A Seattle neighborhood group wants to block an expansion of the 520 floating bridge freeway because it would supposedly cause visual blight and add to global warming by encouraging cars in the city.
The new plan would replace the existing earthquake-damaged bridge with one of essentially the same four-lane size. Unfortunately current limits on road capacity -- without viable alternate forms of transportation -- don't discourage cars, they just make cars sit in traffic longer. Plans for a new bridge with two extra lanes for transit and a dedicated bike lane would encourage transit use, especially as the time to drive in a car grows longer.
Proponents of the so-called "green alternative" have cost on their side, since supposedly it would be $1.8 billion less a six-lane project, according to The Seattle Times. But residents of the region are unlikely to pony up even the remaining $3.5 billion or so without gaining increased mobility.