-Good morning, everybody.
Let's try that again. Good morning, everybody!
-Good morning! -I'm Greg Spotts,
Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation,
and I'm delighted to welcome you
to the groundbreaking of RapidRide J.
We're experiencing an exciting time for transit,
streets, and infrastructure in Seattle and King County.
Over the past six weeks, we've welcomed light rail to Lynnwood,
commenced RapidRide G service on Madison,
and celebrated key milestones along the Waterfront
with the opening of Overlook Walk
and the Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion.
It's also been a busy time for staff at SDOT
as we finish strong on the levy to move Seattle.
In recent years,
we've been averaging one construction start per month
for contractor-delivered projects.
I'm pleased to share
that we've tripled that rate so far in 2024.
Today represents our 27th construction start,
and we still have three months in the year.
Today's groundbreaking is special to me
on a personal level because RapidRide J upgrades my bus,
the King County Metro No.
70. I took the 70 to get here today.
I use the 70 frequently to get to work,
to access the University of Washington Campus,
and to visit the vibrant businesses
along Eastlake and Fairview, and in the U District.
I'm very grateful to Mayor Bruce Harrell
for his support of getting RapidRide J
through the design process
and helping us secure substantial federal
and state funding for this multifaceted project
which will maintain and modernize our infrastructure.
Now I'd like to introduce our first speaker, Mayor Harrell.
-Thank you, Greg. Thank you, Greg.
All right. Very excited.
I want to thank all of the transit advocates
and the transportation advocates.
The whole -- the who's who is here.
Thank you.
I see Sound Transit in the house.
Thank you for being here, as well.
I want to say a special shoutout to my colleagues
that'll share a few words. Executive Dow Constantine,
and all of our partners at King County,
the Federal Transit Administration,
the Federal Highway Administration,
and the Washington State Department of Transportation.
And, of course, Go Dogs! The University of Washington.
A good weekend for us.
So as we celebrate this groundbreaking RapidRide J Line,
this is, of course,
a critical connection for all of our neighborhoods,
but quite frankly, it goes beyond just transportation.
We're looking at upgrading our vital water infrastructure,
about supporting our local businesses, and our economy.
It's about investing in communities
who sometimes may feel as though they've been underserved
or underappreciated.
So this is more than just good vibes.
It's a recognition that we are being aggressive
in addressing the areas
where we want strong transit and strong community ties
and strong economic development.
This particular project is in our most --
some of our most vibrant growing neighborhoods
like Eastlake and South Lake Union, Belltown,
and the U District.
And we've been trying to show just not from
a transportation standpoint what we're doing,
but also with our Office of Economic Development.
So this particular project features two miles of bus lanes,
2.8 miles of upgraded sidewalks,
3.7 miles of protected bike lanes,
and, of course, 100 new trees.
It's all part of our climate efforts, as well,
so when we always look at transportation investments
like this,
we look at it through the lens
of climate resiliency and fighting against global warming.
This is more than just about how people get around.
That's a strong component of it.
It's about the opportunity
for our city to optimize every opportunity
we have to make vibrant neighborhoods
and make sure people are connecting.
You know, many of us have had the opportunity
to be around world-class universities.
Some of us would just come here to goof off,
some of us would go here to try to take care of business.
It didn't make any difference why you came here,
you got an experience of this university life
and the neighborhood elementary schools around us,
the local businesses, the global technology leaders,
the community gardens, the Coliseum experiences.
The whole experience here in the U District
and its connecting neighborhoods is critical.
And so this RapidRide J Line is going to be
a critical component of the success in this area,
and we are very pleased to be a part of it.
I visited and learned from cities all around the globe,
and I've got to tell you, there's --
nowhere else matches Seattle's unique mix of economic vitality,
innovation, and culture.
And we think this J Line brings all of that
closer to your front door.
So again, I want to thank all of you for being here.
I would be remiss if I didn't remind you
that this November voters will have a chance
to renew our city's commitment to opportunity
with the new levy.
That particular levy --
the proposed levy will include 160 projects focused
on improving transit reliability, and safety,
and 15 major paving projects to maintain
and modernize our streets, and clearly so much more.
So investing in our infrastructure
and improving access to public transit
is a key part of what we call our One Seattle approach
in our transportation plans.
And we will work to build a thriving
and equitable city in everything that we do.
This J Line project addresses current
and future mobility needs for travelers and transit
capacity constraints along the route.
It embodies our administration's commitment
to transportation safety and sustainable travel options,
ensuring that Seattleites can easily
and reliably get where they go.
So thank you again for being here,
and I believe I will turn it back to Greg
who will introduce our next speaker.
And again, I want to thank our speakers here
for celebrating this tremendous success with us.
Thank you very much. -Thank you, Mayor.
You know, on Friday we all gathered together
at the Waterfront on Overlook Walk,
and you told us that UW can beat Michigan.
-Well, you know, I hedged my bets a little bit,
but now I'm bragging. So that's the way it works.
-We heard it first on Friday.
I'm really pleased to introduce our next speaker,
an amazing advocate and supporter of transit
for the whole region,
King County Executive Dow Constantine.
-Thanks, Greg. Thanks, Mr. Mayor.
It is great to be out here today,
back in my second home at the U District,
to celebrate a great next milestone for Metro Transit
and for the city of Seattle - taking a bus route
that's already becoming one of the most popular in King County
and making it even better. I want to, again,
recognize from our partner agency Sound Transit,
our CEO Goran Sparrman is here.
Thank you, Goran, for being here today.
And from Metro Transit,
our general manager Michelle Allison,
and all the folks from Metro. Thank you for everything you do.
You know, Route 70
already accommodates a passenger load comparable
to that of a RapidRide line,
so it's time to make this upgrade official
and transform this route into the improved bus service,
the enhanced transit service, our communities deserve.
The J Line will expand transit access.
It will give more people reliable, smoother journeys,
whether they're heading to work or medical appointments,
or other important destinations like class.
This achievement would not be possible
without the collaboration of the city of Seattle.
This partnership puts riders first.
It delivers improvements that make boarding easier,
make riding faster, make travel safer and more comfortable.
But some of you may be wondering what does RapidRide mean.
Well, RapidRide ensures that whether it's 8:00 in the morning
or 5:00 in the afternoon,
transit riders will always be able to keep moving
with dedicated lanes, with priority traffic signals,
with the infrastructure that supports this new line.
RapidRide is more than just a transit service,
it's a key part of our work to reduce air pollution,
to reduce our climate emissions by encouraging
more people to get on public transit,
whether it's RapidRide or a regular bus line
or onto the light rail right behind us.
We are lowering carbon emissions,
helping to create a healthier environment
and a more sustainable future.
Metro's investment in the customer experience
is reflected in this enhanced service.
Greater comfort, with greater frequency,
with faster, more reliable transit options for riders
through RapidRide.
It's hard not to reminisce when I'm here
because I spent a heck of a lot of my life in this place.
My wife's apartment was right down at the end
of this block, the Stanford.
I was up a block at the Wilsonian Apartments,
and I used to take my bundle of laundry every weekend
and get on the bus here on the Ave, make my way down,
slowly, to downtown, and transfer at the Bon Marché,
and then head to West Seattle to use my folks' washer and dryer,
and then make my way all the way back.
Well, I could make that journey much more quickly
and comfortably now with RapidRide.
Maybe I'll try it.
With RapidRide,
riders will enjoy the convenience of all-door boarding
at stops and stations equipped with real-time information
by prioritizing that rider experience,
promoting sustainability, and fostering collaboration,
we are improving transportation today
and paving the way for a cleaner, more accessible future.
So thank you. Thank you.
Whatever your role has been,
whether it's as a planner or builder or a rider,
thank you for being a part of this important journey.
Together, we're going to keep this moving forward.
Thanks.
-Thank you so much, Dow Constantine.
That was a great transit testimonial.
I'm a daily transit rider,
and I don't think I've ever brought my laundry on the bus.
That's a good one.
Michelle Allison, maybe you can illuminate us on other,
kind of, innovative ways people use the bus.
Come on up here and let's celebrate our project together.
King County General Manager, Michelle Allison.
-Hi, everybody.
I also want to start by appreciating
the King County Metro folks,
highlighting, in particular, our operator.
Operator Ibrimi, who's behind me here,
who drove our backdrop and our bus.
And all of our operators
and those folks on the front lines
who make transit work every day.
They drive our system, they fix our system,
they keep it safe and clean and reliable for all of us
so that we can use transit to get to where we need to be.
Much appreciation.
I feel like there's been several months of togetherness
for a lot of folks in this group,
just acknowledging how much transit is coming on line.
Whether it's metro, community transit, light rail,
we've been having a lot of moments of celebration
and really championing and highlighting the good work
that many folks have been doing for a long time
in investments in transit.
And one of those events was just a couple of months ago,
and it was the actual funding of the J Line
and the announcement from the Feds
about the investment in this system.
And there was a speaker who shared her personal story
that really stuck out to me, Janice Chen.
And at that time, Janice was a student at UDub
and she was also a rider of the 70
to make all of her connections happen.
And she explained how this transit corridor,
this one right here, is going to make her dreams possible.
Janice grew up in an environment
that discouraged her from pursuing a degree
in science and medicine,
but thankfully, Janice did it anyway,
and she recently just earned
a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering.
And I'm going to need a little help here
because this is what she's pursuing now in her master's,
reengineering metabolic pathways in microorganisms
and lowering the cost of sustainable
industrial chemical production. Okay.
What Janice explained there is that she's going to help us
with her research to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
And doesn't that feel
like it has a direct connection to what we're trying
to do here today with our J Line
and all of these transit investments in the region?
And Janice noted to me, and at that forum she said,
"In order to reach that goal,
I have to have transit connections."
She has an internship in South Lake Union,
and she goes to school at the U,
and this line is her connection to that furthering education.
It's those moments that matter.
It's those investments in people's lives
that make transit transformative and provide the mobility
and the opportunity for people to thrive.
It is not a small thing.
It's deeply personal
and it's incredibly impactful for our neighborhoods.
We are so delighted
that we are launching this J Line together with
our partners at the City of Seattle.
This is a major upgrade for the Route 70,
which as has been noticed,
already has some of the highest ridership
of the routes in our system. All of Metro's work,
but especially projects like the RapidRide,
are because of the community that supports us
and tells us what you need,
where you want us to provide service,
and how we can best meet your needs.
I want to appreciate the UDub Transit Group
and the U District Partnership
for your help in making sure
that the J Line represents the community that you represent.
Thank you for being here today and helping us break ground.
Thank you also for the past couple of months
of celebrating the investments
that were just recently turned on into our system;
3,700 new bus trips each weekday,
and many thousands on the weekend, as well,
meaning that now we have over 300,000 riders
every single day using corridors like the one behind me.
We are so delighted to continue to expand our mobility options
to reach your needs.
Thank you so much for this moment of celebration
and I look forward to more.
-Thank you so much, Michelle Allison.
So far, we've established
that you'll be able to use RapidRide J
to go to the football game, to take your laundry to Mom's,
or to do biomedical research.
A million possibilities.
And I'm remembering that I bought --
I took RapidRide J up here to go to one
of the thrift stores on the Ave
and got a $48 tuxedo jacket that fits perfectly.
So that's another thing we can do with RapidRide J.
I now want to introduce one
of the really great urbanist thinkers in our city.
Somebody who really understands
how streets and storefronts and plazas
all work together to create a vibrant community.
U District Partnership Executive Director Don Blakeney.
-Good morning, and welcome to the U District.
I'm Don Blakeney, the director of the U District Partnership,
and today we are excited to celebrate the groundbreaking
of the J Line here in Seattle's
second-oldest commercial district.
As the proud home of the University of Washington,
the U District has long been a cultural hub and destination
for North Seattle.
And as the university has grown and prospered,
so has the neighborhood,
and the need to get people to and from this area.
Over the years,
the U District has lived through many chapters of growth,
from the streetcar days of the early 20th century
to the opening of the Link light rail just behind us,
which we were talking about earlier.
The most recent chapter of growth began in 2017
when a major upzone to the neighborhood came
and kicked off an incredible transformation of our skyline,
which we can see behind us.
In the past few years alone,
19 major multifamily residential buildings have been completed.
Three new office towers are about to come on line,
and 25 more buildings are in various stages
of predevelopment, design, and permitting.
Looking at the population growth alone,
we've added 10,000 people to this neighborhood
in the last decade
and are looking to add another 10,000 by 2030.
The U District is also home to one of Seattle's
most racially diverse populations,
and we are seeing more
and more of the people living in this neighborhood
who rely on transit every day to move around our city.
In fact, during the pandemic,
the U District Link light rail station behind us
was consistently the busiest station in the network,
serving over 12,000 people a day.
And we are thrilled to be connected to the expanding
light rail network that now reaches Lynnwood, the airport,
and soon to reach the east side.
However, it's our bus system
that does a lot of the heavy lifting to bring people to
and from this area.
And as the U District continues to evolve,
the J Line will ensure that our growing number of students,
workers, residents, and others have efficient
and reliable transportation options connecting them
with the downtown Seattle area,
South Lake Union,
and other cultural hubs throughout the city.
Thank you to the City of Seattle,
to King County Metro,
and to the University of Washington
for all of the work they did to bring this to us today.
Thank you. -Thank you so much.
And our last speaker represents the University of Washington,
which is a very important partner on this project.
I'd like to introduce Vice President
of External Affairs Randy Hodgins.
-Thank you, Greg.
It must be music to your ears
that I'm closing [inaudible] here today.
By the way,
can we just appreciate this absolutely fantastic park
that's been created here?
For those of you who know the University of Washington
pretty well, there is a -- there is a history to this park.
This used to be the site of the International House of Pancakes.
The only restaurant in their entire chain
that was busier after midnight than it was before noon,
so you can just imagine.
And, yes, I dined there once or twice.
Now, just three years ago we celebrated the opening
of the Link light rail station that's right behind us.
Goran, is it still the busiest station in the -- yes, it is.
It's the busiest station in the network
and has become the front porch
for the University of Washington.
And obviously,
today we're excited to welcome
another fantastic transit benefit for the state,
you know, the Rapid J Line is going to --
it's just really going to transform things.
Maybe not quite in the way the light rail did,
but it's going to be,
as you heard from Michelle,
very important to link this campus with our assets
down in South Lake Union.
It's going to be very transformative.
Thousands of UW students, faculty, and staff,
of course, ride transit every day.
We're about 8% with our 80,000 Husky Card holders doing it.
And we're also very proud of the fact that we're still 16% --
only 16% of the folks who come to the U District
every day come in single-occupant vehicles.
We could not be the University of Washington without
the transit assets that are provided to us in this region.
So for all of you who represent transit agencies, thank you.
Thank you.
These are great things to build on.
We're also making, we think, some smart land use decisions.
Transit-oriented development.
Well, we believe in it.
Right behind us, the University District building
which is going to open in a couple of months
right over the light rail station.
You can't get more TOD than that.
More importantly, along Roosevelt,
down on 41st across from Portage Bay Café,
244 units of affordable housing with childcare.
We're looking forward to that project,
and thanks to Bellwether Housing and all the partners
who have helped make that a reality.
So we believe transit is critical to the success
of the University of Washington.
We're happy to be partnering with all of you.
It's a great day. Thank you for being here.
-Thank you so much.
That concludes our remarks
and we're going to move right over here
for the groundbreaking.
-We're ready, 1, 2, 3.
-Yay! Woo!