Viaduct: Reality Creep?
Assuming any sort of grip on reality, the debate is over: Take it out, don’t replace it. This week brings news suggesting that reality may finally be sinking in: The City, County, and State DOTs have all agreed to evaluate the Surface/Transit Option (though they’re not calling it that).
Meanwhile, a 29 member stakeholder committee has been formed to evaluate solutions based on six guiding principles:
1. Improve public safety. Any solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct must improve
public safety for current Viaduct users and along the central waterfront.
2. Provide efficient movement of people and goods. Any solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct must optimize the ability to move people and goods in and through Seattle in an efficient manner, including access to port and rail facilities.
3. Maintain or improve downtown Seattle, regional, the port and state economies. Any solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct must sustain the city, region, port and state’s economic vitality.
4. Enhance Seattle’s waterfront as a place for people. Any solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct must augment the Seattle waterfront’s reputation as a world-class destination and welcoming front door to the city.
5. Create solutions that are fiscally responsible. Any solution to the Alaskan Way
Viaduct must make wise and efficient use of taxpayer dollars. The state’s contribution to the project is not to exceed $2.8 billion in 2012 dollars.
6. Foster environmentally sound approaches. Any solution to the Alaskan Way
Viaduct must demonstrate environmental leadership, with a particular emphasis on
supporting local, regional, and state climate change initiatives.
Reality: The only solution that has the potential to adhere to all of these principles is the Surface/Transit Option. But it remains to be seen whether or not the powers-that-be are ready to get real.