(photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
2 1/2 months after we first told you about West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s renewed push to try to ease rush-hour traffic by keeping the low bridge (Spokane Street Swing Bridge) from opening during certain times of the day, the proposal is now officially open for your comments, and the clock is ticking toward a decision. As the U.S. Coast Guard‘s regional bridge commander Austin Pratt had explained in our followups (coverage here and here), a two-month comment period was to open as soon as notice of the proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register; he just called to let us (and you) know that the notice was published today, triggering the start of a public-comment period lasting until July 21st. He also sent a copy of the relevant pages of the Federal Register; see them here. Excerpted from that, the specific rule language is as follows:
The proposed rule would enable the Seattle Department of Transportation
(SDOT), the owner of the Spokane Street Bridge, to keep the draws of that bridge in the closed position in order to help alleviate roadway traffic Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the proviso that openings shall be provided at any time for vessels of 5000 gross tons or more.
Whether you want to express support for this or opposition, what’s REALLY important now is following the official procedure for commenting (there’s also an official procedure for requesting a public meeting on this) – read on for those specifics:
OFFICIAL DOCKET NUMBER: Comments and other communication on htis must carry the official docket number to receive formal consideration. That docket number is USCG-2008-0256.
WHERE TO SEND COMMENTS: The Docket Management Facility at the U.S. Department of Transportation. We can’t stress enough – because authorities have repeated this point to us – if you don’t submit your comments this way, they don’t count.
Online: http://regulations.gov
Fax: 202–493–2251
Postal mail:
Docket Management Facility (M–30)
U.S. Department of Transportation
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590–0001
TO REQUEST A PUBLIC MEETING: Use the same methods above (and again, include that docket number), and include your reason for wanting one to be held.
WHEN TO SEND COMMENTS: They must be received by July 21st.
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR COMMENT: Besides the “docket number” above and of course the comment itself, the Federal Register item also says:
We recommend that you include your name and a mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that we can contact
you if we have questions regarding your submission … but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 81â„2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received
during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.
One more item of interest in the publication:
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Enter the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG–2008–0256) in the search box, and click ‘‘Go.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: After the 60-day comment period, there will be a 30-day review period before a final ruling on whether the bridge-opening restrictions will take effect or not – so nothing will change any sooner than late August.
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