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Ballard reaction to Viaduct tunnel announcement

Posted by Geeky Swedes on January 13th, 2009

The governor has made it official: construction will begin on the $4.24 billion deep-bored tunnel in 2011, opening to drivers in 2015. And now the official reaction is coming in. “As representatives of the 36th Legislative District, we applaud this decisive action for how it will enhance the city and entire region,” said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rep. Reuven Carlyle in a joint statement. “We recognize work remains to be done in ensuring ample funding and full access for all areas of Magnolia, Queen Anne and Ballard, including our essential maritime, manufacturing and industrial sectors.”

The access issue is the Western Ave. (above) and Elliott Ave. ramps, which serve about one-third of the total Viaduct traffic, connecting the Viaduct with Ballard. Both will be eliminated with the tunnel (the brown dotted line below). “The industry is getting squeezed out of Ballard,” said Dave Simpson, of Ballard Sheet Metal. “It’ll make moving trucks much more difficult.”

Meanwhile, a new streetcar will connect Pioneer Square with the Seattle Center, and the land under the Viaduct will be restored to a four-lane surface street. King County Councilmember Larry Phillips echoed his support for the tunnel as well as concerns about access to Ballard and the surrounding area. “These neighborhoods must share in the increased mobility options that the bored tunnel, surface, and transit enhancements will bring,” he said in a statement. “As the design and engineering of the bypass tunnel advances, it’s critical that we look for opportunities to improve upon the plan in front of us by enhancing through-traffic travel options.”

See also: Fact sheet on the tunnel (.pdf) | Video animation
Plus: Magnolia woman files suit against tunnel plan
Monday: My Ballard readers react to the decision

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  • Guest
    Do you realize that the more we spend on mass transit, light rail and undergound tunnels, the more we lose our ability to actually MAKE AND MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS AND DRIVE THEM TO THEIR DESTINATIONS?

    We need to stop this trend to 'get out of your cars' today. We cannot afford the price tags, and we cannot afford to make creating and building and manufacturing the ugly step-children that we would rather 'go someplace else'.

    It's economic insanity.
  • loyalreader
    so who wants to buy my ballard house
  • b lite
    I agree with Chud, where's the exit to get to Ballard!!
  • monkeysinballard
    San Diego has "street cars", trolleys that work. They have dedicated lanes and provide a faster alternative to buses. Still not as efficient as the NYC subway, but a quick trafficless ride. This tunnel should include some sort of subway option, but it won't. and 2 lanes, yeah blocked up at least once a day.
  • markyofballard
    It is about time that some of our elected officials started earning their pay and making decisions. Let just hope it dose not get killed by some committees or Eymanization.
  • John
    Come on. We all know that the works were probably wasted 23 hours of the day while making that Boston tunnel. I mean, it's Boston. Have you ever been to Fenway?
  • boardbrown
    Just because Boston couldn't get it right doesn't mean we'll do the same.
  • Joey
    Scott quit making stuff up.

    The elected officials are elected to make decisions for us. Welcome to America.
  • clamster
    Although the tunnel is very expensive, it seems that this tunnel and surface street combo is the best solution overall. What's unclear to me is the funding and I think the tunnel got voted down before because of the expense. But, it's possible that there might be other federal funds available with the new administration coming in so that may change the financial picture somewhat. On the plus side, they can work on the tunnel and still keep the viaduct in use (as long as there's enough duct tape (or viaduct tape) to hold it together for a few more years. And, while the tunnel will be expensive, it will create a more attractive waterfront that will hopefully draw more people and businesses to that area. Overall I think it's a good plan, but expensive.
  • IntegralPoker
    By big dig standards (and I most recently lived in Boston before Seattle), $4.25B will come out to $12.75B when it's all done, and 2015 will come out to 2027. This was a terrible decision shoved down the throats of voters who specifically didn't want a tunnel, and shows that Nickels and Gregoire manage to follow up their dawdling with complete incompetence. Amazing, and an incredibly sad day for Seattle.
  • Ballardog
    uh, gurple, I see your logic in associating transportation taxes with transportation but a vote is a vote. If they want to bring back car tabs then put it back on the ballot. Elitist authoritarianism is not the answer.
  • gurple
    A OK as long as they pay for it with car tabs and not with a sales tax hike and crippling taxes on local businesses!
  • Hasfrau
    Bimmer's funny!
  • Ballardite
    Tunnel is best option. Happy a decision has finally been made! This is what is best for our city LONG TERM! Hope the protesters from Magnolia or Tim Eyman dont screw this up!
  • Bimmer
    Streetcars are great if they really have a dedicated lane and right of way, otherwise (anyone been or lived in SF?) they just get stuck in traffic more than buses.
    How should we call this new one? I propose
    Waterfront
    High
    Occupancy
    Rapid
    Elegant
    Streetcar
  • Nidwaldner
    what is the obsession with streetcars? Please tell me what value they have over buses. Anyone?
  • John
    If you look at the proposed tube design here:
    http://media.komonews.com/images/090113_viaduct...

    I know it's not final by any means, but I worry with them cutting the lanes down to 2, they will need wider shoulders on the side. One car breaks down in the middle of that thing, and traffic will be backed up to the airport, or Lynnwood.
  • mickey
    Ditto what Chud wrote. The access points for Ballard will be critical to making the plan successful.

    And, let's not rewrite history -- Reuven Carlyle was not in favor of anything but a surface/transit option (the worst option) during his campaign. So, it's a positive step that he has gotten on board with the current plan, but what other choice does he, Welles, or any other legislator have? They know that the citizens are sick and tired of the wrangling and just want something done already.

    Here's hoping the muckety-mucks in Olympia don't muck it up!
  • Ballardog
    A okay as long as they don't try and tack it onto car tabs. Voters overwhelmingly shut down that tax for good reason. What don't politicians understand about "by the people for the people" not "by the gov't for the gov't." grrrrr.
  • chud
    The biggest concern I have about this is the lack of an outlet to Western and therefore access to Elliot/15th and what that means to Aurora, the Bridge Avenue Exit from Aurora and North 39th Street between the Aurora Bridge and Leary Way. Fix that and I think we have a decent plan.
  • boardbrown
    Ah yes, 4.24 billion. Now that's more like it!

    Despite being a die hard viaduct guy, I'm glad a decision has finally been made. Hopefully it'll stick.
  • aptgal
    Thank goodness a decision has been made. Now stick with it!! GO GO GO TEAM!
  • Wiggles
    Now we can be a world class city!
  • Thomas
    Yeah Rueven! This is why I voted for him. He has vision. Keep up the good work and let's get that tunnel built!
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