New South Entrance Opens Friday at UW Bothell/Cascadia Campus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2009
Bothell, WA - Students at the University of Washington Bothell and Cascadia Community College will have a new way to get to campus when classes start next week. The new south entrance ramp opens to traffic on Friday at 5 a.m., 8 months ahead of schedule.
The new ramp greatly improves access to the joint campus. The $52.3 million project includes a lane on the southbound I-405 ramp that connects directly to campus, a lane and ramp on southbound I-405 to westbound SR 522, and a new traffic signal where SR 522 intersects with the campus entrance.
"The south ramp will be a great benefit to everyone coming to our campus. We serve students all along the I-405 corridor and providing easy access to education helps students, employers, and our communities prosper," said Cascadia President Dr. Bill Christopher.
Although a south entrance ramp was part of the original campus plan, funding issues delayed construction. The City of Bothell restricted enrollment on the campus to 3,000 students until the ramp was in place. With the ramp, both institutions are now able to expand enrollment and meet the growing demand for higher education in the region.
"It is amazing that an investment in transportation can have a profound impact on so many. This access ramp is not only a trafficking improvement, but is key to adding educational opportunity to our region and will greatly benefit the community at large," said UW Bothell Chancellor Kenyon S. Chan.
Washington Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond, State Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, State Representative Al O'Brien, and Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb attended a ceremonial ribbon cutting event on September 18 to celebrate the completion of the ramp.
With increased access from the ramp now a reality, both schools are growing to meet demand. Cascadia's new Global Learning and the Arts building will open to serve students and the community in January 2010 and is expected to receive LEED Gold certification. With classrooms, 2 art studios, an art gallery, and a multi-use performance area, the building will provide much needed capacity for additional classes and programs, as well as beautiful spaces for community
use. UW Bothell is currently planning for their third building and recently opened off-campus housing.
About Cascadia Community College: Cascadia Community College is an accredited, public community college, located in Bothell, WA. Cascadia is committed to innovative instruction in small classes that emphasize active and collaborative learning. Cascadia served over 5,000 students this year.
About UW Bothell: The University of Washington Bothell combines the benefits of a small campus with the resources and prestige of a world-renowned university. Offering over 30 degrees, options, certificates and concentrations, its curriculum emphasizes close student-faculty interaction, collaboration among students, and hands-on learning. UW Bothell celebrates its 20th year of operation during the 2009-10 academic year with the opening of student housing, an access ramp connecting the campus to SR522, and new degrees including a Master of Computing and Software Systems (MSCSS), and a Leadership Master of Business Administration (L-MBA) at an offsite location in Bellevue, WA.
For further media inquiries contact:
Dan Rinder, Assistant Director of Communications & Marketing
Cascadia Community College
(425) 352-8256, drinder@cascadia.edu
18345 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.cascadia.edu
Elizabeth Fischtziur, Director of Public Relations & Communications
UW Bothell
(425) 352-3636, efischtziur@uwb.edu
18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.uwb.edu