Seattle and state leaders said they heard the voters' refusal to replace the viaduct freeway with a tunnel or new elevated freeway. So why did they okay a $175 million project that would enable either?
The question is important for anyone who cares about the vitality of Seattle, which is critical to Cascadia's economy. As debate around the recent election showed, people far outside the city have strong opinions about the waterfront because it is one of the region's centerpieces.
Unfortunately plans call for immediate fixes to parts of the existing viaduct that will make it harder to be creative with the space in the future. Plans call for fixing the Battery Street tunnel and the overpass that connects to the existing viaduct. This is a step in the wrong direction. Any investment along the corridor should be to alleviate congestion -- to move people and freight -- not simply stabilize the status quo.
The state should instead begin designs to lower the roadway through the Battery Street tunnel and on Aurora Ave. -- steps to help accommodate transit to the waterfront and reconnect streets near the Seattle Center. Along with new streets and interchanges south of downtown, these changes would lay the foundation for a better waterfront.