Date:  Friday, November 20, 2009

Contact: Amy Grotefendt, WSDOT Communications, 206-295-9846 (cell)
Elizabeth Faulkner, WSDOT Communications, 206-770-3633, 206-931-0815 (cell)

Town hall meeting scheduled in Seattle on Nov. 24; online comments accepted Nov. 20-Dec. 4

SEATTLE – A recommended design for the westside of the State Route 520 corridor and financing strategies for projects along the corridor are now available for public review, and state legislators have scheduled a town hall meeting to hear what people think.

“We want the public to weigh in on our draft recommendations for the design and funding options for the SR 520 corridor,” said state Sen. Rodney Tom, co-chairman of the SR 520 Legislative Workgroup.

SR 520 Legislative Workgroup Town Hall meeting

When: 6 – 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24; presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St., Seattle.
Topic: A meeting to receive public comments about the workgroup’s recommendations.

Earlier this week, the workgroup, made up of state legislators and transportation officials, adopted draft recommendations for the SR 520 corridor.

“The workgroup has developed draft recommendations selecting the ‘A+ Option’ for the westside design from I-5 to Lake Washington, including a new Montlake interchange, and also recommended ways to pay for the new SR 520 bridge projects along the corridor,” said state Rep. Scott White, co-chairman of the workgroup.

The public is invited to review draft recommendations and comment online at the workgroup’s Web site: www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/sr520legislativeworkgroup. The online comment period begins Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 4.

At the direction of the state Legislature, the SR 520 Legislative Workgroup started meeting in July to develop recommendations for the westside design and financing for the SR 520 corridor. These recommendations are scheduled for final approval Dec. 8 and will be included in a final report due to Gov. Gregoire and the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2010.

The same legislation that established the workgroup (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2211) also authorized tolling on the SR 520 bridge to start in 2010. With tolling authorized, WSDOT can begin building a new pontoon construction site in Grays Harbor next year and pontoons at the new site starting in 2012. This will allow a new floating bridge across Lake Washington to be open to drivers in 2014.

For more information about the SR 520 Legislative Workgroup, including a list of workgroup members and meeting agendas, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/sr520legislativeworkgroup.

For more information about the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program, please visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520bridge.

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