http://www.feetfirst.org/how-candidates-stand-on-walkability#
This is a general reminder that you should already have you ballots and they need to be postmarked by November 5th. And given that sidewalks and walkability are often one of the primary concerns in the area I thought people might be interested in FeetFirst’s guide to the candidates. The full link is above but I also pulled out two quotes on the pedestrian and bicycle bridge that members of the community helped secure funding for earlier. We got Sound Transit and the city to commit to funding for pedestrian improvements like this to go along with the planned parking garage. But the funds still aren’t secured and could be in jeopardy.
Mike McGinn, Seattle Mayor (incumbent)
1) Sound Transit has agreed to help fund a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across I-5 to connect North Seattle Community College to the Northgate light rail station. The City of Seattle needs to come up with the rest of the money for the bridge to be built. How would you do that?
There are several potential funding sources, such as real estate excise tax, Bridging the Gap funds, other tax revenues, grant funds, or a combination of those options. I will work with our central budget office to determine the best way to allocate the $5 million commitment by the 2015 “due date”, so that we can take advantage of Sound Transit funding and build this important connection.
Ed Murray, Seattle Mayor Candidate
1) Sound Transit has agreed to help fund a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across I-5 to connect North Seattle Community College to the Northgate light rail station. The City of Seattle needs to come up with the rest of the money for the bridge to be built. How would you do that?
Sound Transit and the City of Seattle have each pledged $10 million for pedestrian and bicycle improvements around the Northgate station, half of which will be devoted to the proposed bridge connecting the station to NSCC. Even so, the bridge is currently underfunded by $8-10 million, and Sound Transit will reallocate any unspent funds if this project remains underfunded by July of 2015.
It’s an unfortunate reality that Seattle cannot fund every beneficial project. We simply do not have the money. We need to get clear on our priorities, rather than relying on half measures. We have a Pedestrian Master Plan, a Bicycle Master Plan, a Transportation Master Plan, and need a Freight Master Plan. What we lack is a unified plan and coherent set of priorities. I will address this with my Move Seattle Initiative, which will harmonize different transportation modes and clearly lay out what we need to do most. This will allow us to more effectively lobby the state legislature for additional funding.
Locally, Seattle has a set of financial tools available to generate funds for public works projects. I am interested in exploring the expanded use of Local Improvement Districts, which assess taxes on nearby properties that stand to benefit from a proposed project. If a project is backed by the majority of local businesses, we can work with them to form a Business Improvement Area to generate revenue for project funding.
Return your ballot by November 5
- Mailed ballots require first class postage and must be postmarked by November 5.
- At an accessible voting center by 8 p.m.
- To a 24-hour drop box or a scheduled van drop by 8 p.m.
Thanks for the info. That is an eye-opener to say the least. Me thinks there will be no bridge. Certainly the Mall would not want to chip in. At least Murray is a realist
I think there will be a bridge. And I think we’re going to get there soon.
This has been priority project for the area for a VERY long time and is in a lot of our exiting plans. The Northgate Station is going to increase the need for access to the area and this bridge connects the mall, station, and future planned density to one of the larger colleges in the state.
Sound Transit and the city council have passed unanimous resolutions supporting this project and committing money to it:
http://www.pinehurstseattle.org/2012/06/29/20-millon-for-northgate-pedestrian-and-bicycle-improvements/
It has some of the best bang for the buck of any improvements you can make in the area as tracked by Sound Transit’s studies so far:
http://www.pinehurstseattle.org/2013/05/23/northgate-station-pedbike-access/
And they’re currently looking for matching grants federally. This was largely made possible by those resolutions from the city and Sound Transit. There are a lot of options out there for money, even now, and we need our leaders to continue to support the work that has been done so far to further this important project.
I would so like to believe you but do you have any idea what happens behind closed doors? Take a look at this pdf regarding Hubbard Park. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/levy/oversight/minutes/2011/04-25-11.pdf
First, a project like the pedestrian bridge is only a possibility with somebody who believes in it, supports it, and helps it forward. And I think McGinn has done a much better job of that so far. And his answer also makes me more confident that we’ll be able to get it done.
And second, just a bit of idealism… While there are a lot of decisions being made every day that I don’t have time to be a part of, I appreciate that there are very few closed doors in Seattle. Most boards, commissions, and official meetings are required to be open to the public. And there are actually rules that decisions can only be made in meetings that are open to the public. It’s a testament to that fact that you can post a document on that decision with details on everybody’s discussion and actions. I certainly don’t agree with the decision that was made but I appreciate that it’s not hidden and secretive.
And as a side note, I really should print that document out to use in all my conversations pushing for more funding, more grants, and more support in general for that park. 🙂
I had to be tipped to even start looking for that document. And I was on the PAT for the park. No one asked our thoughts. I will say that after 30 years of being a community activist one gets jaded. I was an idealist at your age ,too, Phillip;)
Ed Murray has now changed his stance. “Ed’s position is that improving bike and pedestrian access to the future Northgate light rail station should be considered a real priority, including an I-5 pedestrian and bicycle bridge. As Mayor, Ed will go a step beyond the current administration and not just commit partial money to a priority project, but find a way to work with public and private partners to actually fully fund it. That is what should have been done in the case of the I-5 pedestrian and bicycle bridge.”
Except that already describe’s the current administration’s stance. They’ve committed money from the city (along with the city council), helped secure matching funding from Sound Transit, and they’re working on grants and other sources to help cover the rest right now. I don’t understand what he’s now saying he would do differently…