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Port Commission
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White, Paul                                      Meeting. of 3Q; 230. 90M

From:                John Burreson 
Sent:                   Monday, September 29, 2014 3:12 PM
To:                    Mailbox, Commission-PublicRecords
Subject:                 SDOT Nickerson/Emerson St Overpass Closeure
Attachments:            POS Commission Meeting 9~30~14.docx

To whom it may concern,

Attached please find my comments and concern regarding the upcoming Nickerson/Emerson St. Overpass
Closure. I apologize regarding this last minute notice, but I have just recently been informed on September 25, 2014
that the project was given approval and is scheduled to begin October 9, 2014.,

I
I have. kept our comments brief, but have real concerns regarding the impact of this closure. I appreciate any support
that the Port of Seattle can afford my business on this matter.

I am available for discussion of these issues at your convenience.

Respectfully,

John E. Burreson
Highliner Public House
206-216-1254
Fishermen's Terminal
3909 18'" Ave West
Seattle, WA 98119
hgp://www.highlinegpub.net



LI (:1: 11mm

September 29, 2014
Dear Port of Seattle Commissioners,

We respectfully request that Port of Seattle gives consideration to our concerns regarding the recently
announced 3 month closure of the Nickerson/Emerson St. Overpass greatly restricting access to and
from Fishermen's Terminal. Any support that the Port of Seattle can provide to the businesses of
Fishermen's Terminal regarding this issue will be greatly appreciated.

To keep these comments brief we will not reiterate the particulars of the closure as we feel that P05 is
'
most likely aware of them. ' >

As a retailer at Fishermen's Terminal, we along with many other business Owners both retail and non-
retail have the following concerns:

0   As stakeholders we were never consulted in advance regarding this project.


0  Many of us are concerned regarding the timing of the project as it comes during the busy
holiday season, which for retailers, is by far our busiest time of the year. And non-retail
businesses have the same concerns, as the commercial fishing fleet returns in September and a
majority of businesses in Fishermen's Terminal provide services to the fleet in the non-fishing
season of October, November and December.

0   We feel the duration of the project, at approximately 3 months, will be financially devastating to
many businesses at Fishermen's Terminal as-access to the terminal will be greatly reduced. We
have been told that work will be performed on weekdays only. A consensus of business owners
at Fishermen's Terminal request that work be done on a 7 day work week with crews running on

a 24/7 schedule to reduce the duration of the project.


0  At a meeting with SDOT that occurred on Menday, September 29, 2014 it was a majority opinion
that the project was somewhat shortsighted as the overpass is only being repaired and not
improved for'the ever increasing traffic flow. SDOT agreed that traffic loads on the overpass as
well as the Dravus St. alternative route are both already at maximum capacity noting the daily
traffic backups, especially from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. It was agreed by all that road capacity
needed to be improved.

0  We understand that road repairs are necessary, however this project should not only repair the
overpass but improve capacity. If this was the case, again a maidrity opinion was that the 3
month closure would be easier to tolerate if'an improved result were to be had. But as it
stands, once completed, no enhancements to this already overly congested roadway will be
made.

0  In addition to perform work during theobvious busy holiday season, is unacceptable to retailers
in Fishermen's Terminal and will result in reduction of employee hours and possible layoffs. At
the very least we request that this project be postponed until January of 2015 which is a
naturally occurring "down time" in retail sales and business in general.

Sincerely,

John Burreson, Owner/Operators of Highliner Public House, Fishermen's Terminal