Prepared for:

Prepared by

As part of the construction of the new Football and Soccer Stadium in Seattle, there will be a short period covering the 2000 and 2001 football seasons when the Seattle Seahawks will need to host home games in another football stadium. Their preferred option is Husky Stadium at the University of Washington.

The development of a Transportation Management Plan (TMP) to mitigate the traffic and parking impacts associated with these games is a requirement for use of this facility. The University of Washington employs an effective TMP to serve Husky Football home games. The Seattle Seahawks used a modification of the Husky TMP in 1994 while the Kingdome was under emergency repair.

Football Northwest, Inc (FNW), the organization responsible for managing the new Stadium and temporary use of an alternate stadium during the construction of the new stadium, understands there may be the need for refinements to the existing UW TMP. This Husky Stadium TMP for the Seahawks will attempt to build on the uniquely effective and successful attributes of the existing Husky TMP such as access via the water and expansion of the existing Park and Ride Program.

This process contemplates a refinement to the existing UW TMP rather than creating a new or conceptually different TMP. This approach was taken because the existing UW TMP works well as compared to other TMPs both locally and nationally. Further, a substantially modified TMP, even if it could be marginally more effective, will likely require up to two years to be effectively implemented. FNW recognizes that there remain some aspects of the Husky TMP that can be modified to reduce campus and neighborhood impacts. Accordingly, this refinement addresses specific programs that respond to observed operations during Husky events as well as concerns raised by leaders in adjacent neighborhood input.

The intent of this document is to identify the successful elements of the existing UW TMP, and augment exiting or introduce supplemental programs to address some of those remaining or residual impacts that have been identified by the community and operating agencies through discussions with FNW.

This TMP represents a refinement of the "Strategic Approach" presented in March 1999 and several subsequent review drafts developed in April, May, and August 1999 for community review. This TMP reflects the input from several community meetings, further coordination with the Seahawks and discussions with and regular input from the Husky Stadium TMP Advisory Group.

The Husky Stadium Advisory Group is comprised of neighborhood representatives and key staff from the City of Seattle, University of Washington, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Seahawks. This TMP is intended to provide the City Council, and the public the information needed understand the nature of traffic and parking impacts and the extent of corresponding mitigation with use of Husky Stadium by the Seahawks for this two year period. The City Council plans to hear this matter on September 15, 1999. In the interim period, community members can contact FNW directly regarding any input the community considers relevant so appropriate refinements can be presented to the City Council as part of their deliberation.

Following City Council approval, FNW will refine this TMP into a "Traffic and Parking Operations Plan" that the Seattle Police, SEATRAN, METRO, the University of Washington, and WSDOT to implement this TMP.

The approach used in developing this TMP was to organize individual measures into general categories or functionally related groups. Because each measure may not apply universally throughout the stadium area, FNW will tailor specific techniques or strategies to individual neighborhoods to enhance the effectiveness of these techniques. Finally, This TMP has suggested a general assessment of responsibility to ensure both effective implementation and assignment of financial responsibility.

The EIS for the Stadium and Exhibition Center provided guidance for the structure of the proposed TMP during the temporary use of Husky Stadium. The EIS discussed several elements that would need to be developed. These elements are Parking Management, Traffic Control, Transportation Alternatives, Neighborhood Enhancement, Education and Marketing, and Plan Monitoring.

Each of these elements has been incorporated and organized in this TMP in a sequence of strategic elements or program groups that include the following:

• Traffic and Parking Demand Reduction encourages non-automobile modes of travel or increased average vehicle occupancy. These programs are designed to respond to the limitations on parking in the vicinity of Husky Stadium. Off-site parking conditions in the vicinity of Husky Stadium contrast significantly with parking availability in the Kingdome area where there is substantial off-site parking within reasonable walking distance of the stadium.
• Manage Resultant Vehicle and Pedestrian Demand includes parking, traffic and pedestrian management and improvement options to direct and control the anticipated traffic flows. These measures are intended to guide traffic to minimize conflicts among modes of travel as well as effectively using transportation facilities to avoid neighborhood impacts.
• Game Management and Public Information uses game and facility management techniques to eliminate or reduce the effects of transportation demands.
• Implementation and Monitoring presents techniques to manage, monitor, and refine game transportation strategies that will respond to the dynamic changes that will occur as the facility matures.

To distinguish the party with primary responsibility for implementation versus funding, a superscript "^I" to indicate primary responsibility for implementation and "^F" to indicate primary responsibility for funding is assigned to the primary role designation.

E-Exclusive; A-Advocate; P-Partner. ^F-Funding Lead/ ^I-Implementation Lead

E-Exclusive; A-Advocate; P-Partner. ^F-Funding Lead/ ^I-Implementation Lead

Consistent with the conceptual approach to reducing traffic impacts outlined above, the following goals apply to each aspect of this TMP.

Traffic and Parking Demand Reduction - The goal of this category of programs is to minimize vehicular traffic by providing alternatives to the automobile or increase the average vehicle occupancy to reduce parking pressures in surrounding neighborhoods. To be consistent with the approach used for the proposed Football and Soccer Stadium, this goal combines projected mode spilt and average vehicle occupancy goals into a single performance measure. One expresses this performance measure in terms of the number of vehicles per 1000 attendees. The lower this number is, the better the performance of the TMP. Data assembled during Husky games has resulted in a calculated rate of about 285 cars per 1000 attendees.

• The Seahawks propose a goal of 195 cars per 1000 attendees. This goal is a 30% improvement over the typical Husky experience.

The Seahawks will perform fan surveys similar to the one proposed for the new Football and Soccer Stadium on the Kingdome site. FNW will make this survey a minimum of twice during the first season and once during the second season during regular season games depending on the TMPs ability to meet performance goals.

The goal of 195 cars per 1000 attendees is based on the mode split forecast presented in Appendix A that compares these forecasts with previous experience in implementing a TMP at Husky Stadium. The previous experience reflects both Husky Football and 1994 Seahawks experience at Husky Stadium. Supporting documentation regarding availability of parking spaces and capacity at park and ride lots is also provided.

Measurement of goal compliance is based on the area shown on Figure A-1 in Appendix A. This area assumes that most of the areas in the Roosevelt, Ravenna Springs, Ravenna Bryant, Laurelhurst, Montlake, Fuhrman-Boyer, and Eastlake neighborhoods will have on-street parking controlled through game day Residential Parking Zones (game day RPZs). If the boundaries of the game day RPZs are less than those assumed, then the numerical goal will need to be adjusted to reflect the increase in the availability of parking and the corresponding changes in average vehicle occupancy that will result with an increase in convenient available parking. Generally, if the goal measurement area expands, the numerical goal will need to increase. If the goal measurement area shrinks, the numerical goal should be reduced. If the goal measurement area stays the same but the parking restrictions within its boundaries are reduced then the goal would need to increase.

Manage Resultant Vehicle and Pedestrian Demand – The goal of this category of programs is to minimize the impact of vehicle and pedestrian circulation and parking in areas surrounding Husky Stadium. Goals will focus on reducing the duration and intensity of these impacts.

• The Seahawks, in coordination with SEATRAN and affected neighborhood representatives will establish a set of up to four travel time tests to measure the ability of residents to circulate between neighborhoods and local destinations along arterial streets while the game is in progress. Examples proposed include traveling between

• Boyer Avenue/24^th Avenue E. to 25^th Avenue E/University Village.
• NE 55^th Street/40^th Avenue NE to University Way/NE 45^th Street.
• Delmar Avenue East/15^th Avenue E to Magnuson Park/Sandpoint Way
• Roanoke Street/Montlake Boulevard E. to Sandpoint Way/Children’s Hospital.
• Eastlake Avenue/E. Roanoke Street to 25^th Avenue E/University Village.

• The Seahawks, in coordination with SEATRAN and affected neighborhood representatives will establish traffic volume counts that measure the disruption of game day traffic in neighborhoods. To be objective and comprehensive, this measure will be defined using traffic volume counts at 15 locations around the Stadium. Suggested traffic count locations are shown on Figure 1. The goal will be defined as the amount of time observed for traffic volumes to reach normal volume levels after the end of a football game.
  
  Traffic counts on non-game weekend days during midseason during the 1999 Husky Football Season will be used to establish the traffic volume level standard. Traffic counts made on midseason Husky game day will be made and compared to the non-game day volumes. The time differential between end of the game and time that game day volumes reach non-event day traffic volume levels will be the time goal at each count location.
  

Game Management and Public Information – The goal of this category is to minimize the impact of the increased game frequency (Seahawks games in addition to Husky games) on the surrounding neighborhood.

• The Seahawks have requested that the NFL not schedule any Seahawk home games on the same weekend as a Husky Football game
• The NFL will not schedule any weeknight Seahawk home games in Husky Stadium.
• The Seahawks will not schedule any events in Husky Stadium other than preseason and regular season Football games during the two seasons they are tenants.
• The Seahawks will explain that parking is limited, that parking in the neighborhoods will be strictly enforced and/or transit is a less expensive and more convenient option as part of all transportation related public information releases.
• The Seahawks will prepare and mail notices to all immediate neighborhood residents advising them of times of the games and options to avoid the typically congested areas and times at least once per month.

Implementation and Monitoring – The goal of this TMP program category is to insure the TMP is responsive to refinements identified on game day.

• A Husky Stadium Advisory Group will formally monitor the traffic and parking operations during the two Seahawk football seasons – twice during the first season and once during the second season.
• The Seahawks TMP coordinator or an assistant will be accessible at all times by phone to facilitate implementation of the TMP in response to community concerns and other observed traffic and parking.

• The Seahawks will respond within one week to all concerns recorded by the dispatch center.
• A TMP Review memo will be issued following every game as a basis for periodic update and refinement of the TMP.

• The TMP coordinator will meet with the Husky Stadium Advisory Group on an as needed basis to refine the Traffic and Parking Operations Plan..

• Table B-1 Seahawks at Husky Stadium
• Figure B-1 Existing Road Capacity Inventory
• Figure B-2 Existing Traffic Signals and Speed Limits
• Figure B-3 Existing Intersection Channelization
• Figure B-4 1997 Sunday Turning Movement Counts

• Figure B-5 1997 Intersection Level of Service

• Figure B-6 1997 Sunday Turning Movement Counts

• Table B-2 Level of Service Summary & Comparison,

Support Supplemental Transit Service. King County METRO will supplement regularly scheduled transit in a manner similar to the current supplemental service they provide during Husky games. This service will be enhanced through increased emphasis on urban routes as a compliment to suburban routes that serve park and ride lots. Such service will recognize the availability of drivers and coaches. The locations of the regular service routes in the immediate vicinity of Husky Stadium are shown on Figure 2.

A Seahawks Game ticket will permit Seahawk ticket holders to ride regular transit service free of charge to and from the game. This is similar to the existing Metro operations during Seahawk games at the Kingdome. The Seahawks will promote this service in the Access Guide that is given to both season ticket holders and single game ticket buyers. Like Husky Football, the high season ticket sales associated with the Seahawks generally contribute to more regular use of these types of programs provided the transit service remains convenient as compared to driving.

Establish Park and Ride Service. The Seahawks will provide a Park and Ride program similar to the Husky Football Park and Ride Service. This service will be free of charge to any Seahawk ticket holder. The Seahawks will arrange with King County-Metro, other public transit properties, charter bus companies, or other privately operated bus companies to provide this service. This measure may offer the greatest opportunity for mode shift since many people are already familiar with this type of special event transit service through the existing Seahawk Park and Ride service and a similar Park and Ride service that operated when the Kingdome was under emergency repair. The strong season ticket sales for Seahawks football team means that the same fan base will attend games. This high season ticket holder characteristic reinforces regular travel habit patterns that have historically favored use of public transit.

Augmenting the traditional number of Park and Ride lots will be a major park and ride operation from the Football and Soccer Stadium site using the parking reservoir of the Football garage and other covenant parking that may be secured and available. The Seahawks and METRO Transit will operate service to and from Park and Ride lots at Northgate, Shoreline, South Kirkland, Eastgate, Kent, Federal Way, and to and from the Kingdome. METRO Transit and the Seahawks may add other Park and Ride lots to this program to enhance ridership. The decision to add Park and Ride lots and the associated service must be balanced with available loading space where fans can wait to board their bus on the route back home.

In the event a Mariners Baseball game occurs on the same day as a Seahawks game, the Mariners would have priority to the Stadium garage parking. The Seahawks will make arrangements for additional parking to replace the loss of Stadium garage parking should there be a scheduling conflict. The Seahawks have talked with several downtown office buildings/garages and Boeing who are agreeable to making this parking available should a conflict exist. This alternative parking was identified because it is not used by the Mariners and therefore eliminates any potential parking overlap should there be conflicting game schedules. The combination of these parking lots would provide over 5000 parking spaces that can serve as park and ride lots on Sundays.

The community has expressed a concern that Montlake Boulevard and other streets are noticeably constricted as METRO Park and Ride buses stage to transport attendees from the Stadium after the game. Accordingly, FNW explored options to reduce the time or extent of any restrictions with METRO operations staff. The final staging strategy will balance decreased staging time against the efficiency of the Park and Ride service (i.e., the goal is to reduce automobile traffic and associated neighborhood parking impacts).

Currently, Park and Ride buses either return to METRO’s Central Base (located south east of the Kingdome) after bringing attendees to the game or park along the edges of 25^th Avenue NE and other arterials in the vicinity. During this period two way traffic is maintained on all streets. Near the start of the third quarter, METRO dispatches buses to the University and queue along 25^th Avenue NE and several other streets prior. Toward the middle of the third quarter buses are marshaled into position along Montlake Boulevard, NE Pacific Street, Pacific Place, and along Stevens Way and Mason Road (on campus) to take attendees back to the Park and Ride Lots. This precludes general traffic flow along Montlake Boulevard prior to the end of the game. One lane always remains open to serve emergency vehicles.

FNW explored options for improving the staging of buses for the return trip with METRO. One option included staging buses along Canal Road, Clark Road and/or Walla Walla Road in the vicinity of UW Lot E-1 prior to final patron loading on Montlake Boulevard west of Husky Stadium. Another option was to reduce the number of Park and Ride lots served as compared to the Husky Park and Ride service could create capacity for loading on-campus. Such a staging plan will need to conform to fire and security access requirements.

FNW also explored the possibility of bus staging on UW Lot E-1 with METRO. Unless staging could occur on the eastern edge of the lot, along Walla Walla Road there would be conflict with cars exiting the parking lot. If the express busses are delayed due to early exit of cars, those buses in the parking lot would not get the time advantage they currently enjoy with the existing operation. The Seahawks also explored with METRO options to reduce the staging time on 25^th Avenue NE and Montlake Boulevard prior to the end of the game to minimize the amount of time access is restricted.

METRO has explored and tried all of these options and other variations in a continuing attempt to improve the efficiency of their Husky Stadium Park and Ride service. In all cases, the speed and convenience of the Park and Ride service was compromised. It is necessary to have buses staged and ready to transport passengers by the middle of the fourth quarter. This timing is necessary to serve those fans who leave early. This is particularly critical in a game where scoring is one-sided. If buses are not in place prior to fan departure, the density of pedestrians creates walls of people that preclude the buses from moving into position. This delayed staging allows people to get to their cars and start driving home, which adds to the congestion and further delays the busses. In summary, any reduction in staging time is off set by post-game congestion. Every effort will be made to give the Park and Ride, Charter and regular service buses priority when exiting the stadium to minimize the time of post-game congestion.

Further, delay or uncertainty of the quality of the Park and Ride service causes fans to consider driving their cars, which is inconsistent with the neighborhood objectives to reduce parking and traffic impacts. To provide a relative understanding of the benefit of the Park and Ride service, for every percent of mode split gained or maintained by an efficient Park and Ride service, there are between 250 to 300 fewer cars on the road.

FNW and METRO will continue to work together to find a balance between reducing the time of temporary closure of Montlake Boulevard and optimizing the efficiency of the Park and Ride service to enhance mode shift away from the automobile. FNW will take responsibility for exploring these options with METRO and the University of Washington. Final use of University parking lots or road network rests with the University. Any costs associated with modifications will be borne by the special service program that is funded jointly by FNW and grants secured by METRO.

FNW has talked with Community and Sound Transit to determine their interest in and ability to serve Husky Games. They have expressed an interest in providing supplemental Park and Ride service. There are over 16,000 season and game day ticket holders in the Snohomish and Pierce County Service areas. Due to the distance between their service areas (Snohomish and Pierce Counties) and Husky Stadium, they function more like a charter service than a Park and Ride service. Accordingly, current plans are to park these coaches with the charter buses in the area south of the Stadium (Lot E-12). These buses will enter the site off Canal Road and will exit the parking area onto Montlake Boulevard to SR-520 and then to I-5.

Even with improvements to the Park and Ride staging and loading programs, there is likely to be some constriction along some arterial streets. The Seahawks will identify alternative routes to serve inter neighborhood circulation during games. The Seahawks will work with SEATRAN and the Seattle Police Department to integrate these routes in the traffic control plan and communicate their location in monthly community flyers distributed by FNW.

Facilitate Charter Bus/Meal/Ticket Packages. The Seahawks public relations and group sales departments will work with regional charter bus companies and local restaurants to develop bus/meal/ticket packages. Each package will include some combination of tickets to the game, a ride to and from the game, and/or a meal sponsored by a local restaurant for before or after the game.

These buses will access the site via Canal Road and will exit the parking area onto Montlake Boulevard towards SR-520 and then to I-5. Charter buses will park in UW Lot E-12.

Although the National Football League does not permit discounted ticket pricing, The Seahawks will provide other incentives such as free Game Programs to encourage formation of groups and use of charter buses.

Establish On-Site Charter Bus Parking. The Seahawks will establish an area on-site for charter bus parking, preferably in UW Lot E-12. This parking will be free of charge. To illustrate the relative benefits of charter transit, the carrying capacity of each charter bus is equivalent to between 15 to 20 cars. The Seahawks are targeting to have about 40 charter buses, which is equivalent to a traffic and parking demand of about 600 cars.

Promote Charter Boat Service. Seahawks representatives are working with the University of Washington to encourage travel by charter boat similar to the system used for Husky Football. The program will give larger vessels priority moorage to encourage the maximum number of patrons possible using this mode of travel. The Seahawks Group Sales staff is working with charter operators to encourage use of the charter boat services. The Seahawks will not encourage charter boat loading in the Eastlake Community or in the vehicle reduction goal area (See Figure A-1).

In addition, the program will encourage other private craft. FNW will work to identify volunteer groups like the UW Crew to shuttle boaters who can not tie up to the dock or raft off larger boats.

Fire protection is needed to supplement the existing fire protection. FNW has contacted the Seattle Fire Department and will coordinate and pay for services as provided by the Seattle Fire Department.

The Seahawks will establish a patrol to circulate along the Montlake Cut and in the vicinity of the moorage to pick up trash that may be thrown overboard by fans while they moor in the area.

Encourage Use of Rail Service. FNW will encourage use of AMTRAK and Sound Transit’s Commuter Rail Services to/from King Street Station. This destination will permit Seahawks ticket holders to use the free Park and Ride Service to travel to and from the game. In addition to promotion in the Access Guide (described later in this TMP), the Seahawks Group Sales office will encourage this mode for fans within the central Puget Sound area as well as those along the I-5 corridor from Portland to Vancouver, B.C. FNW will support travel agencies with development of rail/game/lodging packages.

Encourage Bicycle Travel. The Access Guide will identify bicycle routes and the location of weather protected bicycle racks. The Access Guide will place emphasis on use of the Burke-Gilman trail because it provides a direct route to and from the Stadium from many nearby neighborhoods. Bike racks are currently located in areas of high visibility. Seahawks and UW security staff will monitor these facilities at regular intervals to minimize the potential for theft. FNW will add more bike racks if the demand warrants.

Provide Priority Taxi/Limousine Access/Loading Areas. FNW will work with the University to establish special access and loading areas for taxis, limousines, and shuttle buses to facilitate more efficient traffic movement. This will mitigate traffic impacts and lessen congestion near the facility by reducing parking demand and vehicle circulation associated with the search for parking. A final location for this loading will be identified in the Traffic Operations Plan.

FNW will identify an area off Montlake Boulevard in front of the Stadium or Athletic Department offices to serve this function as reflected on Figure 3. Disabled parking users may share this space. FNW will reserve this space for this purpose both before and after the game.

The Seahawks will provide supplemental parking staff and in lot traffic directors before and after games to facilitate loading and unloading operations and reduce queues that might extend onto Montlake Boulevard.

Create ACO Incentive Programs. FNW will establish a parking program to encourage carpooling through pricing or other incentives for all parking within their control. These programs will be designed to increase the average vehicle occupancy by providing a noticeably reduced parking rate for carpoolers as compared to non-carpool parking. The purpose of this pricing structure is to reduce parking demand and the resulting automobile congestion near the stadium. The carpool spaces will also be located closer to Husky Stadium than the non-carpool spaces.

FNW will create a similar incentive-based program that will apply to parkers that pre-purchase their parking with their ticket. The present plan is to distribute Game Programs (valued at $5 each) to cars with 4 or more persons.

Initiate Sunday On-Street Parking Controls. FNW will evaluate a variety of on-street parking measures in conjunction with neighborhood groups, to make on-street parking available for business customers, visitors, employees, and residents. The programs will focus on the business district where parking meters are not enforced on Sundays. Streets with metered parking on at least one side are shown on Figure 4. FNW will work with SEATRAN to initiate a program of supplemental signing of meters in all or some of these locations to modify the regulations to allow free parking only for short-term users (2-3 hours). Long-term parking in metered areas will be prohibited and aggressively enforced to discourage game parking. Enforcement and supplemental signing will be extended to 2-hour signed short term on-street parking where businesses including those in neighborhoods like Montlake and Eastlake desire Sunday enforcement to ensure customer parking is available. FNW will work with businesses to tailor the type and extent of enforcement to match desired Sunday operations during the two seasons of Husky Stadium use. These supplemental regulations will be balanced against the desire to accommodate some of the parking demand in underutilized on–street parking space to reduce the pressures of game-day parking in residential neighborhoods.

Advocate Supplemental Enforcement. As part of the review of pre and post game traffic control, FNW and the Seattle Police will review the role and coverage of Parking Enforcement Officers to identify opportunities for more comprehensive or focused enforcement. Currently, five Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO) are used to patrol the existing game day Residential Parking Zones (game day RPZ). Existing neighborhoods with game day RPZs have indicated the enforcement is effective. Enforcement will need to be increased to be proportional to the proposed game day RPZ expansion

The increase in residential and business parking controls will decrease the available parking within a reasonable walking distance of the Stadium. In response, the City proposes to increase the fines associated with illegal parking in game day RPZs from $28 to $40. FNW support this increase.

As a visible deterrent to parking in protected neighborhoods, FNW will station tow-trucks in strategic areas to communicate that violators could have their cars removed if ticketed. Any towing or other form of enforcement will need to be initiated by the Seattle Police Department.

Advocate Refinement of Residential Parking Zones (RPZ). Several parking restriction zones exist in neighborhoods around the University. These include general parking restrictions requiring zone permits at various times of day to specific game day only parking prohibitions (game day RPZ). Some of these existing zones are shown on Figure 5.

FNW will support neighborhoods to establish new or expanded game day RPZs. The purpose of these zones for this TMP will be to insure residents and their visitors could have a fixed reservoir of parking that is dedicated for their use on game days. The process for establishing or expanding game day RPZs will follow procedures managed by SEATRAN. Several types of RPZs exist in the Husky Stadium area. Each requires a special sequence of procedures so they can be enforceable on Seahawks game days. Table 3 summarizes these various conditions.

FNW will assist interested neighborhoods by preparing, distributing and reducing responses to a questionnaire that asks potentially affected residents if they want to be considered for a game day RPZ. This survey will be distributed in fall of 1999 at a time to be determined by the neighborhood representatives. In those areas where a majority of neighbors want a RPZ, SEATRAN will make the necessary parking surveys on Husky game days and/or the Seahawks will assist neighborhoods to collect petitions along streets where residents have expressed a probable desire for these Sunday restrictions. The Seahawks will pay for the initial questionnaires, petition gathering support, and the incremental signing and resident and guest parking permits costs associated with the incremental increase in any game day RPZ. As noted above, the additional enforcement will be incorporated in a master agreement between the City and FNW regarding such costs

Through current discussions with neighborhood leaders modification or creation of game day RPZ will include the Ravenna-Bryant, Ravenna Springs, Roosevelt, University Park, Fuhrman-Boyer, Eastlake, Montlake and Laurelhust neighborhoods an any other qualifying neighborhood.

Pre-sell On-site and Contract Parking for Game Guests. The Seahawks will pre-sell parking in on-site UW parking lots and off-site contracted parking facilities to the extent that demand for such parking sales exists. This program will include marketing to season ticket holders as well as developing a point of sale program for single game ticket buyers. The purpose of such a program is to reduce some of the circulation associated with vehicles searching for parking in neighborhoods as well as the associated disruption from circulation that such parking searches create. FNW will link this program with incentives to increase average ACO.

The Seahawks will provide mirror hanging passes and will establish and manage exclusive access entrances to encourage access via routes for those pre-purchasing parking in an effort to reduce neighborhood circulation impacts in residential areas. Based on current discussions with the University of Washington, the pre-sold parking will be located in parking lots east of Montlake Boulevard and south of the Hospital. The University will reserve the triangle garage and other selected other spaces around the hospital for exclusive use of the Hospital. Figure 3 shows the proposed parking areas with

1. No parking counts are needed, but the RPZ may be removed at a later date if SEATRAN determines it is not needed (i.e. residents occupy less than 50 percent of the on street parking spaces during event times).

2. Sunday RPZ hours would sunset after 2001 season

3. Because the area affected by Seahawk game parking impacts could be slightly greater than that for Husky games, some areas will not qualify for Husky RPZs, but could qualify for Seahawk RPZs

4. Implementation by second or third game assumes that the process of collecting signatures from 60 percent of residents supporting establishment of the RPZ has occurred prior to the start of the Seahawk 2000 season. If the petition process occurs after the parking count then implementation of the RPZ would be delayed until the petition process has been completed.

the number of spaces reserved for Seahawks and University use on game day. Table 4 shows the UW will retain about 2200 of the 11,000 parking spaces. About 6300 spaces will be targeted for presale with about 2000 spaces designated for HOV use on game day. The remaining 600 spaces will be designated for non-HOV users (less than 3 persons per car).

The Seahawks will designate smaller central on-campus lots with signs provided and set up by their staff to serve HOV game-day parkers with three or more persons per car. The Seahawks will also provide set-up and take down signage to indicate those parking lots that are reserved for University use only. The Seahawks will establish a protocol with the UW Parking Division and UW Police to effectively manage and enforce event parking. Cars with less than three people will park in lots west of 15^th Avenue NE.

FNW with the Seattle Police Department will establish preferred access routes for these pre-sold parking pass holders to ensure they can access the parking lots efficiently. By defining these parking lots, via special access routes and entrances, the potential for circulation through adjacent neighborhoods and queues at entrances will be reduced.

As part of the parking agreement with the University, FNW will reserve about 20% of the Central and West campus parking spaces for university needs (2200 spaces). In the vicinity of the hospital almost half of the parking is reserved for staff, patient and visitor use on Sundays. FNW will identify special access routes and detours designed to minimize conflicts between regular university users and game day ingress and egress patterns. Likewise FNW proposes reservation of selected on-campus parking presently used by adjacent churches to avoid respective schedule conflicts with the typical use of this parking supply.

The Seahawks will evaluate recreational vehicle parking to monitor the efficiency of these vehicles to ensure they do not displace smaller but higher occupancy vehicles. While these vehicles are larger than a typical passenger car they typically carry a larger than average number of persons. The proximity of RV parking to the Stadium will reflect their ability to contribute to increases in average vehicle occupancy. The more they contribute, the closer they will be parked to the stadium; the less they contribute, the further away they will be located from the stadium.

Pre-Sell Off-street Parking for Game Guests. The Seahawks will work with local off campus property owners and businesses who do not need their parking on Sunday afternoons. Where there is interest, FNW and the Seahawks will coordinate ticket sales through their ticket office in a manner similar to the point of sale parking associated with the Portland Trail Blazers.

FNW will implement this program once final agreement on use of the on- and off-campus parking lots is finalized. The Seahawks are developing a similar program for the Kingdome and the new Stadium. FNW will work with these property owners to incorporate incentive programs to encourage higher average car occupancy. This program is intended to reduce the number of vehicles circulating while attempting to locate off-street parking. Locations like the Safeco Building and the Meany Tower are the types of employers/businesses being contacted to determine if they will be interested in participating in such a program. FNW will assist interested parties by identifying the location and opportunities for pre purchase of this parking in the Access Guide.

Advocate Institutional Off-street Parking. FNW will explore opportunities for parking in institutional uses like churches and businesses not interested in the pre-sale parking program. FNW is in the process of contacting churches, and business entities like the Blume development and the Safeco Building in the vicinity to determine if there is interest in such a program and if the game schedule is compatible with their normal Sunday needs. While this will generate localized traffic volumes, notice of availability of such parking will reduce neighborhood circulation associated with the random search for parking.

FNW will assist interested parties by identifying the location of this parking in the Access Guide. FNW will provide signing to identify lots available for game parking as well as parking lots where institutions or neighborhoods want to prohibit or discourage parking.

Assist Businesses with Off- Street Parking Control & Enforcement. The Seahawks are working with nearby neighbors like University Village to determine how they can work together to reduce the anticipated impact of Seahawks fans usurping customer parking. This includes providing supplemental signing, positioning or circulating tow trucks through parking lots to discourage use of parking spaces, and other appropriate measures to reduce the impact of stadium parkers in these business parking lots.

Refine Access and Egress Routing Plan. As part of updates to the TMP, FNW will work with Husky Stadium Advisory Group members to review current traffic, transit, and pedestrian routing plans and make adjustments to respond to concerns identified through observed Husky football games and neighborhood input. The Husky Stadium Advisory Group will give particular attention to the exit routing plan along 25^th Avenue NE to determine if any refinements could reduce cut-through traffic in neighborhoods or reduce disruptions for east-west neighborhood traffic. The traffic control devices and placement used to implement the Husky traffic control plan are shown in Appendix B. FNW will review these plans in the field and with the Husky Stadium Advisory Group to determine appropriate revisions to the Husky plan for the Seahawks TMP.

An example of one likely revision FNW is creation of one or more east-west street crossings of 25^th Avenue between NE 55^th and NE 75^th Streets to provide neighborhood circulation options while the stadium is emptying. Under the current Husky traffic control plan, it is difficult for traffic to get across 25^th Avenue NE for the 45-60 minutes it takes to empty the stadium. The current traffic control plan results in long delays or elimination of circulation between neighborhoods immediately north of the Stadium. Further the barrier created by 25^th Avenue NE forces local neighborhood traffic to divert along local streets as they try to maneuver around the traffic controls. The purpose of any special routes or strategy to permit crossings at police posts is to provide residents with better connections between residential areas and local services on game days. Both the SPD and Seahawks understand the need for this improvement to the traffic control plan and will work with affected neighbors to implement an effective strategy as part of the Traffic Operations Plan.

The Seahawks have worked through SEATRAN to coordinate with he Coast Guard to minimize the number of Montlake Bridge openings during game ingress and egress periods. For Husky Games, the bridge stays closed for one-hour prior and one-hour following the game. The Seahawks will work through SEATRAN to have this same restriction applied to Seahawks game days.

The Seahawks will work with WSDOT to employ use of the reversible lanes on I-5 to facilitate traffic movement to and from the game. This express lane control will operate similarly to the operation of the reversible lanes during Husky games.

Another major focus of the route refinement is to identify emergency service vehicle routes around Husky Stadium on Seahawks game days. The operations of emergency vehicles are being carefully coordinated with UW Hospital, Seattle Fire Department (including Medic One), and other emergency service providers.

Two of the most difficult areas for emergency vehicles prior to a game in Husky Stadium are 1) exiting from westbound or eastbound SR 520 to go north on Montlake Boulevard, and (2) traveling north on Montlake Boulevard toward the Ship Canal. For Seahawks games, the best course for emergency vehicles in these areas may be to force their way through by utilizing their flashing lights and sirens, just as they do to get through heavy traffic in these same locations during weekday peak hours. The lower travel speeds of vehicles approaching the Stadium could allow emergency vehicles greater opportunities to maneuver, and the presence of traffic control officers prior to the game will also help emergency services get through the area. FNW and SEATRAN have contacted the Seattle Fire Department to determine if they experience any problems on game days. They indicate the control provided by officers that are in radio contact with a central dispatch provides a high degree of accessibility. The SFD indicates this permits safe use of the contra-peak flow traffic lanes that reduce the delays of forcing through the peak direction traffic flow.

After the game, the critical areas include both northbound and southbound on Montlake Boulevard leaving the Stadium. Post-game operation is the most difficult for emergency services because of the physical barricades and one-way street patterns used for traffic control, and the higher speeds of exiting traffic that make it harder for emergency vehicles to maneuver safely. For these reasons, the best post-game course of action may be to establish alternate routes for emergency services to circumvent the stadium. One possible route is simply to travel around the University using public streets as shown in Figure 6. Although longer, this route will be safer than trying to force emergency vehicles against opposing one-way traffic, and the presence of traffic control officers at key intersections along the alternate route will help to minimize delays. Also shown is a second route through the University along roads that will be controlled by Seahawks or University traffic control staff for exclusive use of buses and emergency vehicles.

Refine Guide-Signing System. FNW is making a review of special guide signing directing fans to the stadium. Where appropriate, FNW will provide for temporary signs to clarify the preferred access routes to and from Seahawks games. This is warranted because many of the Seahawk fan base are not yet familiar with preferred routing to this facility. Such signing will be particularly important because parking in on-site and off-site garages may be pre-sold and will therefore need to be supported by the Access Guide and point of sale information.

Likewise, FNW will work with SETRAN and WSDOT to prepare and post game-day only fixed message signs providing drivers advanced warning of Stadium related congestion during selected hours before and after the game. These will be placed on streets and freeways in advance of primary routes leading to the Stadium area where congestion adds to delay and inhibits through traffic flow. The purpose of these signs is to provide drivers more current information regarding congested corridors so they can make decisions regarding alternate routes prior to driving thorough an anticipated congestion area.

The WSDOT Driver information systems will be operational on Seahawks game days. The Seahawks will work with WSDOT so appropriate signing that conforms to WSDOT guidelines will be operational. These variable message signs will advise drivers when congestion exists and, where appropriate, suggest alternative routing for drivers not attending the game.

Support Traffic Signal Coordination and Re-timing. SEATRAN will implement any traffic signal re-timing necessary to respond to the changes in traffic patterns precipitated by Sunday games. FNW will work with SEATRAN and WSDOT to develop an operations plan for traffic signals around Husky Stadium on Seahawks game days. This effort will focus on coordinating interconnected signal systems and optimizing the operation of independent signals to accommodate football Sunday traffic conditions.

Refine Seattle Police Department (SPD) Game Traffic Control Plan. FNW will work with the SPD to review the existing Husky traffic control plan and where conditions warrant, refine the pre- and post-game traffic control posts and instructions as the TMP is updated and refined to respond to changes in parking and game access. Current locations of traffic control officers for Husky games are shown in Figure 7, and specific duty assignments for both traffic control and parking enforcement officers are shown in Appendix C. FNW, SEATRAN, and SPD will refine the traffic control and officer assignments for Husky games through field observations and neighborhood input to meet the specific needs of Seahawks games.

As a part of this review, FNW will work with the neighborhoods to identify neighborhood traffic control measures that will reduce event related traffic disruption. Such measures will need to be consistent with broader traffic control goals during non-event times. FNW will advocate with the City for programs for neighborhoods to pursue funding and implementation of improvements that are consistent with their neighborhood plan and mitigate event related traffic problems.

Support Pedestrian Safety. FNW will support implementation of event related pedestrian safety programs. FNW and SPD will give priority to locations where game day pedestrian volumes are significant and where additional traffic control officers could enhance safety. FNW will initially focus on linkages to the Burke-Gilman Trail because it is adjacent to the stadium and can serve both pedestrians and cyclists on game days and non-game days alike.

An aspect of pedestrian circulation typical of special events relates to vendors selling items from the edge of the sidewalk. This can be a nuisance in the adjacent residential neighborhoods. FNW is attempting to encourage primary pre and post-event activities away from Husky Stadium. They are proposing to host events at the Kingdome site to encourage greater use of the special Kingdome Park and Ride lot and take these activities outside of the immediate Husky Stadium neighborhood. Nonetheless, FNW will define an area in Lot E-11 south of Husky Stadium where vendors can set up and sell their products. FNW will work with these vendors to encourage relocation to this consolidated location.

Game Transportation Coordinator. The Seahawks will identify and pay for a permanent staff person to interface as the owner’s representative with SEATRAN, King County METRO, WSDOT, private transportation providers and the University on parking and traffic operations issues. This person’s responsibilities will include coordinating with the neighborhood at periodic intervals to identify issues that remain unaddressed and make refinements to the TMP. Further, on game day, this person will be available to observe the effectiveness of traffic and parking programs and will provide suggestions to the other partners involved in implementing the TMP.

During events this person will be available to address unanticipated game day traffic and parking problems. The Seahawks will establish a message/dispatch center like the system used at the PGA Championships to ensure that all inquiries are recorded and directed to the person who can take corrective action. FNW will establish a log to record each call and comment since a single event coordinator can not be in all places at all times, particularly during the height of ingress or egress periods. Each comment or suggestion will be addressed and where suggestions or remedies are consistent with the TMP, FNW will propose them to the Husky Stadium Advisory Group for incorporation into this TMP. A Seahawks representative will respond to each concern within two days following each game.

Game Scheduling and Management. The Seahawks will establish a protocol for scheduling games to minimize conflicts with other events scheduled on-campus. Likewise, they will make adjustments to the TMP when there are events that might affect operations of the transportation systems serving the game. For example, should a game occur on the same day as a Mariner’s game, alternate park and ride facilities will need to be identified to support the effectiveness of the Park and Ride bus service. As discussed above, parking around the new Stadium at the Kingdome site may be needed by the Mariners. FNW has identified several non-competing parking providers in the Downtown and at Boeing where more than 5000 parking spaces could be made available to support the Park and ride program.

FNW is currently seeking an agreement with the National Football League to avoid scheduling Seahawk home games on the same weekend as Husky home games. Likewise, during these two seasons, there will not be a weekday night home game involving the Seahawks.

Pre- and/or Post-Game Activities. The Seahawks have plans for Pre- and/or post-game promotions and activities to distribute the surge of arrival/departure traffic over a longer time span or to attract fans to the park and ride lots where they will use buses to travel to the game. There will be the traditional game promotions (posters, caps, etc. at the stadium itself. The purpose of these promotions is to reduce the intensity of the pre-game influx of vehicles and associated traffic impacts. Upon exit the objective is slightly different. The goal of the TMP is to dispersed the crowd quickly to minimize the duration of impacts. This can be best accomplished with off-site post-event activities. Otherwise, the impacts of the exit linger and continue to create frustrations and inconvenience for immediate neighbors.

To further reduce impacts in the area immediately surrounding Husky Stadium, the Seahawks propose to host pre- and post-game programs at the Kingdome/New Stadium site. These pre- and post event activities will include special concessions, music, and other attractions. The other purpose in featuring these programs at the Kingdome/New Stadium site is to promote the special park and ride service from downtown. The Seahawks and their sponsors will provide these programs free to game day fans.

FNW may also explore on-campus programs similar to those offered before Husky games to serve those who choose to drive to the game. Their strong preference is to consolidate pre-and post event activities away from Husky Stadium to in an effort to reduce traffic congestion impacts on the neighboring community. Any on-campus events will be held inside buildings to both account for the uncertainty of weather and to ensure there will be no extraneous noise generated by this activity.

Game Access Guide. The Seahawks will develop a game access guide that is similar to the guide developed for the Kingdome opening. This guide will list alternatives to driving to the game with emphasis on the various transit options, charter boat, and rail/park & ride options.

This guide will also illustrate pre-sold and assigned parking, identification of preferred parking areas, off-site institutional parking areas, parking areas that offer carpool pricing incentives and restricted parking for those who choose to drive. This will also include information for connecting with transportation resources and current traffic information on the Internet, via the WSDOT low frequency radio stations and Seahawks’ radio announcers. The Seahawks’ announcements will be developed with input from the University and affected neighborhoods.

The Seahawks will distribute these Access Guides (See Appendix D for an example of last year’s edition) to season ticket holders, at ticket sales outlets for single game purchasers, as well as with the traditional distribution programs and packages (press kits, travel agencies, etc.)

Advocate Neighborhood Transportation Initiatives. Surrounding neighborhoods have initiated a number of parking, road, and infrastructure initiatives as part of their individual community plans. FNW will become actively involved with neighborhood groups to participate in planning such transportation improvements to ensure that they enhance traffic operations on Seahawks game days and are consistent with improving general non-game day circulation.

Public Information Coordinator. As part of the responsibilities of the Public Relations Office for the Seahawks, a Public Information Coordinator will develop, coordinate, and distribute transportation and parking information materials, and provide advisory services. They will incorporate information regarding games and community activities into appropriate media releases. This person will work closely with the Transportation Coordinator to ensure all information was accurate and consistent with the game day operations plans.

Community Flyers. Representatives from the Seahawks will work with the University and affected neighborhoods or their designated community association representatives, to develop informative flyers for the surrounding communities and game attendees. The flyers will include general information regarding schedules of events, alternative game-day bypass routes, and options for avoiding or minimizing conflicts with game-day traffic and parking congestion. A feature of this flyer will be a listing of ways to contact FNW and/or the Transportation Coordinator to identify issues or methods for making the TMP work more effectively.

Web Page. The Seahawks will add to their existing web page and post this information to be accessible on the World Wide Web. The will add information regarding alternative modes of transportation, identify transit routes, show preferred parking locations, note game times, and provide other up-to-date- information that corresponds to the changes in conditions such as parking location and supply. The Seahawks will link this site to web pages for local sponsoring businesses and services and schedules of community activities. They will develop the site to link to the WSDOT, University and other adjacent neighborhood web pages.

Traffic Advisory Services. A restructuring of game-related radio advisories has been developed as part of the Seahawks broadcasts. This is targeted at introducing fans to alternative modes of travel, parking options, and game-day traffic conditions and traffic control measures. Traffic/parking reports and other advisory information will be available to attendees of the games as well as community residents and businesses. The Seahawks will couple this service with other advertising and promotional activities through broadcasting contracts. Announcements before games will be made at least 8 times each hour prior to the game.

Coordinate with Husky Stadium Advisory Group. FNW has and will continue to work with neighborhoods. These review groups are key to the efforts to coordinate traffic operations and develop transportation program measures that will serve Husky Stadium. This will not preclude individual meetings with neighborhoods to ensure that individual neighborhood needs are met.

In addition to the traditional representatives from METRO, SEATRAN, WSDOT, Seattle Police Department, Washington State Patrol, University of Washington Transportation, Parking and Police, this group will also include a representative from affected surrounding neighborhoods. All parties will informally confer to make refinements in the plan.

Establish a Periodic TMP Review and Update. The Husky Stadium Advisory Group will meet regularly to ensure a dynamic process that recognizes and addresses the differences in the Seahawks crowds as compared to a typical Husky crowd and the distinguishing characteristics of a typical Saturday and a typical Sunday. Accordingly, TMP measures incorporated into each update of the game TMP must reflect the changing conditions.

The Husky Stadium Advisory Group will refine the TMP each week where isolated problems are identified. Major changes to the basic strategy should remain constant for some period of time (suggest a period of five games as a minimum) to give fans time to develop regular travel and parking patterns. Frequent and irregular shifts in the basic TMP concepts will only lead to confusion and increased traffic impact.

The Husky Stadium Advisory Group will meet on an as needed basis with formal review occurring following the analysis of the fan surveys that are used to determine goal compliance. These formal meetings will occur before and after each season and a minimum of twice during the first season, once during the second season. The Seahawks will adapt fan surveys to test goal compliance. The City will approve these surveys and will be similar to those already proposed for the new Football and Soccer Stadium.

The Seahawks will have aerial photographs taken once during each season to monitor the parking in the neighborhoods. Aerial photographs will be taken during the 1999 Husky season as a basis for comparison. In the event the Seahawks parking management strategy results in a more severe set of parking spill over conditions, adjustments to the parking controls will be identified and brought to the Husky Stadium Advisory Group for consideration and possible inclusion in the TMP.

Trash Clean up. Although not a part of a traditional transportation plan, a typical issue related to major events is the incidental trash that is thrown away by fans as they walk through areas to get to their parking.

The Seahawks have developed a proposed area of coverage shown on Figure 8 that identifies areas and corridors used by fans who walk from remote parking areas. Designated representatives of interested community councils have been consulted to refine this map. If areas are overlooked as part of this plan, the trash collection area will be adjusted to provide effective post game clean up. The majority of clean up will occur immediately following the game, depending on light conditions. Later in the season, more will be left to the next morning when better visibility will improve the quality of this program.

The Seahawks will establish several crews of staff to pick-up trash after events both on the campus and in neighborhoods in the vicinity of the Stadium. The Seahawks will manage this program and the effectiveness of this plan will be reviewed with the University and neighboring communities through NESI and the Northeast District Council.

Neighborhood Security Patrols – The Seattle Police Department will add two officers with specific attention to neighborhood security issues that are unrelated to traffic operations. One officer will patrol north of the University and the other to the south. This focused patrol is supported by the Seahawks in response to several community representatives who expressed concerns regarding potential rowdy behavior prior to and/or after the game. This measure permits more rapid response to any civil matters without diluting the impact on patrol service to other neighborhoods or diminishing the effectiveness of officers assigned to traffic and parking control.

Noise Management. Broadcast and other production related equipment is often located outside the stadium. This can generate noise that carries into adjacent neighborhoods. The Seahawks will advise all broadcast and outside service providers of these regulations so they can arrange for equipment that is properly shielded or muffled or preferably located on the north side of the building. The City will enforce noise regulations associated with generators and other temporary production equipment that may be located outside the Stadium. FNW will work with the city to support this enforcement

The Seahawks parking management staff will request all charter bus and boat operators to turn their engines off during the game as part of arranging for event parking and moorage. Further, game day staff will monitor these conditions during the event and will request operators to comply with these guidelines.

Aircraft are often used as part of halftime shows and/or traffic advisory services. These aircraft generate noise that is disruptive to residents in neighborhoods adjacent to the Stadium. The Seahawks will not fly helicopters or planes in the vicinity of the Stadium or surrounding neighborhoods as part of special events or monitoring operations. They will request that traffic advisory services using aircraft fly around the stadium area and/or at an altitude to minimize aircraft noise.

Assumes Stadium capacity of 70,000 based on Seahawks manifest of seats available for sale.

Assumes game day employees will be either shuttled from a separate lot outside of the area or will use their identification to use METRO free of charge