News Steinbrueck: Up Since 4:30 a.m.
posted by on January 19 at 11:10 AM
When I got into work this morning there was a lengthy message from city council member Peter Steinbrueck on my voice mail. (He later told me he’s been up since 4:30 a.m. drafting a resolution to present at today’s hotly anticipated council meeting on the viaduct.)
Here’s the money quote from the voice mail: “Nickels’s ballot measure, if you could call it that, is a folly.”
When I reached Steinbrueck, he said that after meeting with Ron Sims yesterday he wants to propose a resolution today to partner with the county to do surface improvements, corridor improvements, and transit improvements (all of which Sims is “eager and willing and committed to implementing immediate action on,” Steinbrueck said).
Basically, Steinbrueck’s plan is to leave the viaduct up while implementing transit, corridor, and local fixes to divert traffic from the viaduct—prioritizing freight and commercial traffic there.
Steinbrueck scoffs at any ballot measure calling it “political cover” and “followship not leadership.”
He says the state has just “rolled us on this” for the rebuild.
“I don’t know how many times we have to say this,” Steinbrueck’s initial phone message said, “but we are not for the rebuild.” Indeed, the council voted 7-1 last September for a tunnel or surface option.
Erica C. Barnett will file a report from today’s big meeting. Stay tuned Sloggies.
Steinbreuck also said this on KCTS last night. Good man, Pete!
Last time the city leaders cobbled together a quickie transportation measure it was the monorail. The concept was great, the execution STUNK.
Looks like the same old, same old. Seattle's political establishment shooting first and aiming later.
I have no confidence, whatsoever, that what these bozos will come up with on this kind of expedited schedule will stand the test of time.
To quote another: Seattle politicos are incapable of pulling off big transportation projects.
FEIT Wrote:
"..prioritizing freight and commercial traffic there."
By "there", you mean freight and commercial traffic ON the viaduct?
---Jensen
You know, for the money they want us to pony up for the underwater tunnel in Seattle-only extra taxes, we could have built TWO Green Line Monorails.
Just saying.
@ #3,
Yes, on the viaduct.
You know what, the Monorail was the stupidest idea I've ever heard. Light rail on the other hand is hot. You can use surface streets, and don't have to build what would essentially be a mini version of the Viaduct all over the city. 60 foot tall concrete structure going down the middle of what were nice, 2 lane tree lined streets is the biggest waste of time and money I've ever heard of.
The tunnel - also ridiculous.
Will, I never once said I was pro or con Viaduct, but the "options" people are giving are not realistic. West Seattle wants mass transportation, sorry but it is true. Fremont doesn't get to corner the market on pro mass transport attitudes. Neither does Capitol Hill for that matter.
average joe: Last time the city leaders cobbled together a quickie transportation measure it was the monorail. The concept was great, the execution STUNK.
Exactly. That's why the mayor's four-lane tunnel ballot measure is a sure loser. It makes you wonder why he says he wants it. Is it just posturing for something he knows he won't get (never say no to a plebiscite), or is he dead-serious on taking the ship down with himself?
Anyway, I never thought I'd say this, but Peter Steinbrueck is sounding pretty sensible about now.
@6 - borrowing $300 million in state taxes to pay for a sports stadium we don't want is the stupidest idea, IMHO. Nobody cares about West Seattle anymore - congrats, you killed the monorail, now deal with the results. Me, I'll still be walking to work from Fremont, happy as a clam.
Anyone notice Peter S' aide Stephanie is now on the 43rd board?
Will,
West Seattle voted for the monorail by and large. Since it went down about 65%-35% on the last vote, you can hardly blame the Monofailure on WS.
Way to go, Peter! It's as if he's suddenly been possessed by the ghost of his late, great father. If Peter can help save the waterfront, it'll be an achievement on par with his dad's drive to save the Pike Place Market.
As to the transportation needs of West Seattleites - isn't moving to West Seattle in the first place really just a form of self-imposed exile? I mean, transportation-wise, the place is about as isolated as Vashon.
It sucks when shit hits the fan, it sucks more to be the person who was to clean the fan later.
But that will only be after the Seattle Committee of Metaphorical Fan Cleaning has determined if a rag or sponge should be used before proceeding on to the next agenda item which will be to determine the impact of said sponge or rag, in conjunction with a yet to be determined ammonia or bleach based cleaner, will have upon the fan, the Cascade Mt. salmon runs, and the price of tea in china. Also, the neighbors of the fan will need a public meeting to determine the color and manufacture of the rag or sponge. It is anticpated that a task force of government and neighbors will be formed to study if a rubbing or circular motion will produce the desired cleanliness level. Expect the fan to be cleaned 4th qtr of '07, pending any legal action to be taken by NIMBY's who opposed the shit to begin with.
Ryan,
You do know the difference between and island and an isthmus, don't you?
And as long as the City is handing out building permits in WS like X-mas candy, preserving concurrency under the GMA means that getting rid of the AWV and not dealing with the resultant traffic is not an option.
Wishful thinking is not a transportation strategy.
Will, I'm interested in how you envision mass transit - clearly in your utopian world, mass transit only really needs to serve some parts of the city, but not all. Is it because not all parts of the city are worthy of being connected to other parts? So, maybe West Seattle doesn't deserve to be connected to other parts of the city because we are exiling ourself from everyone.
Maybe only "hip" urban areas should be connected to each other, because that's what diversity is really about in a city. Being hip.
If anyone is insulated from the rest of the city, it appears to be you, what with your walking to work and all. Doesn't sound like you need mass transit either, come to think of it....
@9 - I stand corrected.
oh, and wsp @13 - Seattle is #1 for bike riding to work and #2 for walking to work in the US, so I'm part of what makes Seattle the city that we are.
Will... How would we know about the 43rd board? Their website sucks.
You didn't answer my question about mass transit.
Please, try again.
Oh, and your snotty not-my-problem attitude is, unfortunatley, exactly what is wrong with this city.
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