Seattle City Council pledges $15 million for new South Park Bridge

| South Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

(King County rendering of future replacement South Park Bridge)
The Seattle City Council says it’s ready to back words with action in expressing support for a new South Park Bridge – with the current one shutting down forever two weeks from tomorrow. They’ve just pledged $15 million. Read on for the announcement (and, added 1:49 pm – a response to our question, not addressed in news release, of “where’s the money coming from?”):

News release just in from the council:

The Seattle City Council today sent a letter of support to King County Executive Dow Constantine expressing their commitment to replacing the South Park Bridge by pledging $15 million toward the replacement effort. View the Council’s letter.

“The South Park Bridge plays a critical role in the Puget Sound region’s freight mobility and economic vitality,” stated Council President Richard Conlin. “It is very important that we as a Council show united support and commitment to our regional partners, our residents most affected in the South Park area and to the broader transportation system in Seattle.”

In addition to this financial commitment, the City expects that our support will allow King County to pursue additional funding partners in applying for the TIGER II federal grant, ultimately providing secure funding for the full replacement.

“It will take all of our regional partners pulling together on this grant application and working with the local community to ensure we get this critical bridge replaced,” stated Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, transportation committee chair. “This bridge is one part of the whole regional transportation system and we must work together to find a replacement solution as soon as possible.”

South Park Bridge was built more than 70 years ago and has undergone a series of retrofits. It is now in need of a complete replacement at an expected cost of $130.8 million. In addition to the funding committed in Council’s letter, the City Council has sponsored action by the Puget Sound Regional Council to commit $9 million from the future federal Jobs Bill funding and the City has spent nearly $1 million in support of King County’s environmental review and design of the replacement bridge.

Councilmember Sally Bagshaw added, “As far as making a financial commitment, it is not an option, it is something we must do. This bridge links our neighborhoods and is a critical connection for industry. We need a bridge and we are determined to make sure a new one gets built.”

We’re checking to see where that $15 million is coming from. ADDED 1:49 PM: We asked Brian Hawksford from the office of Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Transportation Committee:

The exact money source has not been identified as of now because the County is still putting together its various commitments from other partners that will make up its application for federal funds. The City does not know when its money will be required and wants to keep its options open.

This is a Council action that does not require mayoral concurrence, although he is aware of this pledge.

johnnyblegs June 15, 2010 (1:46 pm)

“As far as making a financial commitment, it is not an option, it is something we must do. This bridge links our neighborhoods and is a critical connection for industry. We need a bridge and we are determined to make sure a new one gets built.”
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That’s great but why didn’t the council commit the money BEFORE they had to post the CLOSED sign on the bridge?

JoB June 15, 2010 (4:05 pm)

i agree with johnnyblegs.. it’s too little to late..

but.. it is also better than nothing.
perhaps this commitment can be used to put pressure on the county to come up with a better alternative than a final closing.

dsa June 15, 2010 (4:50 pm)

This is a critical piece of the pie that the county needs, welcome aboard Seattle.
One question, Seattle City council what took you so long to smell the coffee?
But the good news is that the mayor doesn’t have to rsvp this party.

JimClark June 15, 2010 (5:21 pm)

I still have not heard why they can’t keep it open to cars wit load restrictions. Is it the opening and closing mechanism’s that are the problem?

Jim

Kate K June 15, 2010 (5:42 pm)

What’s the timeline for this?

WSB June 15, 2010 (5:59 pm)

I believe I included Brian Hawksford’s entire reply. Bottom line is that there is no timeline because they want to see how the bridge funding is assembled, does the TIGER grant happen, etc., and then there’d be some idea of when the bridge can be built – TR

RC June 16, 2010 (2:30 am)

Just emailed:….

To the honorable Tom Rasmussen, chair of the Seattle City Council Transportation Committee:

Please consider provisioning the South Park Bridge to have Link Light Rail go across the Duwamish River as part of the Link Light Rail spur that would finally service:
1) Seattle’s largest neighborhood of West Seattle,
while helping to revitalize corridors such as:
2) the South Park/North White Center-Westwood/Delridge communities
and linking:
3) the Museum of Flight;
4) significant Boeing sites;
5) the future Aviation High School;
6) the site of the old Cooper School that is used as the temporary location of Sealth High School – etc;
7) the developing Harbor Ave area that includes the King County Water Taxi
8 ) the Seattle destination area of Alki Beach that currently sees huge congestion issues and inefficient combustion of carbon fuels during gridlocked summer days.

Would this also allow us to tap into additional pools of DOT or other federal funding designated for mass transit projects?

Thanks!

A voting citizen and longtime Seattle tax-paying resident

AJ June 16, 2010 (8:48 am)

I’m glad that Seattle City Council has stepped up and offered support for a bridge they, (to my knowledge), don’t own.
Where’s the public criticism of Tukwila? Tukwila and King County each own half of the bridge. I don’t see why Tukwila doesn’t claim some responsibility, they incorporated the area they did due to the tax base. Now it’s time to pony up for an infrastructure project. I feel like this important piece of info has been lost in the shuffle. Thanks.

Vera @ Village Green Nursery June 16, 2010 (11:19 pm)

Obviously this bridge is an important link – it is an issue that has been overlooked wayyyy too long and the community is not about to let it go without being heard.
This is the kind of action that will hopefully bring on the much needed changes.
If this was a link to Magnolia- we all know what would be getting done to resolve issues- come on Seattle- take care of it.

Sorry, comment time is over.