Gregoire wants Seattle residents to decide on viaduct
Washington State's Governor wants Seattle voters to make the ultimate decision on the Alaskan Way Viaduct's replacement:
Our Executive Director, Andrew, reported a power outage via battery powered carrier pigeon late last night, so hopefully he's got his power back and he's not sitting in his car trying to charge his notebook pigeon. I'm sure he'll weigh in as time and conditions allow.
UPDATE from the Executive Director: Power is still out all over Redmond, for homes and businesses. No working traffic lights, either, but my computer is recharged thanks to my car battery charger which I ran while I was running errands.
This is a smart move on Gregoire's part because it puts the onus on city leadership and tunnel backers to make the case to voters for a cut and cover tunnel. The governor says it has to be an either or vote: Either citizens have to vote for the tunnel or a new viaduct in an advisory vote which has to be held next spring (presumably in March 2007) before the Legislature adjourns.
If that's to be the choice then we unequivocally and without any reservations support construction of the Alaskan Way Tunnel. Of course, those in favor of a surface option aren't likely to give up so easily. We'll see what happens next.
Gov. Chris Gregoire said today that the residents of Seattle should decide how to replace the aging and earthquake-damaged Alaskan Way Viaduct.OK, I'll confess to not knowing enough about this issue to be comfortable commenting, but it's obviously an important development, in case you didn't see it. Far better for Puget Sound area residents to weigh in.
Gregoire was expected to announce her decision about what should be done - either replace it with a tunnel or rebuild it. Instead, she called for a city vote between rebuilding the structure or replacing it with a tunnel. All other options - including tearing the viaduct down and having surface streets take the traffic - are off the table.
Another elevated highway is estimated to cost about $2.8 billion' a mile of tunnel would cost at least $4.6 billion.
Our Executive Director, Andrew, reported a power outage via battery powered carrier pigeon late last night, so hopefully he's got his power back and he's not sitting in his car trying to charge his notebook pigeon. I'm sure he'll weigh in as time and conditions allow.
UPDATE from the Executive Director: Power is still out all over Redmond, for homes and businesses. No working traffic lights, either, but my computer is recharged thanks to my car battery charger which I ran while I was running errands.
This is a smart move on Gregoire's part because it puts the onus on city leadership and tunnel backers to make the case to voters for a cut and cover tunnel. The governor says it has to be an either or vote: Either citizens have to vote for the tunnel or a new viaduct in an advisory vote which has to be held next spring (presumably in March 2007) before the Legislature adjourns.
If that's to be the choice then we unequivocally and without any reservations support construction of the Alaskan Way Tunnel. Of course, those in favor of a surface option aren't likely to give up so easily. We'll see what happens next.
