ST Moving Forward With Pacific Crossing
Sound Transit is moving forward with their existing plans to cross Pacific Avenue in order to connect Tacoma to Lakewood. The alternative plans – the plans that try to minimize the impact to south downtown – were deemed too expensive for consideration.
From the Business Examiner Daily:
Local architect Jim Merritt and other Tacoma stake holders offered alternatives to Sound Transit officials, including one that would begin at Freighthouse Square, traveling south behind Brown & Haley’s candy factory, dropping into a covered trench along South 27th Street, then cross under Pacific Avenue and surface on South Tacoma Way, across that street from the Tacoma Rescue Mission. The alternative route, local proponents claim, would spare several businesses and preserve key traffic routes.
But studies presented today to the Sound Transit board indicate that the preferred alternative route would add an insurmountable $200 million to the project budget and tack two years onto the project timeline.
“This can’t be funded with the existing budget,” said Sound Transit Spokesman Lee Sommerstein, adding that unless the board decides otherwise, study of alternative routes for the project is over.
For now, Sound Transit will move forward with its current plan — known as Modified Alternative Two with Hood Street Loop — but remains open to discussion of business impacts, mitigation and viable alternatives.
I would be interested in seeing the itemized budget. Anybody?
Link to the Business Examiner
Previously on Exit133
5 comments
J John Sherman January 21, 2009
“[W]here Tacoma is but it seems to have run out of steam the last few years. . . .” it has run out of money and not steam in the last few years, but while steaming well; perhaps just look around Thea Foss Waterway, EPA waterway cleanup, and downtown Tacoma ‘Taxpayers’ parking areas, and new and ongoing downtown LID improvements. Enjoy what you got before the ‘Taxpayers’ pull-the-plug on their money as some just might call it ‘steam’ for tomorrows, but money is our most important natural resource, so don’t waste it and now just-let private business fund and build the new stuff needed to get back on any new tracks required.
D Douglas Tooley January 22, 2009
This early in the race there is only one thing for sure, Merritt’s involvement will help raise our politics to a more productive level, at least on urban design and related issues.
On one related issue, transportation and the Tacoma Street car, we do have money, thanks to the passage of the ST funding – as well as an expressed willingness to talk from the Puyallup Tribe.
That’s the sort of ‘steam’ we need. FWIW, if you don’t have that, money is only dangerous.
T Thorax O'Tool January 23, 2009
What are the requirements for eligibility to run?
K Kelley January 29, 2009
Cut my taxes and earn my vote!!! Easy
T Thorax O'Tool January 29, 2009
I’m more concerned about a balanced budget than lower taxes.
Granted, less taxes=good, but balanced budget with no deficit, little to no debt and being sustainable on the current tax base are more gooder.