Got Viaduct Tape?
We at Metblogs Seattle appreciate the clever bumper sticker as much as the next blog, and with all the fuss over gas taxes, monorails and light rail tunnels, it’s nice to see that somebody’s putting the “fun” back in “fundamental transit infrastructure crisis”:
Related posts:
From what I have read about the monorail, the viaduct replacement; any one of a number of high ticket items that need to be addressed right now, I think there is a general short sightedness to much of it.
Monorail - I suggest a consortium of banks with assistance from Paul Allen and Bill Gates get the monorail built with payback coming from ridership and low cost, long term bonds. Allen and Gates both have a vested interest in the community as do SeaFirst, Wells Fargo, WaMu, etc.
Viaduct - Replacement cost(s) should be looked at while the replacement structure - whether it is a rebuilt, overhauled, or torn down to build a tunnel to replace it. The tunnel will much more expensive and more expensive if it floods due to earthquake, rising sea level; what have you to repair or replace.
Traffic - We have to be smarter and work at alleviating the standard choke points for traffic at rush hour and during special events. If we are indeed part of an international economy, then why are most people still working 9 to 5? Why aren’t banks going with split shifts to match shift workers - say open from 8 to 1 then again 3 to 8? Why shouldn’t employers allow more flex time shifts for those who would work them?
I don’t pretend to have the answers, but I am not seeing the number of options I would expect to see when talking about major DOT and other city and state government expenditures.
Thanks for your time -
Respectfully - Warren Walton, Bothell