:-)

How's that sound, Mr. Chopp?

Which raises interesting possibilities...even though I oppose a new viaduct and realize even Plan 9 is as unaffordable as the tunnel.

I think Frank Chopp's new option will actually be a monorail.

So how do the pedestrians get across? It seems like this would need stairs or elevators on the waterfront side of the park, which might simply not be pictured. Also, I can't imagine that the small pedestrian space on the waterfront side, dominated by looming concrete pillars much closer than the current viaduct, will do much to encourage revitalization of the waterfront.

I applaud the desire to think more creatively, but I have yet to see a highway proposal for the corridor that makes sense.

But not an issue if we just fix what we've got and build surface and transit for the future.

Here is my interpretation, including advertising revenue to help defray the cost!

Maybe we could have a Capitol Hill Regrade to fill in the surrounding area with dirt and build a sloping beach to a new waterfront farther out into the bay. Or maybe the idea is that catastrophic climate change will raise the water level to the park elevation in a few decades anyway.

Gregoire "refused to back away from her position that the state must commence the new elevated highway."

Thanks you Erica etc etc. Your un-critical acceptance of the convenient lie is coming home to roost.

All that being said, why do I have a nagging feeling that this soon to
be proposed and "pleasing to the eye" edifice will be something quite different than what Feit is suggesting.....?

Any rebuild or repair still makes time spent at the waterfront subject to an unpleasant roar and sooty air.

In some ways the surface option makes things worse as cars, pedestrians and cyclists will all be competing for the same space.

Even the tunnel maintains the surface-level SR99 that cuts off South Lake Union from Queen Anne.

If (and I refuse to concede this point outright) maintaining car-carrying capacity at the waterfront is absolutely critical, we should shove it off over the harbor and remove the whole ugly route from downtown.

1) Did Frank Chopp draw up this plan personally himself?

2) What about options 1 through 8? How come there are no links to any of these options? Hmmm?

3) If there are 9 options for the viaduct, isn't that about eight more options than what surface + transit supporters have come up with?

Not difficult if your idea of a pedestrian friendly waterfront which is separated from the city by 4-to 6 lanes of boulevarded, dense motor vehicle traffic and paralled bay an ancient trolley and Burlington Northern freight and passenger trains.

The idea is to reclaim the land for parks, homes, business and transit, and NOT to completely surrender it to motor vehicles. This can only be realized by designing and building a cable stayed bay bridge.

---Jensen

WSDOT hasn't yet said how high the barrier will be.