The debate over replacing the Seattle viaduct and other transportation projects seems to have higher stakes than ever before, but the vehemence isn't much different from earlier planning battles.
Walt Crowley points out that there was a fight between Seattle and the state over building a highway through Woodland Park in the 1930s. Here's one lesson of that history:
In transportation policy, there is rarely an obvious "right answer" because issues like the viaduct replacement involve foremost competing visions and priorities for urban design, economic development and regional cohesion, and least of all the best way to get from point A to point B.