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News & ArtsTuesday, February 24, 2009
Breaking News / Olympia Legislature Cuts Mercer Off Stimulus List
Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 10:46 AM
The state legislature's transportation committee chairs—Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10) in the Senate, and Judy Clibborn (D-41) in the House—will announce today how they plan to spend the approximately $350 million the state is receiving in federal transportation stimulus dollars. Expanding Mercer Street—one of Mayor Greg Nickels's pet projects, for which the city has sought $50 million in stimulus dollars—will not be on the list. Nor will $25 million to widen the Spokane Street Viaduct to provide a grade-separated route connecting I-5, SR 99, SR 519 and I-90 with the Port.
According to remarks the mayor made at this morning's Downtown Seattle Association breakfast (where they were apparently playing the Ramones—??), the legislature no longer intends to use stimulus money to fund a "single project of any significance in Seattle."
If this stands, the largest city in the state, with the biggest contribution to the state's economy, will get no help from Olympia to create jobs. Our efforts to replace the dangerous Alaskan Way Viaduct will again be put in jeopardy. This is no time for the same old Olympia game—not when so much is at stake.
This is not what the president intended. This is bad policy and bad economics. It disrespects the voters and taxpayers of this great city and is an insult to the companies that contribute so much to the state's economy.
1
OTOH, i understand they're going to install a chinchilla median on US2 through waterville & the moses coulee.
4
No, the fat mayor is still a fucking dip shit who continues to seek cash for his buddies in road construction. If you want money for Seattle, propose a project that at the least pretends it's more than a kick back to your donors. Put it in something aside from roads.
When I run the world the fat mayor will be fed piece meal to flesh eating beetles.
When I run the world the fat mayor will be fed piece meal to flesh eating beetles.
6
"the fat mayor is still a fucking dip shit who continues to seek cash for his buddies in road construction."
Mercer has been better known as the Mercer Mess for 40+ years. The Spokane Street Viaduct is dangerously narrow and has no bus lanes for the express buses (soon to be Rapid Ride) from West Seattle.
This is basic road stuff. Any dipshittedness is coming from Olympia here.
Mercer has been better known as the Mercer Mess for 40+ years. The Spokane Street Viaduct is dangerously narrow and has no bus lanes for the express buses (soon to be Rapid Ride) from West Seattle.
This is basic road stuff. Any dipshittedness is coming from Olympia here.
8
the mercer fix is worthless. i'm tickled. it was not going to help traffic and would provide Mr. Allen with additional benefit.
9
What Pat said. Seattle should be it's own State (we'll take Medina and Mercer Island too. Our GDP is higher than the rest of the state. Most of the ports are here (and in Tacoma and Olympia) and our roads should take priority.
I agree that more money needs to be spent on buses and rail, but last time I checked, buses (as well as commercial trucks) use roads.
I agree that more money needs to be spent on buses and rail, but last time I checked, buses (as well as commercial trucks) use roads.
10
Erica, sorry if I seem brainless, but what politicians do we need to call or email to complain about this?
12
@10: http://www.leg.wa.gov:80/legislature
Click on the "Find your district" tab and enter your zip code.
Click on the "Find your district" tab and enter your zip code.
13
They were playing the Ramones at the DSA breakfast? Get me more information on this immediately and spare me the boring chatter about roads.
14
Mercer needs to be fixed. Especially if the city is trying to lure new businesses to Lake Union. Sure, Allen will benefit but job creation is something we still support, right?
17
Good riddance to the Mercer boondoggle - but the Spokane Street Viaduct is an actual transportation infrastructure maintenance project that is long overdue, and that really ought to receive at least some of this federal funding by any reasonable standard.
It's a pity Mr. Nickels blew the City's credibility by pushing for Paul Allen's Mercer makeover to the exclusion of just about everything else.
Could someone send a memo to Tim Ceis that this was the predictable result of blowing all of Seattle's political capital (along with Paul Allen) on Mercer?
It's a pity Mr. Nickels blew the City's credibility by pushing for Paul Allen's Mercer makeover to the exclusion of just about everything else.
Could someone send a memo to Tim Ceis that this was the predictable result of blowing all of Seattle's political capital (along with Paul Allen) on Mercer?
18
I'm with @8 and 17 -- The Mercer "fix" was shown to maintain or slow down the current rate of traffic. But the Viaduct is problematic.
19
They aren't disrespecting Seattle voters. They are just trying to make Seattle's anti-car zealots like ECB happy. Isn't avoiding any policy which might make a trip in a personal car more pleasant precisely what Seattle voters want?
20
Oh, and Mayor Nickels, if you gave up on the notion of squandering $100+ million city dollars on beautifying Mercer and reallocated them to other projects you could fill the $25 million shortfall on the Spokane Street Viaduct rebuild and still have a bundle left over to get to work on the Magnolia and 16th Street Bridges.
You're welcome!
You're welcome!
21
So is the money going to all of the Red districts, those Repubs who voted against both Obama, and the stimulus?
22
It was the recap of the economic news and they played "I wanna be sedated"...followed by some Sinatra.
If you want to call the legislative hotline for feedback they flashed this number on the screen: 800-562-6000.
I'm sorry, but when you look at the numbers, the businesses/job opportunities/and growth is going to happy in South Lake Union first. Kick back or not, it's good policy.
If you want to call the legislative hotline for feedback they flashed this number on the screen: 800-562-6000.
I'm sorry, but when you look at the numbers, the businesses/job opportunities/and growth is going to happy in South Lake Union first. Kick back or not, it's good policy.
24
@23,
Most of that growth and development is already happening without a $200+ million street reconfiguration that makes traffic worse.
On that note, can anyone figure out the value of the time that will be lost in congestion - both during an extended construction phase and afterward as millions of vehicle trips per year are slowed to a crawl?
Most of that growth and development is already happening without a $200+ million street reconfiguration that makes traffic worse.
On that note, can anyone figure out the value of the time that will be lost in congestion - both during an extended construction phase and afterward as millions of vehicle trips per year are slowed to a crawl?
26
Can we please have a New Mayor now, plese with sugar and whipping cream and cherries on top? Thanx.
27
That value of lost time, is easily outweighed by the increase in propery values in the area if Mercer is a nice slow boulevard with crawling traffic in front of $4 million condo owners supping their $5 mocachino lattes.
30
The governor can only line item veto she can't line item insert and she's sure as shit not going to do it for a Seattle real estate project like Mercer that was opposed by numerous community councils, and that results in slower travel times.
31
Sure, sure, it's fine if Seattle gets more than its share, but it's such a crime if you don't.
That's the funny thing about demanding more than your share - all you do is justify getting less.
Also, consider the fact that this is a stimulus plan for impacted areas, Seattle is one of the best off areas in the Country - not to mention holding as much responsibility for creating this mess through corruption as anyone.
That's the funny thing about demanding more than your share - all you do is justify getting less.
Also, consider the fact that this is a stimulus plan for impacted areas, Seattle is one of the best off areas in the Country - not to mention holding as much responsibility for creating this mess through corruption as anyone.
32
@31: Please explain. Your comment does not include evidence to support any of your claims.
How do you determine a given area's "fair share"?
How do you determine a given area's "fair share"?
33
Personally, I think we should take LA, SC, and other red states at their word and give them $0 in stimulus money and spend it all in Seattle.
Now that's fair.
Now that's fair.
34
@30,
The Gov can sure as shit exert political pressure without using a veto. I wouldn't be surprised if federal legislators get involved, too. This goes against the spirit of the stimulus package.
The Gov can sure as shit exert political pressure without using a veto. I wouldn't be surprised if federal legislators get involved, too. This goes against the spirit of the stimulus package.
35
@34: You're not suggesting that the Mercer project is in the spirit of the stimulus package are you?
36
Why is this happening?!?! Our Mayor makes it so easy for Seattle to be liked by other governments... oh wait. I think I just answered my own question. Never mind. This all makes perfect sense.
37
The Mercer street project was never a transportation projects, it never was aimed to improve safety or speed. Anyone who reads it carefully will see that it in fact will worsen the travel times and lures peds and bicylists into this polluted "interstate ramp". We are talking about one of the worst congested street in the state. Feds would've never gave stimulus money to make the traffic congestion worse. Was the city trying to make national news?
Mercer street project is pure real estate project to benefit developers along those 6 blocks. Developers like traffic and nice store fronts, the city likes real estate and business taxes, as well as parking fees and traffic fines from accidents. The city has no business planning this regional road, with so much conflict of interest.
Mercer street project is pure real estate project to benefit developers along those 6 blocks. Developers like traffic and nice store fronts, the city likes real estate and business taxes, as well as parking fees and traffic fines from accidents. The city has no business planning this regional road, with so much conflict of interest.
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