$536,000 in Federal Stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

The construction is rebuilding the northbound lane of 4th Ave SW between SW 156th and 153rd Streets, adding new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bike lanes and even street lights similar to the ones in Town Square.

There will be local access for area businesses and residences, but motorists are advised to avoid the construction area if possible.

Here’s the latest update on construction:

Construction is requiring intermittent closure of 4th Ave SW at various times of the day for heavy equipment.

Access to 4th Ave SW between said intersections will be limited to one lane during business hours; limited 2-way access will be provided after 5pm.

At SW 155th Street and 4th Ave SW, access will be restricted for eastbound and westbound; there will be NO WESTBOUND access from SW 155th Street to 4th Avenue SW for the next three to four weeks.

At SW 154th Street and 4th Avenue SW, access will be limited for eastbound and westbound traffic. Westbound access at this intersection will be closed intermittently during the day; limited access will be available in the evenings.

This phase of the project will continue for the next three to four weeks, with a projected completion time of mid-December.

Burien’s proposed vehicle license fee went down to a resounding defeat (75% voted no) NOT because voters don’t think sidewalks and bike routes are good things.

It went down because it was wrong-headed.

Regardless of the resounding defeat, the city council still has the power to impose a $20 annual license fee without voter approval. Will the council defy the voters to impose this fee anyway?

And don’t forget, any neighborhood in need of improvements can form a Local Improvement District (LID) to assess itself for street improvements (the city will help with that). Broad improvements are obviously a responsibility of the larger community (check your City Light bill for the costs of undergrounding utilities in the First Avenue improvement area).

I believe the residents, voters and taxpayers (not always the same people) of Burien want a shiny, people friendly community. I believe Burien voters and taxpayers (often the same people) are not selfish, stingy, or mean-spirited. I believe the taxpayers (including those most able to pay) of Burien appreciate their obligation to the greater good of the community. We are not all about ourselves.

Later this year, the city council may be talking about a possible general property tax increase in 2010. Perhaps it was thoughtless to schedule that discussion with a revenue increase lurking on the current ballot. Having lost the current measure, the council should take some time to reconnect with the community. With 3 of 4 council seats uncontested in this election, there is a disconnect.

I am confident the people of Burien are supportive of maintaining quality public services; provided the council is clear about the need, has implemented noticeable and substantive cost-reduction and efficiency strategies, and sticks to the basics like the rest of us.

Everyone who lives in Burien is our neighbor and we are our brother’s keeper. We should all pitch in to make sure we have the community we want. Please get out and sweep the streets to keep the drains clear. Thank you.

- Stephen Lamphear

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have something you'd like to say? Then email us your "Letter to the Editor" by clicking here. Be sure to include your real name and a way to contact you, and, pending our review (for libel, etc.), we'll most likely post it. Otherwise, feel free to leave a Comment below...]

A “Transportation Benefit District” (TBD) is being proposed by the City of Burien, which will be holding a public meeting on Monday, July 20th at 7pm on the first floor of Burien City Hall.

Cityfolk are proposing that the new TBD focuses on funding transportation improvements within the city, like new sidewalks and bike paths. If approved, it would authorize an independent city-wide taxing area to pay for certain sidewalk and road improvements.

According to the city’s website:

What does a Transportation Benefit District do?
According to the Burien Community Survey conducted in 2008, the majority of respondents felt there is a need for more sidewalks and bike paths in their neighborhood.

As of last year, the State of Washington allows cities to designate a Transportation Benefit District (or “TBD”) to fund transportation improvements within a city.

In 2004 the City of Burien adopted a Burien Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan. This plan was a result of a community planning process that included input and ideas from over 400 participants. Over twenty high-priority pedestrian and bicycle facility projects were identified. Several of those projects have already been completed, however, funding to do more is lacking.

With many pulls on the city budget and future funding uncertain, the City of Burien is placing a “Transportation Benefit District” measure on the general election ballot this November that would fund two high-priority projects from the Burien Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan. The City Council selected these two projects in order to serve areas of the city that have not benefited from recent improvement projects.  The funding would be generated through a $25 annual vehicle license fee that would be in effect for two years.

PROJECT SPECIFICS:

8th Avenue South (S. 128th Street to S. 136th Street)

• Construct a minimum 8-foot wide multi-purpose facility* on one side of 8th Avenue South
• Provides safer connection to Cedarhurst Elementary School
• Connects to east-west facility on South 136th Street
• Connect with future facilities for the Northeast Redevelopment Area.

*Multi-purpose facility: A concrete paved path intended for use by cyclists as well as pedestrians.

SW and S. 136th Street (from Ambaum Boulevard to 1st Ave South and 1st Ave South to Des Moines Memorial Drive)

• Bicycle lane on both sides
• Repair inadequate and non-ADA portions of existing sidewalk
• Connects major community facilities, including Seahurst Park, Chelsea Park, North SeaTac Park, Senior Center facility and soccer field
• Connects with existing facility on 4th Avenue SW
• Connects east through SeaTac to Green River Trail and light rail station
• Connects east to North SeaTac Park Community Center, Central Washington University Branch Campus, and Tukwila schools.
• Connects to planned facilities on 8th Avenue South and Des Moines Memorial Drive South

How will the City keep the community up to date on progress?
By law, Transportation Benefit Districts are required to provide annual reports to the community. These annual reports would show:

• Project status
• Expenditures and revenues
• Construction schedules

If a TBD is in place, the City must also hold a public hearing to resolve any transportation cost issues, in the event costs exceed the original project estimate by more than 20 percent.

So…what do YOU think of the idea of a TBD? Please Comment or Vote below in our poll: