Dear neighbors,
Our children, like many other families, grew up being promised that light rail would be running while they were in school. Then, the promise was service would start while they and their friends went to North Seattle College, UW or new careers hoping they could commute on light rail. We’ve watched as bus lines and service increased and decreased while light rail was always a couple of years away.
It’s here! Join me for the John Lewis Northgate Pedestrian Bridge’s opening on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Since before I became a legislator in 2011, I was working with neighborhood groups to advocate that the Northgate Transit Station include a pedestrian and bike bridge from the Transit Station to North Seattle College and the neighborhoods west of I-5. We knew that a bridge could greatly increase access to the College (think Running Start students from Roosevelt, Hale and Ingraham HS – with Roosevelt students crossing street to light rail and going one stop). We knew a bridge would greatly reduce car trips and reduce the size of the parking garage – saving a very large amount of money.
Sound Transit didn’t want a bridge. It wanted a large parking garage. It told neighbors and North Seattle College students that they could walk around or rely on bus service to west of I-5. But, we knew that was not going to be reliable – and could add 30 minutes just to get to North Seattle College or from home to the transit station.
By starting with state funding, we essentially pushed Sound Transit and Seattle to commit to building the bridge. But, it was not easy to keep Sound Transit or the City committed. They repeatedly raised obstacles. North Seattle College provided great leadership under Presidents Warren Brown and Mark Mitsui. Our legislative delegation held numerous meetings to overcome objections from Sound Transit or Seattle. The bridge design changed dramatically due to costs, but we obtained what is a beautiful bridge and a great route.
On Saturday, Please join us for speakers at the west end of the bridge at 10 a.m.
There will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony along with a community-led walk, roll, and bike ride towards Sound Transit’s new Link light rail station. With Link light rail service also beginning at the Northgate Station on Oct. 2, we encourage you to try out the new transit options.
If you take the light rail to Roosevelt station or U District, you’ll be able to enjoy live music and good food from 10 am to 4 pm at Roosevelt and a $3 food walk with 40 U District restaurants and live music from the U District Station from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What about bus service?
Northgate bus service routes are here. I’m concerned that frequent convenient all-day bus service to light rail does not extend to the community members in the NE portion of Seattle above 135th St (i.e., along Lake City Way). And, it’s a good thing we’ll have the bridge because there aren’t circulator buses to the Licton Springs neighborhood.
Roosevelt bus service routes are here. NE 65th will have frequent service, NE 75th will have less frequent day service with Route 79. Metro says it is adding service during peak use for high school students in response to concerns raised by KC Council Member Rod Dembowski.