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RSS UP #313 After the Tunnel Vote
On August 16, Seattle voters approved Referendum 1 by 58%. Although the vote was technically about the City Council’s decision making process, it was widely interpreted as a referendum on the tunnel project itself.
Read This ArticleUP #307 Saving Artists’ Work Space & the 619 Western Building
The impending loss of the 619 Western Building resulting from Alaska Way Viaduct tunneling presents 3 problems: finding new accommodations for the displaced artists; the building by law must be saved or replaced in a manner that retains the historical character of the neighborhood; and potential impacts on Pioneer Square’s cultural vitality must be mitigated by relocating as many displaced artists as possible within the neighborhood.
Read This ArticleUP #306 Bored Tunnel Agreement Vote
21 days before the 10 year anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake that significantly damaged the Alaska Way Viaduct, the Seattle City Council voted 8-1 (O’Brien voting ‘no’) to approve a series of agreements with the State regarding the tunnel and a variety of related projects.
Read This ArticleUP #305 The State Legislature and Surface Solution for Alaska Way Viaduct
While the debate will rage on about whether the state will pay for any cost overruns on the deep bore tunnel, the flip side of the issue is whether Seattle would keep the money already allocated to this project for a surface road alternative, as the Mayor prefers.
Read This ArticleUP#294 Tunnel Costs
The question that has dominated the discussion of the deep bore tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct has been: who will pay for any cost overruns? The answer is the State with regards to the contract for the tunnel. The reason is that the contractor that wins the design-build contract for the tunnel will be signing a contract with the State of Washington, not the City of Seattle. The contract will oblige WSDOT to cover risks associated with the tunnel. The City of Seattle will not be contractually obligated to cover cost overruns for the tunnel.
Read This ArticleUP#288 Replacing the Seawall
Replacing our seawall is a given: everyone agrees it is in poor condition and a public safety issue. The questions that loom before us are when, and who will pay?
Read This ArticleUP#271 Transportation Projects & Funding
In the February 2007 election, both the tunnel/surface and the elevated options to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct were voted down. Since March 2007 the Washington State DOT, Seattle DOT and King County/Metro have worked together with a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to form options to replace the Viaduct portion of SR 99, which the Governor says will come down in 2012. The agencies expanded the study area from the Central Waterfront to the Seattle city limits on the south end, and North 85th in the north end.
Read This ArticleUP#255 Mercer Mess
Tomorrow at the 9:00 a.m. meeting of the City Council Transportation Committee Councilmembers will vote on releasing $25 million for two of the most expensive non-utility capital projects the City has ever pursued: the Mercer Corridor Project and the Spokane Street Viaduct Project.
Read This ArticleUP#235 Alaskan Way Viaduct Update
The State, City and King County have agreed to some short-term retrofitting of the Viaduct, upgrades to the Battery Street Tunnel, building a new State Route 99 from Holgate to King Street, and other improvements totaling around $900 million. This work will take place from 2007 to 2012. The target for a solution for the downtown waterfront is the next two years.
Read This ArticleUP#231 What is to be done with the Viaduct?
From the March 13th election one can conclude that the majority of Seattle voters are not happy with either a tunnel or a new elevated viaduct replacing the current Alaskan Way Viaduct. Of course adjustments to both plans could be proffered in an attempt to keep them alive.
The State, City and King County have agreed to some short-term retrofitting of the Viaduct, upgrades to the Battery Street Tunnel, building a new State Route 99 from Holgate to King Street, and other improvements totaling around $900 million. This work will take place from 2007 to 2012. The target for a solution for the downtown waterfront is the next two years.
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