Morning Fizz
Not Justified or Necessary
Caffeinated News & Gossip. Your daily Morning Fizz.
1. Transportation consultant Nelson/Nygaard told the city council Monday that a second, $100 million Montlake Bridge---that is, another bascule bridge to the side of the existing one---is not justified or necessary as part of the new 520 bridge project. The consultants' report concluded that the bridge hasn't even reached its existing car capacity, that bridge openings (which are unavoidable) are declining, and that "there is no direct relationship" between slow transit service and bridge openings.
"The bridge is only one potential source of delay in the corridor and no evidence can be found suggesting the bridge plays any substantial role in creating transit delay or increasing transit travel time," Nelson/Nygaard's report concludes.
"The legislature should consider reallocating the costs of the second Montlake Bridge to other, more beneficial, aspects of the SR 520 project relating to improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between SR 520 and the University of Washington/U-Link/Burke-Gilman Trail, improving transit operating conditions in the broader corridor, and toward improving the livability aspects of SR 520 project through the Madison Park, Montlake, Portage Bay, and Roanoke neighborhoods."
2. At its board meeting yesterday, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce voted to oppose I-1185, the latest Tim Eyman initiative requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes. The Chamber supported Eyman's previous two-thirds requirement measure, I-1053, in 2010.[pullquote]At its board meeting yesterday, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce voted to oppose I-1185, the latest Tim Eyman initiative requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes.[/pullquote]
The chamber's policy committee formally heard from both sides last month, and reportedly got a lecture on the Federalist Papers and democracy from state Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36, Queen Anne), an 1185 opponent, leading them to recommend that the full group come out against the measure.
They also came out in favor of the charter schools initiative, I-1240.
A Survey USA poll released yesterday found Eyman's initiative winning 58-21 and the charter schools initiative ahead 52-26. (The poll also showed that voters support I-502, the measure to legalize pot, 57-34 and support R-74, the measure approving gay marriage, 56-38.)
3. Speaking of the charter schools initiative and endorsements: The 37th District Democrats, home of state Rep. Eric Pettigrew, the legislature's biggest proponent of charters,voted to oppose the measure, 30-7, at its meeting earlier this week.
Pettigrew spoke in favor of the measure at the meeting while his seatmate, Rep. Sharon Tomiko-Santos spoke against it.
Former-deputy-mayor-turned-political-consultant Tim Ceis also spoke in favor of the measure.
4. People for Puget Sound, the conservation and anti-pollution group, announced yesterday that it is disbanding and transferring its work to two other environmental groups, the Washington Environmental Council and EarthCorps. In a statement, the group's executive director Tom Bancroft said, "Recent and current economic realities have constrained our ability to raise necessary funds to keep the organization moving forward independently."
People for Puget Sound had been in operations for more than 20 years.
5. Standing on a corner in Wallingford yesterday, Mayor Mike McGinn noted that "[fixing] potholes don't have ribbon-cuttings." He was announcing a $5 million increase in funding for basic street maintenance, including sidewalk repairs, maintaining traffic signals and signs.
Fizz asked if we could expect any ribbon-worthy or show-stopping projects in his upcoming budget, due out September 24. McGinn said: "You know what my priorities are. We'll be working to make the roads work for all users."
1. Transportation consultant Nelson/Nygaard told the city council Monday that a second, $100 million Montlake Bridge---that is, another bascule bridge to the side of the existing one---is not justified or necessary as part of the new 520 bridge project. The consultants' report concluded that the bridge hasn't even reached its existing car capacity, that bridge openings (which are unavoidable) are declining, and that "there is no direct relationship" between slow transit service and bridge openings.
"The bridge is only one potential source of delay in the corridor and no evidence can be found suggesting the bridge plays any substantial role in creating transit delay or increasing transit travel time," Nelson/Nygaard's report concludes.
"The legislature should consider reallocating the costs of the second Montlake Bridge to other, more beneficial, aspects of the SR 520 project relating to improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between SR 520 and the University of Washington/U-Link/Burke-Gilman Trail, improving transit operating conditions in the broader corridor, and toward improving the livability aspects of SR 520 project through the Madison Park, Montlake, Portage Bay, and Roanoke neighborhoods."
2. At its board meeting yesterday, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce voted to oppose I-1185, the latest Tim Eyman initiative requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes. The Chamber supported Eyman's previous two-thirds requirement measure, I-1053, in 2010.[pullquote]At its board meeting yesterday, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce voted to oppose I-1185, the latest Tim Eyman initiative requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature to raise taxes.[/pullquote]
The chamber's policy committee formally heard from both sides last month, and reportedly got a lecture on the Federalist Papers and democracy from state Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36, Queen Anne), an 1185 opponent, leading them to recommend that the full group come out against the measure.
They also came out in favor of the charter schools initiative, I-1240.
A Survey USA poll released yesterday found Eyman's initiative winning 58-21 and the charter schools initiative ahead 52-26. (The poll also showed that voters support I-502, the measure to legalize pot, 57-34 and support R-74, the measure approving gay marriage, 56-38.)
3. Speaking of the charter schools initiative and endorsements: The 37th District Democrats, home of state Rep. Eric Pettigrew, the legislature's biggest proponent of charters,voted to oppose the measure, 30-7, at its meeting earlier this week.
Pettigrew spoke in favor of the measure at the meeting while his seatmate, Rep. Sharon Tomiko-Santos spoke against it.
Former-deputy-mayor-turned-political-consultant Tim Ceis also spoke in favor of the measure.
4. People for Puget Sound, the conservation and anti-pollution group, announced yesterday that it is disbanding and transferring its work to two other environmental groups, the Washington Environmental Council and EarthCorps. In a statement, the group's executive director Tom Bancroft said, "Recent and current economic realities have constrained our ability to raise necessary funds to keep the organization moving forward independently."
People for Puget Sound had been in operations for more than 20 years.
5. Standing on a corner in Wallingford yesterday, Mayor Mike McGinn noted that "[fixing] potholes don't have ribbon-cuttings." He was announcing a $5 million increase in funding for basic street maintenance, including sidewalk repairs, maintaining traffic signals and signs.
Fizz asked if we could expect any ribbon-worthy or show-stopping projects in his upcoming budget, due out September 24. McGinn said: "You know what my priorities are. We'll be working to make the roads work for all users."
