Viaduct, bridge, budget: Get involved this week with 3 big issues

Not a lot to preview for tonight – the regular Monday highlights are all on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar – but here’s an advance reminder of some biggies later this week:

TUESDAY – ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT OPEN HOUSE: The south-end Alaskan Way Viaduct work starts later this year, and nearby projects such as the city’s Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project are about to kick into higher gear. What does this mean for how you get around? The people with the answers will all be in the Madison Middle School Commons 6-8 pm Tuesday, waiting for your questions.

TUESDAY – SOUTH PARK BRIDGE CLOSURE MEETING: The bridge continues on the county-announced track to permanent closure June 30th. So what’s being done to help drivers and South Park businesses survive until a new one is built – if it’s built at all (financing is still no sure bet)? The draft closure plan will be unveiled and explained tomorrow night at the Machinist Union Hall in South Park (map), 6 pm. More info here.

WEDNESDAY – CITY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING: This isn’t in West Seattle, but so far, it’s the closest scheduled hearing on the city budget, and many people already are rumbling about drastic effects of potential cuts – like the dire warnings we reported recently about what Parks may face. So if you have a strong opinion about ANYTHING in the city budget – what shouldn’t be cut, what should – advocates on a wide variety of issues are all but begging you to show up for this hearing, sponsored by the mayor and City Council, at the New Holly Gathering Hall on Beacon Hill (map). 5:30 pm – signups start at 5.

South Park denizen April 27, 2010 (1:28 pm)

Hey, drivers are not the ones really being hurt by losing the South Park Bridge. Pedestrians who live in the neighborhood are really going to lose access. Try walking out of South Park some time. Good luck with that!

Let’s get the funding rolling by tolling the non-HOV lanes (and make sure the HOV lanes are on the outside, where buses need to be). You may have not noticed, but the city and county are deep in the red, and have no idea how to get out of their respective holes. A giveaway from either’s general fund seems highly unlikely.

WSB April 27, 2010 (1:52 pm)

Excellent point. I will be sure to honor that in future writing on the issue, including coverage of tonight’s meeting. – Tracy

South Park denizen April 27, 2010 (4:53 pm)

Thanks for being the only medium to consistenly cover this issue!

Maybe if the Building and Trades guys could put up their own blog, slamming the mayor, slamming South Park for voting down the 2007 new-road sprawl package, and just generally expressing their senses of entitlement to a government-provided job in their first choice of profession (unlike the rest of us lesser beings who have to change careers from time to time), we could really mix it up. I’m just not a fan of that much popcorn, though.

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