Seattle Forward

More Facts and Good News on Alaskan Way Viaduct

There was good news yesterday from the Governor on her decision related to the central waterfront.  Read today's Seattle Times and Seattle PI reports on her decision to delay a final decision until additional cost analysis can be completed. 

Also yesterday architect Jeffrey Ochsner, a local authority I respect, wrote an interesting opinion piece in the Seattle Times that raises questions about the surface-only option that has southbound traffic on Alaskan Way at the waterfront's edge and northbound traffic on Western Avenue, the so-called surface-transit couplet option.

Local deep-bore tunnel experts have also provided additional perspective and commentary to state transportation planners on their belief that the tunnel option, linked with some sort of surface-transit option, in the best possible long-term solution.  You can read their most recent letter here:  Download Experts' Viaduct Deep Bore 12-22-08 Letter.  Read the experts' earlier communications with the state on the efficiency and effectiveness of a deep bore tunnel here, along with my personal perspective. 

As I have written before, I have four personal criteria that I will use to evaluate the decisions to be made; all four are important and I've listed them here in no particular order.  Will the final decisions . . .

• Enhance, stimulate, and grow our economic diversity—maritime, manufacturing, freight, tourism, and downtown retail and service industries.
• Enhance mobility of people through and in and around our central city—buses, streetcars, vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles.
• Enhance and create new public places—more open space and parks, better sight lines/views, better connections to the waterfront.
• Enhance public safety—create an environment where people are and feel safe 24/7 throughout the downtown district and waterfront.

While some will be disappointed with further delay—even if it's only three or four weeks—we cannot afford to get this wrong.  Far too much is at stake.  Good for the Governor for stepping back and allowing for additional thinking and planning. 

City Snow Response & Public Comments

Council President Conlin released this statement earlier today.  Note the special meetings and public hearing scheduled next week.

The City must learn from this experience, review policies, procedures, and equipment, and identify improvements immediately.  The Council cannot undue the difficulties the last few weeks have brought, but we can make a genuine effort at learning from this situation and finding constructive ways to do better.

We will review the City's performance in this storm, with the goal of identifying lessons learned and determining what specific steps can be taken to improve the response.  The council intends to create a work plan that will implement those recommendations as soon as possible (the storm season is far from over).

The City Council does not directly manage the departments and a number of the policies and procedures for response to these kinds of situations are administrative.  We do have a responsibility to the public to improve government response, provide the budget for training, new equipment, if needed, and other improvements.

The Council’s review will begin on Monday, January 5, at our regular Monday morning

Alaskan Way Corridor Perspective

In the next few weeks, our region will make critically important decisions about transportation along Seattle's waterfront.  The decisions we make will have huge impact on our economic viability, our quality of life, and our environment.  These are 100-year decisions and require razor sharp objectivity, creativity, and leadership. 

I have four personal criteria that I will use to evaluate the decisions to be made; all four are important and I've listed them here in no particular order.  Will the final decisions . . .

• Enhance, stimulate, and grow our economic diversity—maritime, manufacturing, freight, tourism, and downtown retail and service industries.
• Enhance mobility of people through and in and around our central city—buses, streetcars, vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles.
• Enhance and create new public places—more open space and parks, better sight lines/views, better connections to the waterfront.
• Enhance public safety—create an environment where people are and feel safe 24/7 throughout the downtown district and waterfront.

There are three decision makers:  Governor Gregoire, County Executive Sims, and Mayor Nickels.  At the end of the day, the Governor is the key player here.  She will in fact make the final decision, in my opinion. 

Based on what I've read and heard so far, I favor

Exchange of Values: Incentive Zoning and Growth

This afternoon, the Council will vote on important legislation related to urban growth, density, and affordable housing.  The Council bill is the result of multiple committee meetings, public hearings, workshops, and dozens of conversations over the past year. 

The legislation we vote on today provides robust incentives to builders in exchange for affordable housing.  The legislation advances sound public policy—clustering of density with diversity of housing.  And, the legislation reflects what our city desires—growth that is limited to select areas, contributes to our diversity, and is socially just. 

I’ve put more time into this issue than any other.  I’ve read countless articles, studies, books, and letters.  I’ve listened to speakers tell me that this legislation is an excellent step and will spur the construction of much needed affordable housing. Others have said that this legislation will stifle development and put up insurmountable barriers to new construction.  Still others believe the legislation is a give-away to developers. 

2008 Mid Year Crime Stats Released

Here are links to SPD's January-June crime stats.  Precinct boundaries changed in 2008 so precise comparison to 2007 stats precinct-by-precinct is not possible.

 

Crime Statistics Main Page

http://www.seattle.gov/police/crime/default.htm

 

2008 Midyear Crime Statistics

http://www.seattle.gov/police/crime/STATS.htm

 

Comparing Precinct Crime Statistics

http://www.seattle.gov/police/crime/PREC_TRANSITION.htm

 

Street Cars and Seattle's Future

(UPDATE @ 6:05 p.m.) The Council voted 6-3 this afternoon to continue planning related to a possible streetcar network.  Our vote did not authorize any new expenditures or give the go-ahead for a streetcar network.  Councilmember Licata offered two amendments to the resolution that passed, then voted with the majority of council members.  It's a good compromise that allows for continued planning and feasibility work.

(Earlier Post)  A reactive mindset creeps into our local discourse from time to time that stifles imaginative thinking and threatens to halt projects that push the edge or require bold steps.  I call it “status quo thinking” that seeks to keep things just the way they are. 

I’m certainly glad our city leaders didn’t do that at the turn of the twentieth century because we would be paying nearly $340 million more in annual electric utility bills if they had.

In 1902—Seattle’s population was about 81,000—J. D. Ross and some other early pioneers pushed the edge by dreaming up a series of dams in the North Cascades to supply Seattle with electricity.  Many people thought they were nuts and complained bitterly about the project’s costs since electricity only cost 20 cents per kilowatt hour. 

Police Target Drivers Who Fail to Yield to Peds

On average, a vehicle strikes a pedestrian in Seattle 1.5 times per day.  By far, the most common contributing factor to these collisions is a driver failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian when required to do so, for example when the driver is making a right turn at an intersection and the pedestrian is in the crosswalk.  The vast majority of pedestrian injuries occur at intersections.

Over the summer, Seattle police began special emphasis patrols at select intersections that focused on driver's who fail to yield.  Using plainclothes officers, police set up "sting" operations.  The most recent "stings" were conducted on Friday, November 21 at 41st and Stone Way and at Martin Luther King and East Alder Street.  Here's what happened during an approximately one hour "sting" at each location:

41st and Stone Way, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
17 failure to yield to pedestrian, one driver's license violation, three using cell phone while driving, four proof of insurance, three expired tabs, and one driver inattention, 29 total citations.

Martin Luther King Blvd and East Alder Street, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
20 failure to yield to pedestrian, one no front license plate, five expired tabs, one failure to use seat belt, seven proof of insurance, 35 total citations.

These emphasis patrols will continue in the future as our city attempts to increase driver awareness of pedestrian safety issues.  So, beware drivers!  Watch for pedestrians.  The poor soul you cut off or nearly run down could be a plainclothes police officer who will radio your vehicle description forward to other officers waiting to issue you a citation.

Read previous postings about pedestrian safety in Seattle, including all the statistics.