BREAKING NEWS: Alaskan Way Viaduct to be closed beginning April 29 WSDOT announced this afternoon that they will be closing the Alaskan Way Viaduct beginning on April 29, two weeks from now, while the tunnel boring machine tunnels beneath the structure. WSDOT estimates the closure will be for two weeks. I’ll have more information next […]

News Release:
City Councilmembers today announced the public hearing date to discuss a proposed 30-year property tax bond measure of $290 million to provide public safety and protection of the Central Waterfront and related public infrastructure. The measure under consideration would be on the November 6, 2012 General Election ballot. The 30-year bond for $290 million would cost the owner of a $360K home about $59 per year.

The City Council has begun the process for placing a 30-year property tax bond measure on the November ballot to complete the financing package for the Seawall replacement and strengthening.  The Council must make a decision by July in order to place this measure on the ballot. The City has been working for almost ten […]

The project to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct is already having a major impact on transportation around West Seattle.  The construction detours have made it more challenging to access downtown – on the other hand, the City’s work on the Spokane Street Viaduct, specifically the new 4th Avenue ramp, has helped to mitigate that.  When […]

The Votes are in on Referendum 1,  and while many more ballots will still be counted, yesterday’s nearly 60% approval vote for Referendum 1 should remove any doubt about the city’s commitment to work with the state on the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.  Referendum 1 was seen as a vote on the tunnel […]

On Thursday, March 31, I and other Councilmembers joined Governor Gregoire, King County Executive Constantine, Port Commission Chair Bryant, and representatives of the legislature in a news conference reaffirming the state and regional commitment to proceeding with the necessary work to implement the plan for the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement program.  The program includes replacing […]

21 days before the 10 year anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake that significantly damaged the Alaska Way Viaduct, the Seattle City Council voted 8-1 (O’Brien voting ‘no’) to approve a series of agreements with the State regarding the tunnel and a variety of related projects.