The main focus of this project is to come up with an action plan for implementing improvements along 14th Avenue NW between th

Project Area Description =

= 14= th Ave NW between the ship canal and 65= th Ave NW is a 20 block, 1-mile long, 100’ wide righ= t of way consisting of two opposing lanes of traffic separated by a parking medi= an strip with planting strips and sidewalks on either side. It is a regular route for cars, tr= ucks, school busses, bicyclists, joggers and pedestrians. There are two schools, two churche= s and numerous businesses. North of= NW Market there are mostly multifamily apartments and town homes with a small percentage of single-family residences. This stretch is mostly zoned multifamily. South of NW Market are mostly business and commercial type properties (zoned commercial and industrial). The 14= ^th Ave boat launch into the ship can= al is at the south end as well. Traffic is moderate to heavy due to this route often being used as an alternative to 15th Ave NW and= often travels at unsafe speeds. Larger delivery and construction vehicles frequent the lower half of this roadway serving the many businesses in this area. A loose gravel parking area, about 25’ wide, occupies most of the 20 blocks along the length of the enti= re road. For 5 blocks along this length (2 blocks at the 65= th Ave end= and 3 at the NW Market end) there is a central planted median with parallel parki= ng. There is also parking on either curb. There are traffic lights at the Le= ary Way and the NW Market Street intersections (with turning l= anes that take up the central meridian area). There are also stop signs at the 3 intersections south of Leary Way. Other than these places there are = no other traffic control devices along the length of 14= ^th Ave NW. All streets leading into this thoroughfare are posted with stop signs at the corner and yield signs at the median parking area. There are school crossing signs at 58^th (St Alphonsus K-8 Elementary School). Street lighting is h= ighway standard sodium from tall poles. North of Market has a greater density of l= ight standards than South of Market, where the road way is less uniformly lit.

= 14^th Ave NW is an unsafe, unattractive roadway and is a poor use of precious open space. Ther= e are frequent accidents at almost all of the intersections due to poor visibilit= y as well as poorly restricted high traffic volumes. Crossing the road, as a pedestrian= and or riding a bicycle along 14= ^th Avenue NW is very dangerous due to these unsafe conditions.

The very wide ROW is a poor us= e of a valuable open space resource. In total it measures approximately 528,000 sq ft or 12 acres. High traffic volumes, noise, dirt, and unsightliness affect the quality of the community= in general, equally impacting both residents and businesses. Storm water runoff from the roadway goes directly into the ship canal, increasing contaminants= and endangering our valuable local environment.

The gravel parking area and wi= de paved roadway is very unattractive. Many disabled cars and trucks are parked for long periods in the gra= vel strip and along the curbs. Vehicles for sale, junk and used furniture, tran= sient camping vans and trash are all too common along this stretch. Highway standard sodium lighting i= s not residential in character, attractive or even the safest option. The long straight shot down from t= he high school is unrelentless and offers no relief in view (also encourages higher traffic speeds).

Scope of Work and Project Deliverables

The main focus of this project= is to develop an action plan for implementing improvements along 14= th Avenue NW between the La= ke Washington Ship Canal and= NW= 65th Street. The consultant will be responsible= for organizing the community into a shared vision for the project area and developing that vision into a workable Action Plan. This plan shall be organized into = phases (short, medium and long term). An implementation plan shall be provided that includes a conceptual cost plan. Funding mechanisms for the desired goals shall be considered and discussed. An overall site pl= an of the project area showing 10 and 25 and 100 year overlays will be included.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The plan shall include detailed illustrations of key areas for the various elements of the plan such as critical street intersections, parking arrangements, vehicle access, storm water treatment, pedestrian safety, bicycle use, open space, etc. Input by traffic, civil and landscape consultants as necessary.

Neighborhood Involvem= ent / Community Building=

There is a very strong community group active in this neighborhood. In just the pas= t year there have been a number of community gatherings to promote the ideas for t= his plan and to solicit support. Meetings have been held at local community centers with residents and businesses, many folks have pledged support hours for volunteer services for all sorts of activities. The Community has been involved in the Sustainable Seattle Indicators project and has documented conditions along 14th. The results of this survey are pos= ted on the Sustainable Seattle web site.

East B= allard Neighborhood page: http://www.sustainableseattle.= org/Programs/SUNI/NeighborhoodPartners/eastballard/document_view

East B= allard Street-Level survey page: http://www.sustainableseattle.= org/Programs/SUNI/streetlevelsurveys/eastballardsurvey

To vie= w the East Ballard Results survey directly, it is located also on the bottom of t= he E. Ballard street-level survey page (above): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.= asp?u=3D254891641682

In addition, the Ball= ard District Council, Groundswell NW, Sustainable Ballard, Mars Hill Church, St Alphonses Cathol= ic School, Ballard High School<= /st1:PlaceType> and local merchants = have been involved in the process of defining this project to date.

Over 80 residents and businesses have pledged volunteer hours to support this project. Those that have signed pledge form= s have indicated that they would like to continue to participate in public meetings and discussions in defining the action plan, many would like to help get ot= hers involved though outreach efforts to both businesses or residences. Others have offered professional services to aid in reviewing design and aid in planning.

One of the underpinni= ngs of this project is to rekindle and enhance the sense of community in East Ball= ard by creating a forum for neighbors to get to know and trust each other. The = 14^th Ave= Visioning Project is= being set up as a collaborative process that seeks public input and participation= at the outset from all community stakeholders. Community members already apprecia= te that they need to come together behind a unified vision to transform this critical part of this neighborhood. Furthermore, this project is being view= ed by many as way to create the much needed open space and community-gathering place for East Ballard. There are no such facilities within the immediate <= /span>14^th Ave= NW neighborhood present= ly.

Residents and businesses understand that rallying behind= a common action plan, builds trust and understanding as participants get to k= now each other’s needs and desires. There is a growing appreciation for developing consensus around a workable solution that will accrue long-term economic, environmental and social benefits to the community. The project’s commitment to building community is underscored by its approach to creating its Steering Committee, email list of interested community members, open process and communication, and solicitation for help from the entire community.<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Ar= ial'>

Project Schedule / Workplan

Step/Activity

Respons= ible Person/Group

Date Do= ne

RFP for Urban Planner / Design Consultant

Steering Committee – Technical Advisory Group

J= anuary 31, 2006

Applicants conference
Steering Committee – Technical Advisory Group

F= ebruary 3, 2006

RFP response due to Steering Committee
Applicants

F= ebruary 13, 2006

Interview applicants
Steering Committee – Technical Advisory Group

F= ebruary 17, 2006

Award Contract
Steering Committee– Technical Advisory Group

F= ebruary 24, 2006

Outline Action Plan
SC, UP

March 2006

Hold community meetings (2 or 3 over the course of 6 months, with smaller focus groups dedicated to specific issues)
Urban Planner, – Technical Advisory Group, Commu= nity

Various as needed

Prepare draft Action Plan
Urban Planner

May 2006

Review & comment on draft Action Plan
Steering Committee– Technical Advisory Group, community

May 2006

Prepare final Action Plan
Urban Planner

May 2006 – July 2006

Present final Action Plan to community

UP, SC, Comm

July 2006

Budget

$13,500

Key Stakeholders

All Residents within 2 Blocks of 14th Ave NW

All Landlords on 14th Ave NW

All Businesses and Merchants on 14th Ave and those who depend on 14th = for access to their businesses

St. Alphonses School

Ballard High School

Mars Hill Church

Sea= ttle Department of Transportation

Seattle Public Utilities

Sea= ttle Department of Planning and Design

Sea= ttle Department of Neighborhoods

Any= utility within the right of way of 14th Ave

Seattle Maritime Training Center

BIN= MIC

NIM= C

Other Stakeholders

Sea= ttle Police Department

Burlington and Northern Railway

Salmon Bay Railway (Private Rail Line: <= /span>Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel)

Fri= ends of the Burke Gilman Trail

Cas= cadia Bicycle Group

Bal= lard District Council

Bal= lard Chamber of Commerce

Gro= undswell NW

Seattle Marine Business Coalition

Bal= lard Historical Society

Professional Community Volunteer Pledges

Arc= hitect – 40 hours

Lan= dscape Architect – 40 hours

Urb= an Planner Volunteer – 10 hours

Eco= logist – 10 hours

Wat= er Specialist – 8 hours

Tra= ffic Planner – 8 hours

Step/Activity	Respons= ible Person/Group	Date Do= ne
RFP for Urban Planner / Design Consultant	Steering Committee – Technical Advisory Group	J= anuary 31, 2006
Applicants conference	Steering Committee – Technical Advisory Group	F= ebruary 3, 2006
RFP response due to Steering Committee	Applicants	F= ebruary 13, 2006
Interview applicants	Steering Committee – Technical Advisory Group	F= ebruary 17, 2006
Award Contract	Steering Committee– Technical Advisory Group	F= ebruary 24, 2006
Outline Action Plan	SC, UP	March 2006
Hold community meetings (2 or 3 over the course of 6 months, with smaller focus groups dedicated to specific issues)	Urban Planner, – Technical Advisory Group, Commu= nity	Various as needed
Prepare draft Action Plan	Urban Planner	May 2006
Review & comment on draft Action Plan	Steering Committee– Technical Advisory Group, community	May 2006
Prepare final Action Plan	Urban Planner	May 2006 – July 2006
Present final Action Plan to community	UP, SC, Comm	July 2006