Discussed in WS tonight: What’s next for The Viaduct

SCENIC_Alaskan_Way_AWV1.jpgTonight at Cooper Elementary in Pigeon Point, state, city, and county transportation leaders — along with more than 50 members of the public — took the next step toward deciding the future of the critical central section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct – the section that Governor Gregoire has said will come down in 2012, period:

Half “open house” and half “open mike,” this was the first public meeting in this part of the Central Waterfront Project” process – which is supposed to continue throughout the year, with a recommendation about the section’s replacement due by year’s end. The state’s project manager, Ron Paananen, told the Cooper crowd tonight what happens then:

(Video unavailable)

The state, city, and county say they are trying to figure out a solution that doesn’t just address what will happen in the roadspace now taken up by The Viaduct, but that also “looks at the potential for a package of systematic improvements within a broader area to more efficiently move people and goods …” A “mobility package” to try to ease the construction pain has just been announced (no major WS specifics in it that you haven’t heard about before).

But some of those who spoke during the meeting-ending “open mike” session tonight — drawing audience applause — say that pain may not be necessary – they are focused on challenging the assertion that the central viaduct has to come down.

First to speak was Craig Keller of the Viaduct Preservation Group, a proponent of retrofitting The Viaduct. He contended it’s “deceptive” that the government agencies involved in the process are “saying that this is not an option.” Another speaker who said he supports a retrofit, West Seattleite Bud Shasteen, declared he was “sick and tired of hearing that this is a public-safety issue” regarding allowing The Viaduct to stand — he and others contend it’s stronger than you’ve been led to believe.

All the while, however, as we showed you in a video report yesterday, work continues to strengthen four central columns of The Viaduct that have slipped so much in recent years, if they slip another inch or so, authorities will have to discuss whether to shut the whole thing down. (And they’ll be checking for slippage again during the next inspection shutdown the weekend of March 22-23.)

Next steps? Many of them. More open house/open mike sessions, though no dates have been officially announced yet; tomorrow, The Viaduct and other major West Seattle-related transportation matters are on the agenda for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch meeting. Also, the Viaduct Stakeholder Advisory Committee meets again February 28 (time and location here); its West Seattle representatives are Pete Spalding from Pigeon Point and Vlad Oustimovitch from Morgan Junction (here’s the full list of committee members).

By spring, the process will move to reviewing “project-related building blocks,” leading to “system-level scenarios” being developed in summer, and then a recommendation that is to come jointly from Governor Gregoire, Mayor Nickels, and King County Executive Sims next winter — moving on to the “legislative process,” as in votes and money-allotting and all that, afterward.

Beyond the Central Waterfront process, meeting attendees were reminded by some of the materials on display that other parts of the project are in the works too. In design right now — a project to upgrade the “fire and life-safety systems” in the Battery Street Tunnel, with work set to start next year, and the project to replace the south section of The Viaduct (between South Holgate and South King).

HOW TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK (info from one of tonight’s official handouts):
E-mailviaduct@wsdot.wa.gov
Phone – 888/AWV-LINE
Postal mail –
Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program
c/o Washington State Department of Transportation
999 Third Avenue, Suite 2424
Seattle, WA 98104

9 Replies to "Discussed in WS tonight: What's next for The Viaduct"

  • Herman February 13, 2008 (12:46 am)

    Last I heard, the south end construction project would start in 2009 and would last three years. During this period the existing viaduct would operate at a reduced capacity (1 fewer lane). Immediately thereafter, the central viaduct will go down in 2012 and flow will get much worse.

    This is only a year away, and it’s not in dispute. My forecast is for a morning rush hour that lasts from 7-10 AM, with cars backed up to Fauntleroy and Admiral/California, slowly crawling onto the bridge.

    Many WS commuters will want to sell their homes to avoid this 7-year impact to their lives. But who would want to buy-in, under those conditions? I look for a 15% decrease in property values on day one, with some recovery over the years.

    This project isn’t “real” yet to most WS residents, so sell now before it sinks in.

  • WSB February 13, 2008 (12:58 am)

    Yes, that’s the info in the link from our line about the south end – 2009 start there too. Where do you think people would move for a better commute, though? Until 2 months ago, I worked in South Lake Union, with a startling number of people who had insane commutes from the Eastside, South Pierce County, Snohomish County, etc., without even a complicating factor like the AWV. Would seem like there are myriad solutions, such as telecommuting — also ongoing efforts to bring more jobs to West Seattle so fewer folks have to leave to work!

  • westseattleite February 13, 2008 (8:43 am)

    Not everyone can telecommute and I think it’s unrealistic to think that employer’s will accomodate it for as long as the construction will last. I hope they have some good plans in place before this all starts because it is going to be a nightmare commuting downtown, just look how it gets when there’s an accident in the tunnel.

  • firwave February 13, 2008 (9:03 am)

    Here’s “What’s Next for the Viaduct”: There’s going to be an earthquake and it’s going to fall down and everyone is going to be screaming “why did we spend the money to fix it!” just fix or replace it, make a decision.

  • DailyCommuter February 13, 2008 (10:06 am)

    It is unrealistic to expect the 110,000 car trips per day on the viaduct to simply go elsewhere while the viaduct is repaired and when the central portion goes down. Does no one remember the day after the Nisqually quake? The viaduct was closed and the town was in gridlock. If the viaduct is so fragile, why are semis, huge heavy garbage trucks and other big trucks allowed on it? The city, county and state should implement their “mobility package” for trucking immediately and reserve the viaduct for car traffic until a viaduct plan can be agreed upon.

  • Frank February 13, 2008 (12:08 pm)

    I missed the meeting last night, but plan to attend one of the other ones.

    In all the time since they have been talking about the AWV you guys haven’t figured it out yet???

    It’s about who benefits from the various solutions the most. Seeing how West Seattle, South Park, White Center and Burien; to the south and Magnolia, Ballard, Green Lake; to the north, would benefit the most by a new highway that increases capacity and safety that would make the most sense.

    But remember one thing we are talking about downtown. Our ever diligent Mayor, Greg (It’s your) Nickels (not mine) will ensure that the people who benefit the most are the one’s that can contribute the most money to the city coffers. That would be the land owners on the east side of the AWV and developers. Those people stand to increase their personal wealth TREMENDOUSLY if the AWV is torn down and either the tunnel or surface street option is chosen.

    Commute times? What do they (City Council) care about that? Their goal is to force EVERYONE to take mass transit while they get driven around on our dime. I have said it before and I’ll say it again. I don’t have an extra, up to 3 to 4 hours a day, to spend on my commute from Westwood to east Lk. Union and back.

    I would REALLY like to see the results of the vote last year displayed on a map on which would show how areas voted which way.

    Frank

  • Kathy February 13, 2008 (12:57 pm)

    Frank,
    Here is a web site address for an article from the Seattle PI of March 21, 2007 showing a map of how the viaduct votes were distributed.

    http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/308511_breakdown22.html

  • m February 13, 2008 (4:24 pm)

    Thanks Kathy- that was an interesting article! I don’t find the results that surprising though; clearly the people that use the viaduct can think of the best replacement option for it, since they use it all the time. That is what is so frustrating; the politicians and other residents in the city have no clue what that roadway means to all of the neighborhoods that actually utilize it. I had no idea until I moved to WS. I never had a reason to travel on the viaduct and wouldn’t have cared what happened to it before. Rebuild it or retrofit!

  • Frank February 13, 2008 (9:28 pm)

    THANKS Kathy!!!!

    Been looking for it. Your search power greater than mine!!!

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