99 and You

Yesterday I turned on the Seattle Channel and watched as the City Council was updated by the Alaskan Way Viaduct & Seawall Replacement committee. The AWV&SC stated that three of the proposed options for replacing highway 99 were going to be nixed. They were basing their decisions off 6 guiding principals the city requires each project align to.

These principals are based on the health and safety of our residents and environment, commuter and pedestrian traffic enhancement and fiscal responsibility. They 6 guiding principals are as follows:

• Improve public safety • Provide efficient movement of people and goods • Maintain or improve downtown Seattle regional, the port and state economies • Enhance Seattle’s waterfront, downtown and adjacent neighborhoods as a place for people • Create solutions that are fiscally responsible • Improve the health of the environment

So, the options no longer being considered and the reasons why are:

1. Viaduct retrofit Will not meet thousand-year earthquake standards Will not enhance the waterfront Cost approaches 80% of the cost of the new structure with little structural service life Additional costs and noise issues

2. Surface Expressway Lacks open space (8 lanes) and a barrier to people accessing the waterfront from downtown Provide negative impacts to the environment

3. Elliott Bay Crossing Will disrupt port activity, have a negative environmental impact and is not cost effective