Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, August 31:
we have the financial means and the technical know-how to build a cut-and-cover tunnel along our waterfront.This assumed, among other things, that the Port of Seattle would kick in $200 million. But today we read that the Port
has not yet committed money toward construction of a tunnel to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct and won't until after next year's budget reviewMeanwhile, Erica Barnett of The Stranger reports that the state DOT's soon-to-be-released revised cost estimates are expected to show dramatically higher costs for the tunnel and other Viaduct replacement alternatives. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at September 19, 2006 09:42 AM | Email This
If so, where is their $200 million coming from, operations or taxes? Would this be sort of like a "back door" tax for the viaduct?
Posted by: SouthernRoots on September 19, 2006 10:19 AM:::Finance Chair of ST in 1996 - gave some lowball cost estimates and now ST's finances are a smoldering, black hole crater (with neverending taxes);
:::Signed the "Statement For" SMP on the ballot in 2002 - gave some lowball cost estimates and SMP's finances turned into an "intergenerational debt" nightmare (with neverending taxes, mercifully killed by a dramatic intervention from Olympia);
:::Floated a neverending city property tax idea (for "street repairs") that would have diverted money to King Street station upgrades to benefit Sound Transit (plan now somewhat scaled back because everyone has his M.O. figured out now);
:::Says "we've" got money for the tunnel, no reference to who pays what.
See a pattern yet? Question for Greg: OK, big guy, exactly WHICH neverending taxes on WHICH citizens are the sources for this tunnel money?
I thought the viaduct was supposed to have collapsed by now and that the 520 bridge would sink any day.
Posted by: Jeffro on September 19, 2006 10:34 AMDue to among other issues--- labor costs...
Would an apprentice program be a contributor here.
Posted by: Andy on September 19, 2006 10:47 AMIf a toll is good enough for the barbarians of Pierce County and the Narrows Bridge project, then a toll is good enough for the snobs of Seattle.
Posted by: Libertarian on September 19, 2006 10:49 AM...I see marble support collumns, wall tiles of precious gem stones, and lanes divided with stipes of $100 bills...the brilliant colors dancing off the hand rubbed laquer black gloss of my gas guzzling limo.
Libertarian-
Not sure I agree with the barbarians comment regarding Pierce County, happen to know 2 or 3 that aren't. As for Seattle snobs, please add "elitist liberal" to Seattle snobs. Thanks, JC
as an earlier poster mentioned, as soon as the first shovel of dirt is cast, we've bought ourselves a new boondoggle.
Posted by: Jeffro on September 19, 2006 11:02 AMWonder when the MSM is going to hold Nickles accountable for his miserable track record???
Try NEVER!!
Nickels uses Sound Transit money to buy off the JOA partners. Since February of last year, the JOA has been paid nearly half a million dollars by ST for "advertising." The JOA partners are house organs for Nickels and ST; they'll keep milking that teat by making sure 1) ST's finances are never examined or criticized by reporters or editorial writers, and 2) they'll tout the "benefits" of the RTID/ST2 proposal incessently for the next year because THAT would provide a limitless supply of advertising dollars from ST going forward.
Posted by: Orotund on September 19, 2006 11:19 AMi wonder if the mayor undercuts or blows estimates when he buys personal cars, houses or other personal investments; bet not; only with YOUR money;
and Palouse is right; it's the "shovel extortion" of starting a project to force your way, then it's too late--poured concrete waits for no one; analagous to Jesse Jackson showing up at Boeing and forcing hiring practices. extortion any way you look at it;
Posted by: jimmie-hoywa-doin on September 19, 2006 12:27 PMAlso, remember that concrete strike last month? That's going to have a big cost impact on all of our public works projects. At least the ones that use concrete.
Given the current construction climate maybe the only cost effective alternative is to remove the viaduct without a replacement.
Posted by: Sstar on September 19, 2006 12:57 PMyea--i remember the strike--just like the near garbage strike--again--a handful of people halted everything for thousands; yea--that's progress; libs--the death of us yet...
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on September 19, 2006 03:46 PMEasily the least expensive, most practical and cost effective is to retrofit the existing structure. It's a GD highway that allows folks to create wealth for themselves and too much wealth for the government. Fix it and be done - NO TEAR DOWN - NO TUNNEL - NO BRIDGE. Just the same old grey highway that's been there for years.
Maybe glue a little more steel on the sides and throw some GD flower planters and tree boxes on the damn thing.
henry likes everything - he'll take one of each.
Posted by: Jeffro on September 19, 2006 03:52 PMThe concrete strike was a brilliant move by the the union. Concrete is a real choke point in construction. You can't make it in China and ship it here. You couldn't even get it from Everett or Tacoma during the strike. Non-union batch plants wouldn't risk sending trucks all the way into Seattle just to have the concrete cure in the truck en route. Total nighmare for construction.
Posted by: Sstarr on September 19, 2006 04:02 PMIt appears that the only reality here is to take down the Viaduct and make things work with what's left.
Save the rest of the money that would otherwise be spent - and all the delay that could result from this upcoming freeway war - for things that can get done in a reasonable timeframe at a reasonable cost.
Posted by: thor on September 19, 2006 06:01 PM