July was a very productive month for Sound Transit! This month Sound Transit: Approved a $440 million contract to build the tunnel from the UW Station to Northgate; Defined choices for the next extension to Lynnwood, with the Board scheduled to select a Preferred Alternative in November; Approved a turn back track in the Downtown […]

Sound Transit has entered an extraordinarily busy time, with new light rail construction entering a whole new phase of activity. The connection from downtown to the University of Washington is moving towards completion; the extension to Northgate and Lynnwood is actively proceeding; light rail to Bellevue and Redmond is in design; and light rail south […]

University Link is under construction between downtown and Husky Stadium.  The line from there to Northgate is going into final design and engineering.  And Seattle is also getting a new light rail station on the East Link between downtown and Redmond. East Link has already been approved by the Sound Transit Board, although there are […]

On Monday, May 14, the Council adopted a resolution describing how we will carry out the second ever update of the Seattle Comprehensive Plan.  The Plan was first adopted in 1994, and then updated in 2004.  The next update is scheduled for 2015, and will respond to lots of changes in the City (for example, […]

It’s great to be reminded that government can respond, make a decision, and actually get implementation going – fast! Several weeks ago I received a message from a constituent, expressing concerns about the crosswalk on Beacon Avenue South at the VA Hospital.  He noted that there was pretty consistent pedestrian traffic, that nearby crosswalks had […]

On Friday, November 12, the Council, meeting as the Budget Committee, completed its work on adopting some 147 amendments to the Mayor’s proposed budget and accompanying legislation.  This package will now go to the Full Council for formal adoption on Monday, November 22. The budget approved by the Council responds to the challenge of the […]

The budget approved by the City Council in Committee on November 12 and scheduled for formal adoption on Monday, November 22, funds transportation choices at their highest level ever in 2011.  It continues our commitment to implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, and does so without adopting the Mayor’s proposal to increase the […]

On Monday, September 27, Mayor McGinn delivered his proposed budget for 2011-2012 to the Council.  Details of the Mayor’s budget are usually not revealed in advance of the formal presentation, but this budget process was somewhat less transparent than past budgets have been.  Key policy proposals were not discussed with Councilmembers in advance, and outside […]

The claim that Seattle is ‘on the hook’ for AWV replacement project cost overruns is an exaggeration and serves solely to instill fear and doubt. It’s time for Seattle’s Mayor and those opposed to the regionally approved replacement alternative to face facts; the primary cause of potential cost overruns is intentional delay. Delaying the project only increases the danger of a catastrophe and hurts the economy and Seattle taxpayers.