Letter ~ Don't Settle in Case of Sounder

The following is an email I sent this morning to the Tacoma City Council regarding Resolution 37342 before them tonight regarding the Sound Transit plans for expanding the Sounder to Lakewood through SoDo.

Mayor and City Council Members:

Please submit these comments into the public record regarding the vote on Resolution No. 37342.

As an employee that works in the area immediately surrounding the area around the proposed Sounder overpass and as someone who cares greatly about the future of the Dome District and South Downtown Tacoma I urge you not to support this resolution. I was at a meeting in the summer of 2006 where they presented plans that included the overpass option over Pacific Ave. Despite over a year vetting ideas, Sound Transit hasn't presented anything new to the citizens of Tacoma. I don't think such a major change to the layout creating new walls of concrete jutting up from the landscape and blocking minor yet important nearby roads is justified nor do I think anyone in Tacoma should just settle and believe this is as good as we'll get. Please don't disregard the possibility of great things for this area of downtown by allowing barriers like this project as it's currently proposed to be built. Let's be proud of our City and make it clear to Sound Transit that if a less intrusive option for the Sounder is needed and it costs more money that we're worth it.

With kind regards,

Kevin Freitas

Comments (2) | To Top

12/11/2007 @ 10:22pm

They voted today:

___________

Tacoma City Council members threw their support behind an elevated crossing Tuesday for the Sounder commuter rail crossing of Pacific Avenue.

The resolution of support included a lengthy list of conditions they want Sound Transit to follow as the transit agency designs and builds a 1.2-mile rail extension that will eventually extend commuter rail to Lakewood.

Link to http://www.thenewstribune.com/front/topstories/story/227321.html (edited to add link to full article - KF)

by Erik B.

12/12/2007 @ 11:36pm

(Update. Hmmm. State moving to surface level option for SEATTLE VIADUCT)

Gregoire now open to options besides viaduct replacement

By Mike Lindblom

Seattle Times transportation reporter

Related

* Archive | Groups oppose plans for viaduct's north end
* Archive | Viaduct fight: Could streets be the answer?

Over the past few months, Gov. Christine Gregoire has become more open to considering a surface-and-transit future for the Seattle waterfront, instead of replacing the old Alaskan Way Viaduct with another highway.

Gregoire said she has begun to think broadly about mobility and about Seattle's future as an "international city" — marked by population growth, a leading seaport and increased tourism — that needs a hospitable waterfront.

"If this is to be an international city, we'll have to look at the entire system. Once you do that, the surface option becomes an open question," she said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

by Erik B.