Alaskan Way Viaduct’s future: 3 City Council discussions today

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you are following the ongoing almost-a-soap-opera-sometimes about the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s Central Waterfront Project tunnel proposal, and the City Council and Mayor’s conflicting opinions about whether amended agreements protect the city from the cost-overrun responsibility the Legislature wrote into the original bill – three things you’ll want to watch today (and of course we’ll be watching too). First, the Council gets a briefing from City Attorney Pete Holmes during its 9:30 am meeting; second, seven council members (all except Mike O’Brien and Bruce Harrell) and Holmes plan an 11:30 am news conference; third, the council’s special Alaskan Way Viaduct committee takes up the agreements at 2:30 pm. The folks at Seattle Channel tell us all of the above will be streamed live online, at www.seattlechannel.org/councillive. 10:41 AM UPDATE: The 1st discussion has just begun (apparently delayed while city legal staff put “finishing touches” on documentation). Councilmember Sally Bagshaw says the council will propose and vote on a resolution indicating their commitment to proceed, BUT will not sign the agreements till early next year, after seeing the proposals (bids) to be opened this fall. 11:45 AM: The council’s media briefing is under way now. It was noted that the council’s resolution is not subject to mayoral veto; he can decline to sign it, but it doesn’t require signature to move forward, since it’s non-binding.

bridge to somewhere July 26, 2010 (11:21 am)

A prediction: if all goes well with the Central Waterfront tunnel project and the city begins to reap the connection to the waterfront it so desired, Mr. McGinn will come out of the woodwork to emphasize that he wasn’t against the project, he just wanted to ensure the funding was there. He may even kind of pretend to support it. I could be completely wrong, but I thought it’d be worthwhile to offer that prediction.

Wells July 26, 2010 (11:41 am)

As much as I’d like to hope the council’s indecisiveness is an admission that their over-confidence in the debilitating DBT and messier Mercer West is foolish, it’s just as likely they’re planning a shotgun wedding in February even if the bride wants out more than ever. Beneath the expensive tuxedo and the dentured shaven facelift, the groom is a hoary old man who has adulterated many innocent brides and maidens.

Carson July 26, 2010 (1:57 pm)

My prediction is it doesn’t get built. Ever. Just wait until everyone finds out there is a $6 toll and everyone leaving west seattle to go north avoids it and the ramp to I5 North is backed up to the top 12 hours a day. I say it never gets built in our lifetime (2025) unless the feds kick in the cash. Is anyone going to pay to go to QA, or Ballard or downtown? Not a chance.

CB July 26, 2010 (2:08 pm)

McGinn should resign for lying during the campaign. There is no way he is ever going to support this or any other transportation project. His goal to is force drivers out of their cars by creating gridlock.

Carson July 26, 2010 (2:25 pm)

McGinn deserves a gold badge, and another 4 years just from saving us from this disaster, no matter his motives…

jared July 26, 2010 (3:08 pm)

Carson said
“Just wait until everyone finds out there is a $6 toll…”

Please get your facts straight. The amount of toll revenue is capped: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/BoredTunnelTolling.htm

I’m no supporter of the tunnel, but I disapprove of mis-information even more. The tunnel is a bad idea and fiscally irresponsible. I could go on and on…

Carson July 26, 2010 (3:15 pm)

Its capped now, but just wait!!!

bridge to somewhere July 26, 2010 (6:23 pm)

Carson, planning doesn’t really work that way. If it did, people could say things like, “There is no plan for the Wheedle on the Needle to eat all the cars heading through the tunnel, but JUST WAIT!!!” I mean, if the revenue is capped, it’s capped! It doesn’t help to offer conspiracy theories about issues that have already been documented and settled . . .

bridge to somewhere July 26, 2010 (6:24 pm)

@Carson: I do appreciate your prediction that the tunnel may never get built, and that’s actually my back up prediction. :-)

CB July 26, 2010 (7:01 pm)

McGinn’s supporters mislead just as much as he does. No surprise.

Carson July 26, 2010 (7:23 pm)

oops, sorry, $4 toll, not $6. So who is going to pay $4 to take 99 downtown vs the free trip via I5? We are so screwed, another reason to keep McGinn in office as long as we can. I love my 12 foot commute to the home office!!!