On the Move Blog Department of Transportation

On The Move

Advisories from the Seattle Department of Transportation

Seafair celebrations and sports events fill the weekend

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The coming weekend, Friday through Sunday, July 12 – 14, offers up fun for everyone in communities throughout the Seattle.  However, motorists should plan ahead to avoid delays associated with traffic surrounding the various events. 

The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages drivers to leave their cars at home and try one of the many available alternate modes of travel available such as the Sounder, the West Seattle Water Taxi,  Sound Transit Link light rail, Metro Transit, or perhaps try out carpooling, biking or walking ( if feasible).

Friday, July 12
West Seattle Summer Fest:   10 a.m.  – 8 p.m.
West Seattle Junction (Alaska and California)
10,000 attending
Streets closed 6 p.m. Thursday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday:   California Avenue SW between SW Edmunds Street and SW Genesee Street.   Expect congestion in the area.  http://wsjunction.org/summerfest/

Seattle Mariners vs. LA Angels:  7:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
25,000 attending
Expect congestion on adjacent streets before and after the game.


Saturday, July 13
Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic: 4:45 a.m. (final wave riders leaves by 7:30 a.m.)
University of Washington E-1 parking lot Starting point
9,900 participants
Seattle Police will provide escort riders until participants reach Lake Washington Boulevard.
Expect a rolling slowdown as riders move through. http://www.cascade.org/EandR/stp/index.cfm

Crown of Queen Anne Fun Run & Walk:  Walk – 8 a.m. Run – 8:20
Top of Queen Anne Hill
600 participating
Run/walk route:  Starts at Fifth Avenue W and W Halladay Street;  runs 3.3 miles along Queen Anne Boulevard; ends at Coe Elementary School at Seventh  Avenue W and W  McGraw Street.  There may be a rolling slowdown as participants make their way along the course. http://www.queenannehelpline.org/funrun.php

Seafair Milk Carton Derby:  9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
South end of Green Lake
4,150 participants;
When traffic becomes too congested, Seattle Police will close West Green Lake Way N  between N  63rd Street and Green Lake Way N.  Expect congestion and slowing traffic  on streets  surrounding the south end of the lake.  http://www.seafair.com/AnEvent.aspx?ID=3&SecID=890

Wedgwood Art Festival:  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Private property at 35th Avenue NE and NE 80th Street
1,600 attending
Expect congestion on adjacent streets.  http://www.wedgwoodfestival.com/

Linden Avenue N Complete Street Project Celebration:  10 a.m. – 12 Noon
Area adjacent to Bitter Lake Community Center
240 attending
Streets closed 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.:  Linden Avenue N between N 130th Street and N 135th Street http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/linden.htm

West Seattle Summer Fest:   10 a.m.  – 8 p.m.
West Seattle Junction (Alaska and California)
15,000 attending
Streets closed 6 p.m. Thursday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday:  California Avenue SW between SW Edmunds Street and SW Genesee Street.  
Expect congestion in the area.  http://wsjunction.org/summerfest/

Sub>Pop Silver Jubilee:  10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
10,000 attending
Streets closed from 6 p.m. Friday – 10 a.m. Sunday:  Airport Way S between Corson Avenue S and 13thAvenue S plus portions of side streets west of Airport Way S.
Expect congestion on surrounding streets.  http://silverjubilee.subpop.com/info

Queen Anne Children’s Parade:  11 a.m.
Starts and ends at Queen Anne Community Center 
250 participating
Parade route:  Starts at the  Queen Anne Community Center at First  Avenue W and W Crockett Street; heads south on First to W Blaine Street; west on Blaine to Third Avenue W; north on Third to W Howe Street; east on Howe back to the Community Center playfield; Seattle Police will escort.  http://www.queenannehelpline.org/childrensparade.php

Urban Craft Uprising: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Exhibition Hall, Seattle Center
4, 000 attending
Traffic may be heavier on Mercer Street.

Polish Festival:  11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Armory Stage/Dance Floor, Seattle Center
800 attending
Traffic may be heavier on Broad Street.

Ballard SeafoodFest:  11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Heart of Ballard
25,000 attending
Streets closed from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday:  NW Market Street  between 20th Avenue NW and 24thAvenue NW; 22nd Avenue NW between Ballard Avenue NW and NW 58th Street; Ballard Avenue NW between NW Market and NW Vernon Place; Leary Avenue NW between NW Market and 20th Avenue NW. 
Expect congestion in the area.  http://www.seafoodfest.org/

Madison Park Kiddies Parade:  12 Noon
Starts at Wells Fargo Bank – E Madison Street and McGilvra Boulevard
800 participants
Parade route: E Madison Street and McGilvra Boulevard E; moves east on E Madison Street into Madison Park at 42nd Avenue E. Seattle Police wiill escort. 
Expect a rolling slowdown in  traffic  as parade moves along. http://www.madisonparkseattle.com/madisonparkbusinessassociation/

Seattle’s Chinatown/International District Dragon Fest:  12 Noon – 8 p.m.
Business district
12,000 attending
Streets closed from 9 p.m. Friday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday:  S King Street between Fifth Avenue S and Eighth Avenue  S;  Sixth Avenue S between S Jackson Street and S Weller Street;  Maynard Avenue S between S Jackson Street and S Weller Street;  and Seventh Avenue S between S Jackson Street and S Weller Street. Expect congestion in the area.   http://www.cidbia.org/events/mcdonald-s-presents-seattle2019s-chinatown-id-dragon-fest-2013

Seattle Police East Precinct Picnic:  1-4 p.m.
12th Avenue
1,500 attending
Streets closed for picnic:  12th Avenue from Pike to Pine streets.
Traffic may be congested on adjacent streets.

Seattle Police North Precinct Picnic:  1 – 4 p.m.
10049 College Way N
500 attending
Traffic may be congested on adjacent streets.

Bastille Bash:  3 – 8 p.m.
 E Madison Street between 27th Avenue E and 30th Avenue E
2,600 attending
Streets closed from 3 – 8 p.m.:  29th Avenue will be closed just north and south of Madison, but Madison will remain open.
Expect congestion in the surrounding  area.  http://madisonvalley.org/events/p/bastille-bash-2013.html

Rat City Rollergirls:  5 p.m.
Key Arena, Seattle Center
5,000 attending
Expect heavier traffic on west side of center grounds.

Seattle Mariners vs. LA Angels:  7:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
30,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets adjacent to stadium before and after the game.

Sunday, July 14
See Jane Run Women’s Half Marathon and 5K:  8 a.m.
Gas Works Park (start and end )
3,000 participating
Run route:  Starts at Gas Works Park, using the Burke Gilman Trail, and sidewalks around Lake Union, and in Fremont and Ballard neighborhoods.
http://www.seejanerun.com/t-See-Jane-Run-SEATTLE-Half Marathon and 5K.aspx

Wedgwood Art Festival:  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Private lot at 35th Avenue NE and NE 80th Street
1,600 attending
Expect congestion on adjacent streets.  http://www.wedgwoodfestival.com/

West Seattle Summer Fest:  11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
West Seattle Junction (Alaska and California)
5,000 attending
Streets closed 6 p.m. Thursday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday:  California Avenue SW between SW Edmunds Street and SW Genesee Street.  
Expect congestion in the area.  http://wsjunction.org/summerfest/

Urban Craft Uprising:  11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Exhibition Hall, Seattle Center
4, 000 attending
Traffic may be heavier on Mercer Street.

Ballard SeafoodFest:  11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Heart of Ballard
25,000 attending
Streets closed from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday:  NW Market Street  between 20th Avenue NW and 24thAvenue NW; 22nd Avenue NW between Ballard Avenue NW and NW 58th Street; Ballard Avenue NW between NW Market and NW Vernon Place; Leary Avenue NW between NW Market and 20th Avenue NW. 
Expect congestion in the area.  http://www.seafoodfest.org/

Seattle’s Chinatown/International District Dragon Fest:  12 Noon – 6 p.m.
Business District
 12,000 attending
Streets closed from 9 p.m. Friday – 11:59 p.m. Sunday:  S King Street between Fifth Avenue S and Eighth Avenue  S;  Sixth Avenue S between S Jackson Street and S Weller Street;  Maynard Avenue S between S Jackson Street and S Weller Street;  and Seventh Avenue S between S Jackson Street and S Weller Street. Expect congestion in the area.   http://www.cidbia.org/events/mcdonald-s-presents-seattle2019s-chinatown-id-dragon-fest-2013

Seattle Mariners vs. LA Angels:  1:10 p.m.
Safeco Field
26,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets adjacent to stadium before and after the game.

Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta:  6 p.m.
Key Arena, Seattle Center
6,000 attending
Expect heavier traffic on west side of center grounds.

Construction Reminder:
July 12 – 15: SR520 Bridge and northbound I-405 through Bellevue closed Friday night to Monday morning.

July 13: Denny Way closed between Fourth Avenue and 5th Avenue for a tower crane erection.
                                                                                                                                                                                             

Contact:  Peg Nielsen, 206-684-8114
                       

Mariners day game followed by CONCACAF double-header tomorrow

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Tomorrow, Thursday, July 11, at 12:40 p.m., the Seattle Mariner’s take on the Boston Red Sox before a crowd of 26,000 at Safeco Field.  The game should wrap up around 3:30 or 4 p.m.

To clear the exiting Mariner traffic, which will be heading out around the time the heavy afternoon commute is getting underway, the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct exit at S Atlantic Street will be closed from 3 – 4 p.m.   Soccer fans who don’t use that exit except on event days, may not have noticed the Advance Warning sign posted this week, so they may end up well south of the stadium.Seattle Police will also implement normal post-Mariner game directional limitations on streets surrounding the stadiums and the usual game day closure of Occidental Street from S King Street  to S Royal Brougham Way, but tomorrow it will span both the Mariners and the two following soccer events.

The next wave of traffic coming into SODO will be for the CONCACAF doubleheader at CenturyLink Field kicking off at 5:30 p.m. and 8: 30 p.m.  The first match between Panama and Martinique is expected to draw around 5,000 fans and another 20,000 will be attending the second match between Mexico and Canada. One ticket covers both matches.

The Seattle Department of Transportation encourages motorists  to plan  their travels into and through SODO in advance and consider taking one of the many other transportation options available – the Sounder, the West Seattle Water Taxi,  Sound Transit Link light rail,  Metro Transit, or perhaps try out carpooling, biking or walking ( if feasible).

The heavy afternoon traffic in SODO will likely result in clogged streets in downtown Seattle as well.

Contact:  Peg Nielsen, 206.684.8114

Fun-filled Fourth revs up tonight

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Motorists should plan ahead to avoid delays

Summer in Seattle and the long Fourth of July weekend gets off to a start tonight with a Sounders match at CenturyLink Field at 7 p.m. and the Firecracker 5000 at the Seattle Center at 11:59 p.m.  Thursday packs in numerous Fourth of July events around the City including the Admiral Fourth of July Kids Parade, the start of the four-day Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival, and the ever-popular Seafair Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration.  On Saturday, the Seafair Pirates will land at Alki with an audience of 15,000 fans, meanwhile kids will be parading in the Madison Park and Wallingford districts. There’s also a bike race in the University District while bike messengers will begin two days of North American Cycle Couriers Championship races at Fishermen’s Terminal.  

Motorists should allow extra time to reach their destinations as there will be heavy traffic associated with many of the events.  To help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution, the Seattle Department of Transportation encourages motorists to park their cars and try one of the many other modes of transportation available – Metro Transit, the West Seattle Water Taxi, the South Lake Union Streetcar, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or walk, if feasible.   For more event and traffic information, please see the following schedule.

Wednesday, July 3
Seattle Sounders vs. DC United:  7 – 8: 45 p.m.
CenturyLink Field
34,000 attending
Anticipate heavy traffic on routes coming into SODO and on streets surrounding the stadium during the latter part of the afternoon peak traffic.

Firecracker 5000:  11:55 p.m.
Seattle Center and surrounding streets
1,500 participants
Run route: Starts on Seattle Center grounds at Second Avenue; north on Second  to Mercer Street; east on Mercer to Eighth Avenue N; south on Eighth to John Street; west on John to Dexter Avenue N; north on Dexter to Mercer Street; west on Mercer to Fifth Avenue N; south on Fifth to Broad Street; west on Broad to First Avenue N; north on First to Mercer Street; east on Mercer to Second Avenue N; south on Fourth  to finish on the Seattle Center grounds. http://www.promotionevents.com/Firecracker/info.htm

Thursday, July 4
Admiral Fourth of July Kids Parade:  10 a.m.
44th Avenue SW and Sunset Avenue SW – staging
900 participants
Parade route:  Starts at 44th Avenue SW and  Sunset Avenue SW;  heads south on Sunset to SW Atlantic Street; east on Atlantic to Palm Avenue SW; north on Palm into Hamilton View Point Park.  http://westseattleblog.com/ai1ec_event/west-seattle-4th-of-july-kids-parade?instance_id=203227

Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Center for Wooden Boats and Lake Union Park
4,000 expected
Expect congestion on streets surrounding the south end of Lake Union area. http://cwb.org/events/2013festival

Seafair Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration:  Park opens at 12 Noon;  fireworks at 10:20 p.m.
Gas Works Park
50,000 expected
Motorists should arrive prior to 6 p.m. as north of the Park (from N 40th Street south to N Northlake Way) will be closed to all but those needing local access;  expect heavy congestion in the neighborhoods surrounding Lake Union.  http://www.seafair.com/AnEvent.aspx?ID=24&SecID=1018

Special Note: Additional July 4 traffic info:  
Traffic will likely be heavy in neighborhoods  around Lake Union and at various city viewing locations.  SDOT will set out no-parking barricades in areas around Lake Union where needed to assist with traffic congestion. There will be no parking, chairs of other viewing gear allowed on the Lakeview overpass which crosses I-5. 

King County Metro Transit bus routes will operate with a Sunday schedule on Thursday, July 4, for Independence Day, and many routes will be redirected around community celebrations around the county. There will be changes to the water taxi schedules and for the South Lake Union Streetcar.

South Lake Union Streetcar will add evening service before and after the fireworks show on Thursday, July 4th.  From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., service is scheduled every 15 minutes. From about 7:30 p.m. until about 10:15 p.m. (fireworks show time), the streetcar will operate every 10-15 minutes, with service stopping temporarily during the fireworks show to better position streetcars at South Lake Union Park to carry passengers exiting the event. After the fireworks show, southbound streetcars will only travel non-stop to the Westlake hub, and return non-stop to South Lake Union to pick up additional customers exiting the event. Service will conclude by midnight.

I-90 express lanes will have an added westbound service for the 4th of July Holiday. 
Lanes will be westbound at 6 a.m. Thursday and remain westbound overnight.  Lanes will resume the normal weekday schedule on Friday.

Friday, July 5
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival:  10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Center for Wooden Boats and Lake Union Park
3,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets surrounding the south end of Lake Union area. http://cwb.org/events/2013festival

Special Note:  Additional July 5 – 8 traffic info: 
Full weekend closure of Mercer Street and SR99 to allow for the demolition of the east side of the SR 99 bridge over Mercer Street. SR 99 will close Friday night at 12 Midnight, followed by the closure of Mercer Street between midnight and 2 a.m. Saturday morning.  The closures will continue through to 5 a.m. Monday; please see the Mercer Corridor Project website for detours and other details: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/mercercorridor.htm.

Saturday, July 6
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival:  10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Center for Wooden Boats and Lake Union Park
4,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets surrounding the south end of Lake Union area. http://cwb.org/events/2013festival

Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (landing between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.)
Alki Beach
15,000 attending
There will be no street closures, but motorists should expect congestion in the surrounding  area. http://www.seafair.com/AnEvent.aspx?ID=4&SecID=889

Madison Park Kiddies Parade:  12 Noon
Starts at Wells Fargo Bank
800 participants
Parade route:  Starts at Wells Fargo Bank at E Madison Street and McGilvra Boulevard E; moves east on E Madison and into Madison Park at 42nd Avenue E.   Seattle Police will escort and there will likely be a rolling slowdown in traffic as the children travel along parade route. http://www.madisonparkseattle.com/madisonparkbusinessassociation/

Wallingford Family Festival Parade: 11 a.m.
Lincoln High School – staging area
1,500 attending
Parade starts at Lincoln High School at Interlake Avenue N and N Allen Place; north on Interlake to N 45th Street; east on 45th to Bagley Avenue N; north on Bagley into Meridian Park. 
Expect congestion in the surrounding area.  http://visitwallingford.org/conference/wallingford-family-parade-festival/

Wallingford Family Festival: 12 Noon – 5 p.m.
Meridian Park
750 attending; event hours
There may be some congestion on NE 50th Avenue and Meridian Avenue N.  http://visitwallingford.org/conference/wallingford-family-parade-festival/

North American Cycle Courier Championships:  10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Industrial area near Fisherman’s Terminal
575 participating
Bike messenger race course on side streets off of W Commodore Way will be closed 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.;  no arterial traffic in the surrounding area should be impacted.
http://www.sea-naccc-2013.com/

Sunday, June 7
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival:  10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Center for Wooden Boats and Lake Union Park
4,000 attending
Expect congestion on streets surrounding the south end of Lake Union area. http://cwb.org/events/2013festival

Brad Lewis Memorial Criterium:  first race starts at 8 a.m.
University District
410 participants
Streets closed at 7:45 a.m.  – 7 p.m.: Triangular closed course using NE Pacific Street, Brooklyn Avenue NE, and NE Boat Street  (NE Pacific Street will remain open).  
Expect congestion in the area surrounding the triangular race course. http://recycledcyclesracing.wordpress.com/2013-blmc/

North American Cycle Courier Championships:  10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Industrial area near Fisherman’s Terminal
575 participants
Bike messenger race course on side streets off of W Commodore Way will be closed 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; no arterial traffic in the surrounding area should be impacted.
http://www.sea-naccc-2013.com/
                                                            
Other traffic information:
For traffic alerts and traveler’s information, please visit the Traveler’s Information Map at: www.seattle.gov/travelers
Real-Time Downtown Parking Information available at:  http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/epark

Contact:  Peg Nielsen, 206.684.8114

Transit service changes on Thursday, July 4

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This from King County Metro Transit:

King County Metro Transit bus routes will operate with a Sunday schedule on Thursday, July 4, for Independence Day, and many routes will be redirected around community celebrations around the county. Changes also are in store for the South Lake Union Streetcar and water taxis.

The holiday schedule means many commuter bus routes will not be in service that day. Bus riders should check the schedule for their routes, as well as scheduled event and celebration reroutes. Sunday fares are in effect on all Metro routes on July 4.

All Metro offices, including the Customer Information phone lines, will be closed on Thursday in observance of the holiday. When the Customer Information Office is closed, most transit information and the trip planner are available on Metro Online.

South Lake Union Streetcar – Fourth of July service

Some added evening service is planned for the South Lake Union Streetcar before and after the fireworks show on Thursday, July 4th. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., service is scheduled every 15 minutes. From about 7:30 p.m. until about 10:15 p.m. (fireworks show time), the streetcar will operate every 10-15 minutes, with service stopping temporarily during the fireworks show to better position streetcars at South Lake Union Park to carry passengers exiting the event. After the fireworks show, southbound streetcars will only travel non-stop to the Westlake hub, and return non-stop to South Lake Union to pick up additional customers exiting the event. Service will conclude by midnight. A route map is online.

Water taxis

The King County Water Taxi between downtown Seattle and West Seattle will operate with a Sunday schedule on July 4, as will the free Water Taxi shuttles – Routes 773 and 775. There will be no service on the Vashon Water Taxi route on Thursday. Go online to see water taxi service details.

Reminder: Weekend closure for work on SR 99 and Mercer Street: Friday, July 5 – Monday, July 8

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The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) reminds travelers of the upcoming full weekend closure of SR 99 and Mercer Street between 5th Avenue N and Dexter Avenue N scheduled to occur this weekend,  July 5-8 for construction activities associated with the West Phase of the Mercer Corridor Project.

Over the weekend, Mercer Corridor Project crews will demolish the east side of the SR 99 bridge over Mercer Street. SR 99 and Mercer Street will be fully closed to traffic beginning Friday, July 5 at 12 Midnight to Monday, July 8 at 5:00 a.m. During the closure:

·         SR 99 will be fully closed between Valley Street and the southern end of the Battery Street Tunnel. Traffic traveling through Seattle via SR 99 will be directed to I-5 north of Seattle at 85th Street or south of Seattle at E Marginal Way and Spokane Street. More information about alternate routes during construction may be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/mercercorridor.htm.

·         Mercer Street will be fully closed to traffic between 5th Avenue N and Dexter Avenue N. Traffic heading east towards I-5 will be detoured to Harrison and Broad streets at 5th Avenue N and will reconnect to Mercer Street at 9th Avenue N to continue east.

·         No pedestrian access will be allowed on Mercer Street between 5th Avenue N and Dexter Avenue N during the weekend closure. Pedestrians will need to use the sidewalk on the north side of Broad Street to cross SR 99.

·         The I-5 on- and off-ramps at Mercer Street and Broad Street will remain open during the weekend work.

Early warning signs will be available in advance of the SR 99 lane restrictions. Travelers can expect significant traffic and delays and should plan ahead and use alternate routes.

 Contact: SDOT Media Hotline at 206-684-3151.

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Waterfront Seattle Street and Transit Update on June 26

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The City of Seattle invites the community to join us for an interactive update on Alaskan Way design and options for waterfront transit.

In July 2012, building on more than two years of community engagement, Waterfront Seattle shared the concept design with the community. This vision includes a new urban street to accommodate all modes of travel and provide an important connection in the city’s transportation system. (Learn more at www.waterfrontseattle.org.)

On June 26, the design team will provide an update on the new Alaskan Way, including street design and local waterfront transit options for community feedback:

Street and Transit Update
Wednesday, June 26, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Washington State Convention Center
Room 6E, 800 Convention Place, Seattle

Waterfront Seattle is a partnership between the City of Seattle and the entire community to create a dynamic new public waterfront, covering 26 blocks between Pioneer Square and the Olympic sculpture Park. The project is led by the Seattle Departments of Transportation, Planning and Development, Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Central Waterfront Committee.