West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
That was the welcome sight and sound this morning at the end of the breast-cancer-fighting Puget Sound Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Walk, which filled the Alaskan Way Viaduct with walkers of all ages. As we’d noted in this story, West Seattle middle-schooler Adam Westerman, 12, was Grand Marshal of the Kids’ Run an hour before the 5K Walk — we missed his moment in the spotlight but you can see him and his mom Eddie interviewed in this KING5 story; there’s also video of Adam with KING5’s Jean Enersen in the second half of this “raw video” from the station’s site. On her website, Eddie wrote earlier this week that their team raised $16,000 (Monday morning update – Eddie says more than $17,600). We took cameraphone photos during the walk for as-it-happened coverage via Twitter (scroll down to Sunday morning “tweets” with photo links), but our favorite shot every year is the one taken as the thousands of walkers enter The Viaduct heading northbound from the stadium zone:
Last year, we wondered if that would be the last time The Viaduct was open to walkers – because of uncertainty over its fate – now we know that it’s likely to remain standing till 2015, but much construction is already happening around it – one view from today:
Congratulations to everyone who walked and ran today, and to all the survivors, those there in spirit as well as those there in person. Many walk in celebration and/or memory of special people; for us, it’s the mother-in-law I never met, the grandmother my son never met, Mildred Hickman Sand, lost to breast cancer in 1972. May the cure be near — TR
We’re in the Sound Transit Board Room at 4th/Jackson on the south edge of downtown, for the third meeting of the “South Portal Working Group” that’s helping make sure the Viaduct/Tunnel/associated projects function for the communities that will be using them. This is the group that is dealing with the specifics of the West Seattle-facing end of the changes coming to the “Highway 99 corridor” – and much of today’s meeting will deal with a huge sticking point that emerged at the second meeting, according to West Seattle members of the group: A change to the Alaskan Way/East Marginal Way connection that would no longer make a straight-shot waterfront surface trip possible. The bypass that was shown at the last meeting (here’s the presentation) did not go over well, we’re told, and now there are three alternatives to be discussed tonight. They’re not available online yet but we’ll link when they are, and we’ll add information from this meeting as it happens. Right now there’s an overview of where all the areas are at, including the future of the Central Waterfront; the manager leading the briefing says that it’ll take a “couple years” to design what the post-Viaduct waterfront will look like. (P.S. Important note, your next chance to find out a lot more about where all this stands is at the “scoping meeting” next Wednesday, 6-8 pm, Madison Middle School; the project is advertising on WSB for the next week to help get the word out about that meeting – here’s the official invitation). MEETING NOTES: Read on — we’re adding them as they go:Read More
Major events today/tonight, from the WSB Events calendar:
VIADUCT/TUNNEL “SOUTH PORTAL” WORKING GROUP: Third meeting of this group reviewing issues regarding how traffic will flow on the side of the Highway 99 corridor that’s closest to West Seattle. Three West Seattleites are members of the group (Jerome Cohen, Vlad Oustimovitch, Pete Spalding) but you are welcome too; 4 pm, Sound Transit board room at 401 South Jackson [map]. (P.S. Remember The Viaduct closes 6-11 am Sunday for Race for the Cure.)
TEACHER LAYOFF PROTEST AND SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: As mentioned here. The rally is at 5 pm, School Board meeting (with many other hot topics) at 6 pm, district HQ in Sodo [map].
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: This neighborhood is jumping these days, with the playground and skatepark projects, among other things. NDNC meets at 6:30 pm, Delridge Library [map].
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL (WSB sponsor): Representatives of groups and organizations from all over the Southwest District section (as outlined by the city) of the peninsula will have their monthly meeting at 7 pm, South Seattle Community College board room [map], with agenda items including the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan.
FREE REMODELING/HOME-BUILDING WORKSHOP: Longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction offers its monthly free workshop tonight, 6:30 pm – just call to RSVP. Details on the workshop, and contact info, are here.
In addition to our Events calendar, be sure to check the new Announced page daily – with links to even more West Seattle news than we publish on the main page, particularly when first word comes in about non-immediate events (it’s evolving to include other stories too). And make sure to let us know when you have scheduled an event you want everyone in West Seattle to know about – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
If you want to know more about what’s happening with the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Tunnel project – and/or if you’ve got something to say about the way things are going – mark June 10th on your calendar. That’s just been announced as the date for the next “scoping” meeting for the project in West Seattle, 6-8 pm 6/10 at the Madison Middle School commons. The specific purpose of the meeting is explained as follows: “(Y)ou will be able to ask questions and share your thoughts on what environmental elements and mitigation measures should be studied in the supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the proposed bored tunnel alternative.” If you can’t go, SDEIS2ScopingComments@wsdot.wa.gov is the place to e-mail your comments.
EARLY DISMISSAL: Seattle Public Schools students get out 2 hours early today.
SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP: This is one of three advisory groups now working on logistics for the Viaduct/tunnel future of SR99. We reported here on its first meeting two weeks ago. Today, the group (with West Seattleites Jerome Cohen, Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding) is in the Sound Transit Board Room 4-6 pm, 401 S. Jackson (map).
DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: City Council President Richard Conlin is among the guests at tonight’s meeting, which also will include updates on the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan and Neighborhood Matching Fund projects. 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.
More on the WSB Events calendar — and for more detailed coverage of what’s just been announced for the days, weeks, months to come, check in on our Announced page!
(looking through the aquarium’s front hall, back at the crowd gathering to watch)
ORIGINAL 2 PM REPORT: We’re at the Seattle Aquarium along with a few hundred political, business and community leaders to watch Governor Gregoire sign the Alaskan Way Viaduct deep-bored tunnel bill into law. The event’s scheduled to start in a few minutes; West Seattle-residing political leaders scheduled to be here include King County Council Chair Dow Constantine (who we’ve already seen) and Mayor Nickels; political theater outside included anti-tunnel mayoral challenger Michael McGinn talking with reporters, calling this a multibillion-dollar boondoggle and saying it’s not too late for the city to pull out. More as it happens.
2:23 PM UPDATE: The speeches are under way before the actual signing. After the mayor spoke (iPhone photo above), the governor said it took “guts” for legislators to approve this. To those who say it can’t be done, she said bluntly — “Watch us.” She opened by declaring, the era of The Viaduct “is over.” For emphasis, she repeated it: “It’s over. It’s over.” And she went on to say it would have been hard to anticipate a year ago that this history-making day would arrive. She stood at a podium next to the aquarium’s fish-filled wall, with about 20 political leaders surrounding her, and acknowledged many others, including members of the Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee who reviewed options over more than a year (though ultimately, their process ended with a recommendation different than the one proceeding now, West Seattle’s SAC reps Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding both support the deep-bored tunnel).
(WSB video of the bill-signing, added 2:46 pm)
2:31 PM UPDATE: The governor just signed SB 5768 – the tunnel bill – into law. A long round of applause followed. Everyone here has just been invited to a champagne reception – as for us, we’re catching the 3:20 King County Water Taxi back to West Seattle. Looks like more bill signings are ensuing here at the Aquarium as well. Meantime, the state hopes to start building the tunnel next year – to finish it in 2015 – and to keep The Viaduct up, as long as it’s deemed safe, until after the tunnel opens, at which time it would be torn down.
3:02 PM UPDATE: Official statement from Council Chair Constantine, just e-mailed (note he’s in our video):
“I was honored to join Governor Chris Gregoire for today’s signing of Senate Bill 5768, the legislation to fund the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel and surface roadway improvements.
“First, I think we have crafted a creative solution to a longstanding problem. A new elevated freeway would not have been an acceptable solution. I am glad we have moved beyond the antiquated practice of forcing freeways through cities. The Alaskan Way Viaduct has long been an ugly, noisy wall separating downtown from the waterfront. Its removal is a first, necessary step in reconnecting our central city.
“Secondly, I am proud to have been involved in helping to negotiate this solution. I made many trips to Olympia over the last year to meet with Governor Gregoire, former County Executive Ron Sims, Mayor Greg Nickels and legislative leaders as part of the Viaduct Oversight Committee. The deep-bore tunnel and a surface boulevard—combined with improvements to the Spokane Street Viaduct and the creation of a new stadium interchange for State Route 99—will maintain access for West Seattle and South King County residents to and through downtown Seattle. And, critically, because the tunnel will not share the alignment of the old viaduct structure, we also have the opportunity to maintain traffic on the SR 99 corridor during construction.
“I support this solution and will work to implement it.
“The challenge to Seattle and King County is to provide the other surface and transit improvements needed to make local transportation work. We now must consider how this work will be funded, how quickly it can be implemented, and how we will be able to sustain the needed transit service in the future.”
Adding one other clip from the event – the governor’s message to tunnel skeptics – may still be processing so please be patient:
One such skeptic, mayoral candidate Michael McGinn – we talked with him outside the event – will add that later.
In addition to other previews we mentioned earlier, a few more things to mention for tonight, and tomorrow:
TRIVIA ON ALKI: Just got word that Christo’s on Alki is hosting Monday night trivia tonight – 8 pm – with the Voice of the Mariners, West Seattleite Tom Hutyler.
EARLY TOMORROW MORNING: Feet First is organizing a “walking school bus” event tomorrow morning from Highland Park playfield (11th/Thistle [map], meet 8:10 am) to Sanislo Elementary. Families and other interested neighbors are encouraged to join in; what one Feet First organizer calls “a true walking celebrity” will be along too – Mark Fenton from the PBS series “America’s Walking.”
LATER TOMORROW MORNING: Reminder – as reported here 2 weeks ago, the groundbreaking for the new Fire Station 37 is happening at 35th/Holden, 11 am tomorrow, with the mayor in attendance; here’s the official invite. (The old station won’t be put up for sale till next year, once the new one is done and occupied.)
TOMORROW AFTERNOON: Governor Gregoire signs the viaduct/tunnel bill in a ceremony at 2 pm, Seattle Aquarium.
TOMORROW NIGHT: It’s one of those mega-nights for neighborhood meetings – Junction Neighborhood Organization meets at 6:30 pm, Ginomai, 42nd/Genesee, and parking’s on the agenda (particularly the Restricted Parking Zone changes that were also discussed at last week’s Southwest District Council meeting); Admiral Neighborhood Association meets at 7 pm, Admiral Church; Fauntleroy Community Association meets at 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
ALSO TOMORROW NIGHT: Outstanding students from West Seattle are among the two dozen-plus citywide to be honored at the Mayor’s Scholars Awards downtown tomorrow night; we first reported on them in late March.
The tunnel may be a mostly done deal but that’s only part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s future — even as some work is under way, like the 1st Avenue So. demolition in the photo above, a new round of talking about the Viaduct’s future has just begun. We brought you quick toplines yesterday afternoon about the new “working groups,” including the West Seattle-relevant South Portal group that has just convened – read on for details of who they are, what they heard about and saw, and what’s next:Read More
We’re on the 9th floor of the Silver Cloud Inn by Safeco Field, where a new round of Alaskan Way Viaduct construction-related meetings is kicking off – one of three new “stakeholder”-type groups that will be involved in the next phase of The Viaduct’s evolution is meeting for the first time. Members include two West Seattle community leaders who were on the previous Stakeholders Advisory Group, Vlad Oustimovitch and Pete Spalding; there’s also a West Seattle Chamber of Commerce rep, Jerome Cohen, among the 22 total members of this “working group.” Executives from the four agencies involved in the process are starting the meeting — state, city, county, and Port of Seattle. We’ll add notes if/when anything big is announced, and a summary later. (The three groups’ meeting schedule can be found here.) 5:37 PM UPDATE: One West Seattle-relevant revelation: The Delridge RapidRide route that was written into many Viaduct scenario sketches is NOT likely to happen any time soon, per Ron Posthuma of King County Department of Transportation, responding to a question from Spalding: He says the money’s not there, not until “the economy comes back and the sales tax money starts flowing again.” The originally planned West Seattle RapidRide route, though, has been described here as fairly safe, despite Metro’s overall $ woes.
(photo by Janna Silverstein)
The top deck of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be full of people instead of cars this morning – the northbound section will be closed to traffic approximately 9-10:30 am, according to WSDOT, for the March of Dimes March for Babies. By the time it’s over, back on this side of the bay, The Junction will be bustling for two reasons:
(photo by JayDee)
Tulips are just part of what you’ll find at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm. Here’s the fresh sheet. And across the street, it’s the second annual Sustainable West Seattle Festival:
That video is from the festival opening by Duwamish Tribe members last year – and this year, the Duwamish will do the honors again. 10 am-3 pm, there will be TONS going on — performances, discussions, demonstrations, involving dozens of organizations and businesses from all over the area, focused on community resilience (here’s the official program). WSB will be there – look for our table near the main stage (here’s the layout) along the east side of Wells Fargo – we’ve got the first 200 copies of the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day Map, first come, first served! Then about an hour after the festival, it’s the start of the Pete Seeger 90th birthday celebration at the Admiral Theater:
The event has two main components – a documentary screening at 4 pm (“The Power of Song,” which includes that video clip), a “hootenanny” with performances and singalongs at 7 pm. See our preview here.
Lots going on IN West Seattle this weekend — most notably, the Sustainable West Seattle Festival on Sunday, 10 am-3 pm (schedule here) — so why leave? Well, if you MUST – here’s the city’s official rundown on what’s happening and where things are going to get a little crazy, including a two-hour Alaskan Way Viaduct closure Sunday morning:Read More
If you drive 1st Avenue South near the stadiums, you’ll see this starting tomorrow – read on for the latest official WSDOT update:Read More
After the state House passed the Alaskan Way Viaduct=Tunnel bill (SB 5768) the other night,
it had to go back for one more Senate vote because of some amendments, including the one that says cost overruns will be covered by “property owners in the Seattle area who benefit from replacing the existing viaduct with the tunnel.” Within the past hour, the Senate passed the bill, as amended by the House, 39-9; the yes votes included West Seattle’s State Sen. Joe McDermott. Governor Gregoire said afterward, “”We are on the way to one of the most important transportation years in Washington’s history. … Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives approving a very complex project is a remarkable accomplishment. The deep-bored tunnel replacement will create jobs, help us emerge from this recession stronger and prepare our state for a 21st-century economy.”
ORIGINAL 9:59 PM REPORT: Thanks to Vlad Oustimovitch (who was on the Stakeholders Committee) for the tip – SB 5768 (full legislation here), the bill that would pave the way for a tunnel to replace the Central Waterfront section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, is being debated in the state House right now. Watch live on TVW, via cable or online here. We’ll report the results here when the vote happens.
10:14 PM UPDATE: The vote’s in — 53 yes, 43 no. Those voting “yes” included both of West Seattle’s State Representatives, Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson. The bill passed the State Senate 43-6 on March 4th. Checking now on next steps and amendments.
ADDED 10:30 PM: As noted in comments, the most notable amendment to be adopted before the vote is one by Eastside Rep. Judy Clibborn that has the following effect, per the documentation (which you can read in its entirety here):
(1) Establishes that the state’s contribution to the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project shall not exceed $2.4 billion.
(2) Provides that if costs exceed $2.4 billion, no more than $400 million must be financed with toll revenue.
(3) Establishes that any costs in excess of $2.8 billion must be borne by property owners in the Seattle area who benefit from replacing the existing viaduct with the tunnel.
ADDED 10:41 PM: Governor Gregoire just issued this statement:
“I congratulate the House on their decision to support the bored tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. I particularly want to commend Transportation committee chairperson, Judy Clibborn for her leadership and Speaker Frank Chopp for his willingness to advance the option that best meets the needs of our state.
“I must also applaud the extraordinary amount of hard work put in by a variety of elected, labor and business leaders, neighborhood groups and key stakeholders that reviewed years of research, analysis and creative approaches and garnered support for the bored tunnel option.
“Lawmakers can be proud of this decision to improve public safety, keep a route open for traffic during construction, and generate thousands of new family-wage jobs in the Puget Sound region.
“This viaduct replacement legislation accomplishes one of two important go-home transportation issues. I now encourage the Senate and House to pass the bond legislation needed to ensure funding to replace the aging state Route 520 bridge. Building a deep bored tunnel and upgrading SR 520 will support a strong economy today and in the future.”
It’s been 3 months since we sat in the front row of a packed room at Bell Harbor Conference Center on the waterfront as the governor, Mayor Nickels, and County Executive Ron Sims first announced the tunnel plan (WSB coverage here and, with video added later, here). Vlad Oustimovitch was among those whose comments we captured on video that day; tonight, asked for post-vote comment, he told WSB, “I was recently stopped on the street by a gentleman named Bob, who somehow knew about my involvement with the viaduct. He thanked me, but I think the most important thing he said is that on this project, the ‘Seattle Process’ worked. I couldn’t say it any better.”
A few notes of interest in the House Transportation Budget legislation passed 65-30 late Friday (with both 34th District State House members, Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson, among the “yes” votes): The bill now includes an amendment by Rep. Nelson (see it here) to fix the situation that the mayor sounded an alarm about earlier this month – a proposal that would have tied Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project money to some other city improvements (original WSB report here). Also, while it’s not the final say on whether a tunnel will replace the Central Waterfront “mile in the middle” section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the House bill does include the money needed for the tunnel itself and also says:
(23) Expenditures for the state route number 99 Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project must be made in conformance with Engrossed 38 Substitute Senate Bill No. 5768
… which is the bill that says a tunnel should replace The Viaduct. 5768 is in the House Rules Committee right now, and House Speaker Frank Chopp — who advocated an elevated replacement earlier in the Viaduct solution search — has been quoted as saying he won’t keep it from going to a floor vote, possibly early next week.
Another quick update from the 34th District Democrats‘ meeting under way now in Fauntleroy: Port of Seattle Commissioners Lloyd Hara and John Creighton spoke to the 34th DDs tonight; among the many topics they’ve touched on, the port’s goal of chipping in $300 million for the Alaskan Way Viaduct-replacing tunnel. “How can we do that when port traffic is down and air traffic is down?”
(Creighton at left, foreground; Hara at right, background)
Creighton answered his own question by saying they’re looking at options such as $30 million a year for 10 years, maybe selling off assets such as the Bell Harbor Conference Center on the downtown waterfront — “why does the Port need a conference center?” he asked, again rhetorically — but said they’re doing all they can to figure out how to make the contribution without raising taxes (though Hara had noted earlier that the port does NOT currently use all of its taxing authority).
… but WSDOT says the Alaskan Way Viaduct remains safe. Here’s the full news release just sent out about the results of last weekend’s inspections:Read More
As reported here on Saturday, this weekend’s Alaskan Way Viaduct shutdowns were for more than the semiannual inspection — lanes were restriped, soil samples were taken for the proposed tunnel, and more. And now – WSDOT sends word, The Viaduct is officially open again – and the Battery Street Tunnel has reopened early too.
(Saturday evening photo by David Hutchinson, taken near Don Armeni)
VIADUCT REMINDER: The second of the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s two 12-hour inspection shutdowns is scheduled 6 am-6 pm (note that they often end “early” on the 2nd day) today, while the Battery Street Tunnel is to remain closed till 5 am tomorrow; go behind the scenes during shutdown day 1 in this WSB report.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Daffodils and goat-meat sausage are among the items on today’s “fresh list” for the market (see the complete list here), 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, 44th/Alaska – while you’re there, look for the Junction Plaza Park volunteers, who continue to gather pledges of volunteer help to get the park done.
WEST SEATTLE EDIBLE GARDEN FAIR PLANNING MEETING: 1:30 pm, Duwamish Cohousing – join the group that’s getting ready for an event to show the whole peninsula how to get involved in growing food. (More info in this preview we published Friday.)
Also today – World Water Day at Alki, a free concert at Hope Lutheran, the Hi-Yu Spring Tea, and more – full list in the Sunday section of our West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
Video, photos, and text by Christopher Boffoli
WSB photojournalist
WSDOT maintenance crews closed the Alaskan Way Viaduct for 12 hours today for its semi-annual inspection and repairs, and are scheduled to do it again 6 am-6 pm tomorrow.
And as West Seattle drivers no doubt cursed the increased congestion as they navigated alternate routes off the peninsula, a select group of lucky people donned hard hats and reflective vests for walking tours of the 56-year-old structure. Transportation Department organizers said that the weekend’s public tours were open to anyone who signed up, though they filled up quickly. Hundreds of people were scheduled to tour the Viaduct this weekend and many more were put on waiting lists.
In addition to the public walking tours, a media tour was organized for first thing this morning, and WSB went along for a closer look at what’s being done this weekend – not just the inspection, but also some work related to the Viaduct’s proposed replacement.
Read More
Reminder – It’s twice-yearly inspection time for the Battery Street Tunnel and Alaskan Way Viaduct; the tunnel was scheduled to close as of 11 pm tonight and stay closed till 5 am Monday; The Viaduct is to be closed 6 am-6 pm both Saturday and Sunday.
That’s according to Deborra, who has a good view of it from downtown. There was construction work south of the West Seattle exit, but it was supposed to be done by 3:30, so not entirely sure that’s it – just know that heading southbound on 99 will take you longer, if you’re leaving any time soon. 5:35 PM UPDATE: SDOT sends this advisory – it IS related to the road work:
SDOT is working to address traffic backups on southbound Highway 99 this afternoon.
A contractor making emergency repairs on East Marginal Way South (Highway 99) had his crews off the street before 3:30 p.m. as required by his city permit; however, two traffic lanes were left closed to allow pavement to cure, resulting in traffic backups through downtown Seattle.
One lane was opened at 5 p.m., and the third lane is to be opened before 6 p.m.
2 Alaskan Way Viaduct notes: Short one first, the tunnel plan (SB 5768) gets a public hearing tomorrow afternoon in the House Transportation Committee, 3:30 pm (it’s already passed the State Senate, but the House is considered to be a tougher crowd for this one). Second, WSDOT just sent word that it’s calling for bids on a key part of the first major viaduct-replacement project, the south section — read on:Read More
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