces the challenge
of redesigning the street to serve multiple purposes,
enhancing a vital corridor wall, creating safe
and attractive pathways for people walking and biking.
The result will be a street
that can get a shipping container
to its next destination, and a cyclist from West Seattle,
to SODO, to downtown and beyond.
A few key elements of the project include,
upgraded signals and weigh and motion technology,
to improve access to port and industrial areas,
improving assuring seamless movement of goods.
Concrete barrier protected bike lanes and bike
signal equipped crossings,
to manage our bike/freight interactions along the corridor,
creating safer connections more attractive routes
for people walking and biking.
I'd like to call out our partnerships
with the Port of Seattle Federal and
State Transportation Agencies,
the freight community and the bike community,
who made this project a success and demonstrate
that we can activate our streets to safely serve
all modes of travel.
I'd like to just recognize all of our SDOT staff.
If you're from SDOT, please raise your hand.
Thank you all so very much. It takes a village,
to pull together a very large and complex project like this.
I want to recognize a few of our key leaders.
Capital Projects Division Director Julius Rwamashongye.
Project Manager, Joey Aitken.
Major Projects Manager, Megan Hoyt.
Construction Engineer, Jeremy Walliman.
Project Engineer, Nick Shrope.
And Community Outreach, Drew Nihoose.
And now I'd like to introduce one of our key funding partners,
Ralph Rizzo,
Washington State Division Administrator
for the Federal Highway Administration.
-Good morning.
In freight we talk about the last mile
and I think we're here.
So, thank you Mayor Harrell and Director Spotts,
for inviting us to join you today
and to all the partners gathered here,
that made this project a possibility and a reality.
Thank you have being here and thank you for your support.
On behalf of U.S.
DOT Security Buttigieg and FHWA Administrator Bhatt,
it's my pleasure to join you here today
to celebrate that milestone in the East Marginal Way Project.
This projects a great example of some of the themes
that are enshrined in the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Improves safety by separating bicyclists and pedestrians,
from the heavy freight traffic. Equity in maintaining
and improving safe connections for all users,
from south and west Seattle, into downtown.
And economic vitality by making the freight traffic flow
more efficiently.
I don't have to tell you how important the port of Seattle
is not only to the city and to the state,
but to the country as a whole.
And that's why U.S.
DOT made the federal investment in this project
by awarding it a RAISE grant.
So let me congratulate you one more time,
on reaching this important milestone.
It's absolutely appropriate to celebrate starting construction
on this project, but of course we still have a long way to go.
So I'd like to remind everyone to be aware
when you're driving through the construction zone.
Look out for the workers and let's make sure
that they get back to their families safely.
We look forward to working with you during construction
and to gathering again for the ribbon cutting.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
-Thank you.
Our next speaker, Geri Poor, from the Port of Seattle,
is one of the first people
I got to meet in getting involved
through Seattle Transportation.
She was on the selection committee
when the mayor was doing a search for a new SDOT director
and in my first month on the job,
in September 2022, she and other members of the Port,
took me on a tour of this project.
And at the time I didn't think it would take
quite this long to actually get a shovel in the ground.
But in the meantime,
we've been ordering supplies and water pipes
and all kinds of preparations to get ready.
So now I'd like to introduce Senior Manager
for Transportation at the Port of Seattle, Geri Poor.
-Thank you. Testing, testing. Good.
Thank you Mayor Harrell, for your ongoing support
for the East Marginal Way Improvements Project,
which sees the highest concentration of freight
by volume and value, in the state of Washington.
This corridor parallels the Duwamish Waterway,
running the length of the manufacturing industrial center,
through the core of our industrial jobs base.
East Marginal Way, provides access to the port owned
and Northwest Seaport Alliance operated terminals,
to manufacturing, warehouse and commercial businesses,
to freight railyards serving international,
intermodal containers, and to the national heavy --
excuse me, the national highway system,
at the crossroads of Interstate 5 and Interstate 90.
This project also promotes diversity
in transportation choices for commuters,
effectively improving freight mobility,
as well as safety for cyclists and pedestrians,
who are often riding to and from downtown.
Together, we have created a corridor,
where many modes of transportation
can travel safely, on this arterial,
which is appreciated because it is the flat
and direct connection to downtown.
A quick side bar,
at the south end of this corridor
is the East Marginal Way Grade Separation,
which had groundbreaking ceremonies over 20 years ago,
involving many partners here today.
Like this project, it was built on shared funding partnership,
separating different modes and keeping goods moving.
Just as we later celebrating ribbon cutting,
we look forward to this projects completion in just a few years.
In closing, this project supports freight loads,
by building it to heavy haul standards.
Promotes efficiency through signal modifications,
intelligent transportation systems, and improved lighting.
And most importantly, it improves safety,
by separating active transportation
from vehicle traffic.
Thank you all for your contributions
to making this improvement project a reality.
-Thank you Geri.
And big thanks to the Port
for all of your support and collaboration
on this vital project.
Our next speaker is Erin Goodman,
from the SODO Business Improvement Area.
And Erin really helps us at SDOT
as a bridge to the very complex ecosystem
of businesses here in SODO.
We work with her on a large variety of different projects
and we really appreciate your collaboration, your leadership.
Come on up Erin. -Thank you Greg.
Good morning.
As the Executive Director of the SODO Business Improvement Area,
it is my pleasure to welcome you to SODO,
the industrial heart of Seattle.
Today's groundbreaking on the East Marginal
Way Corridor Improvement Project,
is a significant milestone.
East Marginal Way will soon be SODO's largest corridor,
designed for the safety and efficiency
for all users and modes.
This project symbolizes the city's commitment,
to ensuring maritime industry and freight,
have a place carved out in SODO and Seattle's future.
Through this revitalization work,
the city will continue to bring economic stability and vitality,
to people throughout Seattle and the Central Puget Sound region.
I want to express gratitude to our elected officials.
To Mayor Harrell, to both local and federal,
and to the agencies and advocates
who have worked to make this project a reality.
We look forward to seeing a revitalized and safer,
East Marginal Way in 2026.
Thank you. -Thank you Erin.
Our last speaker, did I just turn it off?
There we go.
Our last speaker is Don Brubeck,
President and founder of West Seattle Bike Connections.
And Don, we really appreciate your leadership
and your advocacy.
I think this project is a wonderful example
of the type of collaboration
we can have when we bring all stakeholders together
and figure out how a corridor can serve multiple purposes.
So, come on up Don.
-Good morning, it's a great day and great
to see so many friends and colleagues
who have worked on this project.
In 2012, after a Cascade Advocacy Leadership course,
I got together with some people to start a group
that we were going to call the Marginal Cyclists,
I have I had my way.
But they prevailed, we became West Seattle Bike Connections,
to make it safer and comfortable
for more people to commute to SODO and downtown
from West Seattle.
We also may be the only bike advocacy group in the country
that has freight mobility, as one of our mission statements.
The project here really is a collaboration among
a lot parties who sometimes see themselves in opposition.
But we recognized our mutual interested
in safety and connectivity and efficiency
of movement and resilience for our seaport,
for the jobs here,
and worked really hard to collaborate with respect,
find our maturely interest, arrive at a good design,
convince our elected officials,
obtain funding from federal and state partners.
And it's a great example of what can happen
when people are really working together with respect.
We've, from our group,
I'd like to thank Paul Dieter, Jodi Connolly,
Bob Winship, Bob Anderton, Bob Weeks, Joe and Marlowe Laubach,
Christine Wolf, Kate.
Christine Wolf from the Port of Seattle.
And without Christine's work,
I don't think this project would have happened either.
And Geri Poor, Dongho Chang.
SDOT Project Managers Megan Hoyt and Jessica Murphy.
The entire Freight Advisory Board
and the Bicycle Advisory Board.
Cascade Bicycle Club.
Seattle Neighborhood Greenways.
Mayors McGinn, Murray, Durkan, and Harrell.
And council members Rasmussen, O'Brien and Herbold.
And the drayage truck drivers here,
who've been so careful of our needs for safety
and making it home safely at the end of the day.
Thank you.
-Well that's the end of our official program.
Jamie, do you want to come up
and call on a few people for questions?
Then we'll get to our golden shovel moment.
-Any questions? Yeah, Brian.
-SODO is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods
in the city for traffic, fatal traffic collisions.
Can you report broadly about
how you're trying to improve safety in SODO?
-Thank you.
The question is mentioning
that we have a lot of traffic collisions in SODO
and how are we looking at safety more broadly.
You know, I think this project, the East Marginal Way project,
can be a template for future projects in SODO.
It's one of the reasons
why we ended up putting out a holistic Seattle
transportation plan,
that aligns all the different modes together in a single plan.
Whereas previously we had a bike plan
and a separate freight plan and a separate pedestrian plan
and a separate transit plan. Now we're bringing forward,
for possible enaction by the council, an integrated plan.
And we hope to bring integrated approaches to large
and small projects,
so that we can balance safely all the different users
that are passing through SODO
and going to important destinations here.
-You just eluded to the idea
that you wanted to have this project started earlier,
so what took so long?
-This project has a lot of very complex elements,
that had to be organized
before we could actually put a shovel in the ground.
One of them was beyond the award process,
we were continuing to negotiate various agreements
with the railroads,
because we're interacting with their rail along the project.
And we had to order a very large amount
of seismically resilient water pipe
and with By America regulations, because we have federal funding,
we had to source all of these modern pipes
from American suppliers.
And you can actually see some of the pipe over there.
It's very interesting, this pipe provides a flexible connection,
so that in an earthquake event, instead of breaking,
the pipe actually can flex
and I think that's a really important improvement
that was worth the wait.
-Any other questions? Yep.
-Mayor, transportation generally,
expecting another transportation levy this year.
Where are we in the process of how much the ask is going to be?
Where that money is going to go?
And what you say to voters who said,
last year's... it was supposed to do,
so why are we being asked to pay for it?
-Sure, the question for those that didn't hear is,
basically about the transportation levy.
So this Thursday, couple of days,
we will present to the council, we'll unveil our plan.
And so what I want to say
and actually in response to one of the earlier questions is,
the lens by which I'm asking my transportation department to do
is sort of three fold.
Number one is, these are capital projects.
This is a 7.1 million dollar project,
designed to look at what physically must we change.
You'll also see in the upcoming levy,
that I will always ask about technology.
What technology?
What are best practices with respect to
how we can navigate through this marriage
between freight and cyclists and pedestrians
and new forms of transportation?
And then thirdly, we look at past assumptions.
The fact of the matter
is the transportation world has changed.
vehicles are heavier, as I mentioned,
as we convert to electric trucks
and other types of transportation,
modes of transportation.
The fact of the matter is,
that we are encouraging
because of our environmental sustainability commitment,
more electric scooter types of vehicles and bikes.
So, our assumptions 10/15 years ago have changed
and this is a good thing.
So as we look at our transportation levy,
we'll build it around three circles.
Safety, number one.
Safety for everybody that is moving from A to B.
Reliability.
We know the issues and particularly
if you look at just what happened in Baltimore,
while that was not a natural disaster,
that begs the question
about our bridge structures here in Seattle.
So you talk about reliability in our bridge maintenance
and the other types of issues there.
And then connectivity.
This begs the question,
this particular East Marginal Way project,
begs the question about how we are connecting our ecosystem.
When we are asking cyclists to get out of your car,
stop relying on fossil fuel to get from A to B,
but we still have to move cargo,
how are we connecting with one another?
So I'm not going to disclose the value of the ask at this point,
but I will say
and I want to applaud some of the folks standing with me
right here and in the audience.
For the last year we've been working with the stakeholders.
We realize there could be competing interest in dollars.
Now through Secretary Buttigieg and our highway partners.
I always slaughter Pete's name,
sorry Pete if you're listening to this.
and I actually spoke with him a couple of weeks ago,
that our federal partners have in unprecedented terms
are helping us with some of our capital needs.
But our SDOT department, under the strong leadership we have,
have been working with stakeholders.
We are hearing them out.
And so Thursday, the process continues.
We are not purporting that this is the end all package.
We are -- through the work we've done,
working with stakeholders, the interconnectivity,
the reliability factors that we want to put into this levy,
we've been working with the stakeholders.
We'll present that Thursday
and then the council will take it from there
and then we'll still be with them, lock,
stock and barrel along the way.
And that, I got an applause on that.
We're excited and I have to say, we're excited about this levy.
Because I think that the people Seattle realize
when you talked about some of the accidents,
the fatalities we've had.
When we talk about public safety,
it's just not somebody,
the criminal element that we see in major cities
across this country.
Public safety has to do with someone whose walking
or riding a bike and they are struck, they are injured.
Public safety in all of its forms,
should be a unifying element for the city.
It crosses socioeconomic levels.
It crosses race. We go all throughout the city.
In fact, I'm almost excited to reveal a few things,
but I'll say even on the south end of Seattle,
we looked very granularly at the structure there
and what capital investments we need to make.
So we're very proud of the package
that we are presenting Thursday.
And again, the discussion continues.
Dare I say the negotiations continue,
but that's sort of how this plays out.
And we're confident that the voters will support us
and we'll have a good levy passed.
And with that, I think we're going to conclude this.
Thank you for coming and we're excited about this project.
Let's move some dirt here! -Thank you everyone.
So there's -- your names are on them.
-Got you right here.
-Hold on everybody.
-You guys ready?
Let's make a piece of dirt first.
-Take some dirt. -Yeah, oh man.
-On three. One, two, three. Alright.