Monday, December 8, 2008
City Uh, I Don't Think That's What He Meant By "Use It Or Lose It"
Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 2:49 PM
In his speech Saturday, Obama vowed to send infrastructure money flowing to states as part of his economic stimulus proposal. However, he added, "if a state doesn’t act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they’ll lose the money."
Some are interpreting this "use it or lose it" pledge as a not-too-subtle hint to states that we need to keep electing Democrats, not "obstructionist" Republicans. Which may well be true everywhere but Washington State. Here, instead of narrowing down the list of viaduct replacement options—preferably to, you know, one—we're EXPANDING the number of options under discussion, from eight (which is already too many) to nine, including Frank Chopp's fantastical mallway-in-the-sky.
Memo to elected officials: It's been nearly eight years since the Nisqually earthquake supposedly damaged the viaduct beyond repair. If you want federal money to fix it, stop picking your noses and pick an option. Now.
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1
I think we need to study the 520 bridge and Viaduct options for a few more decades.
Oh, wait, sorry, you mean we can build transit on them - never mind ...
Oh, wait, sorry, you mean we can build transit on them - never mind ...
2
Some recognizably smart people are seeing the "use it or lose it" line as a hint of the federal spending plan most likely to emerge. Money will be advanced or warranted to states based on their specific petitions for need. If the spending doesn't follow within x period, the federal funds will be withdrawn or reallocated pending a second, more accurate or timely petition. Goldy's extrapolating a bit much, which is certainly spirited.
3
best post from Erica in several months - yes - indeed - get moving - the scent of federal dollars AGAIN - god, god, the good old days for funding for mega projects
(like the bus tunnel, 95 per cent fed money, I think)
(like the bus tunnel, 95 per cent fed money, I think)
4
While fixing the 520 Bridge and Viaduct (which I agree are just about tied as most important, at least in Seattle) would it be possible to speed up the light rail project to get it up to Northgate by 2015?
5
No, elswinger, because it wouldn't be spent this year, so it's not going to be eligible.
But I agree with Bob, this is in the top ten of ECB's posts.
But I agree with Bob, this is in the top ten of ECB's posts.
7
in the chase for fed dollars - ALREADY funded projects - like Sound Transit will not have priority.
Utah, for example, just delayed 50 ready to go projects for lack of money, about 4 billion and it is a small state.
Those ready to go and no money on the table will get priority - just logical
and low income bad bad bad job markets might get some priority as well
Broke as we seem to ourselves, most of the nation is far worse off
Utah, for example, just delayed 50 ready to go projects for lack of money, about 4 billion and it is a small state.
Those ready to go and no money on the table will get priority - just logical
and low income bad bad bad job markets might get some priority as well
Broke as we seem to ourselves, most of the nation is far worse off
8
simple - the cheapest is the best - surface solution. prioritize freight & transit, and as much as i love them, fuck cars.
9
Can we talk about how nobody is talking about the seawall? That's $800 million worth of work that isn't included in any of the Viaduct replacement sums... and meanwhile the Army Corps of Engineers web site for the project hasn't been updated since 2006.
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu…
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu…
10
people have already chosen, it's just that they keep picking bad options and we keep overturning them. really, would you rather have Chopp and his gang choose the malladuct just for the sake of picking and getting the money?
12
Seattle (and the rest of Washington) is soooooo slow to do anything that we won;t see a dime of this money... That's the price of weak leadership and an obsession with consensus.
It's really mind blowing when you consider that our Senior Senator, the wildly ineffectual Patty Murray, "serves" as the chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations subcommittee, which oversees the nation’s transportation and housing budget.
It's really mind blowing when you consider that our Senior Senator, the wildly ineffectual Patty Murray, "serves" as the chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations subcommittee, which oversees the nation’s transportation and housing budget.
13
@11 - no, the highest return is for the one that hires the largest number of people. the biggest ticket items usually have low per person deliverables.
That said, the elevated viaduct rebuild wouldn't even start until AFTER we had torn it down, so doing a Surface plus Transit option pencils out much better in terms of early investment dollars, since they put transit in sooner and tear down the viaduct with less regard for what's there sooner.
That said, the elevated viaduct rebuild wouldn't even start until AFTER we had torn it down, so doing a Surface plus Transit option pencils out much better in terms of early investment dollars, since they put transit in sooner and tear down the viaduct with less regard for what's there sooner.
15
As I remember it, we were all set on deciding between a tunnel and a raised structure when the Stranger (led by Erica) started to trumpet more additional options (like replacing it with neither) at the last minute. Our special-ed leadership follows along and decides to consider every possible alternative and now all of the sudden Erica wants everyone to shit or get off the pot. I find this pretty hilarious.
And, I personally refuse to budge until my plan to level the city with a giant fire and return us to the more quaint and environmentally friendly horse and buggy infrastructure is considered among the top 19 proposals.
And, I personally refuse to budge until my plan to level the city with a giant fire and return us to the more quaint and environmentally friendly horse and buggy infrastructure is considered among the top 19 proposals.
16
I... I agree. I agree with Erica C. Barnett.
This is a red letter day.
Erica, thank you for supporting making a decision and getting this done.
This is a red letter day.
Erica, thank you for supporting making a decision and getting this done.
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