Tunnel supporters fighting transit funding? Stunning.

This would be an excellent way for the Port to contribute to the overall project. If that number for a streetcar extension is a non-road-sharing streetcar, looks like a good alternative to the cost-prohibitive light rail in that corridor. A reliable alternative to regular buses would be awesome, and not just a great congestion reducing investment, but great investment overall in our community.

We can only hope that Creighton and Tarleton will take this seriously, and work with Holland on it, as opposed to working against him (as it is clear Bryant is aiming to do).

An even better way would be to kill the insane tunnel in the first place and use the port funding totally for transit during both the construction and phase in.

We can only hope that Council will come to their senses about this Boondoggle soon.

I look forward to someone- *hint hint* writing a comprehensive article on Holland's conduct as a Port Commissioner. I can't help but wonder if the media is afraid to touch him because he was the "diverse" golden boy when elected. He has since proven himself to be fully incompetent. The other Commissioners can't stand him. Apparently Holland is thinking of leaving the Port and running for mayor. Of Seattle.

@2 A "non-road sharing" streetcar to Ballard? Huh? What will it do, float across the Ship Canal, then meander through back yards? It's a street car.

Maybe with its newly found mission to fund transit the Port should buy pedicabs to shuttle customers from the cruise ship terminals. Then at least the family-wage blue collar workers displaced when all our industry moves out of the area will have other job opportunities.

michaelp @2: If that number for a streetcar extension is a non-road-sharing streetcar, looks like a good alternative to the cost-prohibitive light rail in that corridor.

Cost-prohibitive to whom? Are you suggesting that Sound Transit take that corridor out of consideration for ST3 planning?

The Port Commission voted 5-0 to commit $300 million to the tunnel project to keep freight moving. My top priority is making sure we deliver on this promise. Tens of thousands of jobs including those in the fishing, maritime, and aerospace industries depend on this project moving forward. -Seattle Port Commissioner Gael Tarleton

Who would ride a $155 million boondoggle streetcar from South Lake Union to Ballard. We have, at present, few people mounting the SLUT.

@5/6 - I mean take out a lane of traffic, and let the streetcar have exclusive access. If that can be done at a significantly lower cost than light rail, why not? If, however, light rail would only be a couple million more, then save this link for that time.

The most important part, of course, is that it is either grade-separated, or has exclusive rights to use its lane.

#8: 2,000 people a day ride the SLUT, which is pretty good for a stubby line that doesn't go anywhere. Portland's streetcar does go somewhere, and it has 12,000 riders a day.

That's pretty good since it's 1/3 the riders that the deep bore tunnel will carry, at about 1/25 the cost.

The Capitol Hill Streetcar is expected to carry 1/2 the riders of the deep bore tunnel once it's built out, also at a fraction of the cost.

Moving Beyond the Automobile: http://www.streetfilms.org/moving-beyond…

In particular: Highway Removal - http://www.streetfilms.org/mba-highway-r…

"Now several cities are pursuing highway removals more intentionally, as a way to reclaim city space for housing, parks, and economic development.... you'll hear about the benefits of tearing down the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle..."

Holland's question to his colleagues about the resolution committing money to the more vague "freight mobility and access" isn't being answered. If "freight mobility and access" can ONLY be achieved with transit upgrades, transit funding is lawfully considered in the resolution.

It's sad, IMO, that so many Seattle authorities have ZERO misgivings about the engineering and environmental impact RISKS more than any even remotely risky dollar sign problem.
Seattle, you have a good mayor and a PACK of clueless councilpersons and other executives misled by a Rotten OLD DOT crew.

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The Waterfront Redesign may have hit a snag.
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Have a look at Pre-AWV & Post-Seawall ERA photographs for historical narrative.
Then consider that era road arrangement and 2-track streetcar track alignment.
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The Waterfront Planning dept doesn't appear to be doing its job very well. Get their work straightened out, now. For the open house next week, bring personal drawings of Alaskan Way "roadway plus crosswalks" metrics, lane number plus left turn lanes, queue to Coleman Dock, ped/bicycle lanes or separate pathway, etc, along with seawall plaza and waterscape ideas on paper.
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Personally, I predict the next open house will NOT present designs that inspire a "consensus" of support because, as I predict, the road/ped/bike/crosswalk safety & amenities elements will be absent.
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Look at the pretty water and the pretty pretty pretty pretteeey.. critters.. that live in the watah. Aaah, pretty! Yea for us! We dun had our meetin on that waterfrunt thingy.