On July 15, the New Seasons Market chain based in Portland, Oregon, ended months of speculation by officially announcing its plans to open a store on Mercer Island.

The store will occupy the site of the former Albertsons supermarket in Town Center, on 77th Avenue SE, following a complete facelift and interior remodel.

Residents can learn more about the store's planned features on the company's website, and also read the full press release. Questions about the store may be E-mailed to the company at: mercerisland@newseasonsmarket.com

Route 630 Shuttle Continues to Gain Popularity

Click for more information on the Route 630 shuttle

Five weeks ago, on June 8, the City and King County Metro launched a new commuter oriented, weekday shuttle service to replace the terminated 202/205 routes.

The new Metro Route 630 operates five trips to downtown Seattle during the morning rush hour, and five trips back home again in the evening. Early usage data indicate that average daily ridership has risen 35 percent, and peaked at 123 riders in a single day. The City encourages other residents to explore the service, and leave their car at home. Learn more about transit options on Mercer Island at a new new custom Metro page.

The 19-person Route 630 shuttle looks like a small Metro bus, and comes equipped with a wheelchair lift, a two-slot bike rack in front, an ORCA card reader, and air-conditioning. In addition to scheduled runs, flexible service is offered in the Shorewood neighborhood: riders can call ahead for a ride off the standard route.

Click here for a full schedule and other details.

MIPD Asks Shoreline Residents to Add House Numbers to Docks

Click to learn more about the MIPD's Marine Patrol

Just like the numbers on the front of your house, or at the end of your driveway, the same information on your waterfront property and/or dock is very useful for the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) when responding to emergencies, such as medical incidents, burglaries, even fires.

The MIPD has three Marine Patrol vessels in Lake Washington and they can often reach shoreline houses quicker than anyone else, thanks to no traffic problems. Sometimes, their arrival is delayed until they can confirm exactly which dock to pull up to -- in fact, this just occurred a few days ago.

Posting highly visible, high-contrast house numbers will help them help you...and could very well make a difference.

Mercer Island Goes Green

New City Storm Water Facility Protects Sensitive Aquatic Areas

The City's Vactor truck empties out at the new "decant facility;" click
to learn more about storm water management

The City's Maintenance Department recently completed retrofit upgrades to a stormwater separation facility located in the maintenance yard behind City Hall. Under federal water quality rules, the City is required to regularly clean the storm water collection infrastructure on the Island. A large vacuum-powered truck clears material from drains, pipes and other structures and delivers it to the City's new "decant facility" where solids and liquids can be separated for further treatment.

The solids are dried, stored and tested, then hauled to an approved and permitted waste disposal center; the related liquids are collected and tested prior to their release into the sewer system for treatment at a King County plant.

Funded using an 83,000 dollar grant from the State Department of Ecology (and additional City funds, equipment and staff), the facility will improve storm drainage system maintenance, and help keep harmful road and vehicle-related pollutants from leaching back into sensitive aquatic environments. Using the new facility will put the City's stormwater treatment protocols far ahead of many other surrounding communities.

For questions and comments on the MI Weekly, contact
Sustainability & Communications Manager Ross Freeman at

ross.freeman@mercergov.org or 206.275.7662.