The Mayor’s 2005-2006 budget proposal provides $159 million in funding for 190 projects that support 38 neighborhood plans. The proposed capital improvement program would invest more than $67 million in 2005, an increase of $16 million from 2004. Then, in 2006, $92 million would be spent on neighborhood projects. The Mayor protected the citywide Neighborhood Matching Fund, holding it steady at $3.2 million per year despite huge revenue shortfalls.

Here are some highlights of projects and programs planned for Aurora-Licton Springs, Ballard, Crown Hill, Broadview, Bitter Lake/Haller Lake, Fremont , Greenlake, Greenwood , Phinney Ridge, Wallingford and surrounding neighborhoods.

Get Seattle Moving

In 2005, the Mayor’s budget proposes to repave more than 85 lane miles of city streets, including more than 44 miles of arterial roadways. His proposal also includes improving the timing of traffic signals at more than 150 locations and installing 55 new curb ramps. In addition, the Mayor’s budget includes funding to fill up to 70,000 potholes if needed.

• Improve the Ballard Municipal Center Streetscape - Pedestrian improvements will be installed on the three street frontages of the Ballard Civic Center , including wider sidewalks, curb bulbs, pedestrian lighting, street trees and grates, pavement accents, mid-block crossing, and other intersection improvements. Seattle Public Library will also implement streetscape improvements as part of the development of the new Ballard branch library.
• Extend the Burke-Gilman Trail - Extend the Burke-Gilman Trail from its current terminus at 8th Avenue Northwest to Golden Gardens Park . The segment from 8th Avenue Northwest to 11th Avenue Northwest was constructed in 2001. Groundbreaking for the Ballard Locks to NW 60th St. segment was held on Sept. 18. The Burke-Gilman Trail runs from Ballard to Kenmore and is the most heavily used trail in Seattle. Planners hope to eventually connect the new trail segment to the current trail end near 11th Avenue Northwest in Ballard, and to extend it north to Golden Gardens in Seattle's Sunset Hill neighborhood.
• Improve Transportation Systems in Fremont - Improve traffic flow, access to the regional transportation system via State Route 99 for vehicles and freight, and transit speed and reliability. This project includes the installation of new and upgraded traffic signals and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) elements such as variable message signs, closed-circuit TV cameras, and fiber optic cable for interconnecting signals. Pedestrian and vehicular safety and access are improved through the installation of crosswalks, wheelchair ramps, a two-way left turn lane, and medians along Bridge Way .
• Upgrade the Fremont Bridge Transportation System - Replace the north and south approaches to the Fremont Bridge , upgrade the north approach off-ramp to North 34th Street , upgrade the electrical/mechanical system used to raise and lower the bridge bascule, and reconstruct the bridge maintenance shop located beneath the south approach structure.
• Complete the Lake Union Ship Canal Trail – Extend this multi-use trail from the Fremont Bridge to Fisherman's Terminal, just west of 15th Avenue Northwest. The second phase of this project begins at 6th Avenue West and extends westward for about 0.75 miles, and is largely within, or adjacent to, a railroad right-of-way. This trail segment is a critical "missing link" in an urban and regional trails system that, when completed, will make it possible to bicycle almost exclusively on dedicated trails from Redmond to downtown Seattle.
• Construct the Interurban Trail North - Develop a multi-use trail from North 109th Street to North 128th Street . Provide bike lanes on Linden Avenue North from North 130th to North 145th, and connect to the King and Snohomish County portions of the trail north of North 145th Street .
• Improve Pedestrian and Transit Safety Along Aurora Avenue - Improve pedestrian access and transit speed and reliability along Aurora Avenue North by designing, preparing environmental documentation, and beginning construction of capital improvements between North 110 th Street and North 145 th Street . The planned improvements include new curb, sidewalks, and gutters, widening of existing lanes and construction of a new southbound business access and transit-only lane. In addition, medians will be designed at some locations to address safety concerns, and traffic signal needs will be evaluated.

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Keep our neighborhoods safe

Seattle has one of the lowest violent crime rates of any major city in the nation. However, property crime and illegal drugs remain an issue in our neighborhoods. The Mayor’s budget proposes to expand the Neighborhood Corrections Initiative Teams (NCI) into all five police precincts. This is a partnership between Seattle Police and the Department of Corrections (DOC), which allows officers to more effectively supervise DOC clients residing in the city. NCI teams are proactive and they are often able to intervene before crimes occur. The Mayor also proposes to reconstitute the Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA) program, which helps keep known drug offenders out of neighborhoods where they cause the most harm. All neighborhoods will also benefit from the addition of two full-time staff members for the Seattle Disaster Aid and Response Teams (SDART) to train Seattle neighborhoods to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours following a major disaster.

• Fire Station 31 – Remodel and upgrade Station 31.
• Reduce Flooding on Major Arterials – To reduce the risk of urban flooding, improvements will be made to the storm drain systems along Linden Avenue North and North 85 th Street between Greenwood Avenue North and 3 rd Avenue Northwest, along Aurora Avenue, and along 105 th St. between Aurora Avenue and Northgate Mall.
• Reduce Flooding in the Piper’s Creek Watershed - Reduce high impact flows in Piper’s Creek, design the Venema natural drainage system to benefit Piper’s Creek, restore forested areas in Carkeek Park, and improve stream habitat in Piper’s Creek in Carkeek Park.
• Reduce the Landslide Risk at Golden Gardens– To reduce the risk of landslides, improvements will be made to the drainage system at Golden Gardens and View Avenue.

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Create jobs and opportunity for all

The Mayor’s budget proposal maintains $160,000 in funding for neighborhood business district grants. Like neighborhood matching funds, these grants enable business districts to determine how to best serve the economic development needs of their neighborhood. The Mayor’s proposal also funds Community Technology Grants of $80,000 to provide matching funds and technical assistance to underserved communities.

• Provide Funding for Technology to Underserved Communities –Through the cable franchise agreement, the City will also provide 88 high speed cable broadband connections worth more than $150,000 to community organizations. Those who received these connections in 2004 include: the Northwest Senior Activity Center, the Ballard Family Center, Ballard House Resident Council, and the Phinney Neighborhood Association.

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Build strong families and healthy communities

With the passage of the Families and Education Levy, we will increase investment in children and youth by $4 million, for a total of $31 million, benefiting families in every neighborhood. The Mayor’s Children and Youth Budget aligns levy funds with general fund support.

The Mayor’s 2005 budget will maintain full funding for the capital funding for increasing and preserving rental housing ($20 million), expanding our supply of affordable homeownership units ($3.6 million) and repair and weatherize existing housing stock ($4.3 million).

• Complete the New Ballard Branch Library – Finish construction of a new 15,000-square-foot branch, twice the size of the current library. Update the collection capacity of 66,700 books and materials, provide additional seating, expand the reference areas, enlarge areas for children and young adults, add computer space, a meeting room and more parking.
• Complete the New Ballard Neighborhood Service Center – Finish construction of a new 3,000-square foot neighborhood service center, co-located with the new branch library.
• Complete the New Ballard Municipal Center Park - The new park, across from the new branch library and neighborhood service center, will include a maritime theme, large lawn, central promenade, large “landmark” trees, circulation that utilizes the perimeter street sidewalks, a skateboard bowl, and public art.
• Improve Crown Hill School Open Space - Develop usable open space and improve playfields at Crown Hill School.
• Loyal Heights Playfield Improvements - Upgrade and improve play surfaces and field amenities.
• Renovate the Fremont Branch Library - Convert a 780-square-foot storage area into space for the public and staff, update the collection of books and materials, provide more seating and computer work stations, improve the ventilation, lobby, circulation desk and work areas. The Library is coordinating the renovation with Seattle Parks and Recreation, which is developing a park next door to the branch. The goal is to provide improved access to the branch for patrons who use wheelchairs by creating a ramp that leads from the park to the branch’s lower-level meeting room.
• Expand the Broadview Branch Library – Expand the existing branch library by 6,595 square feet. The expansion project will include an updated collection capacity of 66,700 books and materials, more seating, new computers and electrical service, improved lighting, more energy efficient windows, new shelves, more efficient circulation desk and staff areas, and better signage.
• Expand the Greenwood Branch Library - The new library will be twice the size of the current branch. It will have an improved collection capacity of 66,700 books and materials, a meeting room, upgraded computer work stations and instructional spaces, large homework program areas for children and teens, and more parking.
• Build the Lower Woodland Skateboard Park - Develop a skateboard park on unused land at Lower Woodland Park. The design for the 23,000-square-foot skate park features bowls to accommodate all skill levels, a street skating course and an elevated viewing area.
• Stabilize arts and cultural investments – Restoration of Admission Tax funding for arts and culture ensures support for neighborhood arts council initiatives; 2004 neighborhood arts initiatives included the Fremont Solstice Parade and Arts Ballard’s Art’Fisk. The funding also provides access to arts experiences in communities and after school youth arts training. 2004 projects included Ingraham High School ’s partnership with Richard Hugo House. The pilot after-school program offered workshops in writing, silkscreening, cartooning and ‘zines, hip hop, and spoken word, co-designed and promoted by the teacher and artists.

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