Alaskan Way Viaduct: Transit & Streets: Action

The Transit + Streets approach would remove a segment of downtown freeway without replacing it with another. For this to work, the traffic currently flowing on the Alaskan Way Viaduct must either move to the network of surface streets or be replaced through increased use of transit and trip reduction -- the problem can only be solved with an approach integrating multiple solutions. The goal is a more livable city, restoring sightlines and easy access to Seattle's beautiful waterfront at far lower cost than any replacement freeway, while reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions but not reducing mobility and travel times.

Some important points for consideration:

• Many downtown streets have unused capacity, some 25% to 40% estimated for 2020.
• Introduction of new transit captures more ridership when timed with measures that boost its advantage over driving (like changing lanes to transit only, or increasing parking rates, or closing a segment of highway, etc.).
• Grid systems with multiple redundant routes can be more efficient than limited access highways in moving cars even if speeds are slower, especially when there are diverse origins and destinations.
• The segment of highway that would be redistributed into the grid is less than 2 miles long; 40% of the trips on the Viaduct are traveling in the downtown grid for some portion of their trip already.

King County Executive Ron Sims directed King County Metro engineers to come up with a suite of surface and transit improvements that could be made to existing surface and transit infrastructure, and on January 25, 2007 announced this plan, which he estimated could result in 35,000 fewer Alaskan Way viaduct trips per day.

Easing into Surface + Transit

Certainly, one of the biggest concerns that most people have is 'how do we know if a surface route would work, and what happens if we tear the Viaduct down and it doesn't?'. A fair question. Well, here's one proposal that might help us ease into it and find out. Let's walk through it step by step

• Step 1: Put mitigation measures into place such as widening Spokane, downtown street improvements, additional transit, etc. -- all of which are already included in the tunnel/rebuild plans to help mitigate traffic issues during the construction period
• Step 2: Put up a toll on the Viaduct during peak hours when traffic is heaviest to test out how these mitigation measures would work. The toll could be enacted right away or gradually increased as mitigation measures are put into place over the course of 4-5 years. Having a toll in place during peak hours would provide a disincentive to use the Viaduct, so more traffic will be directed to other alternatives that can be developed in parallel (mass transit, surface, etc.).
• Step 3: Then after 4-5 years the City, in conjunction with WASHDOT and the Port of Seattle, would be in a position to periodically review how things are going. That is, is the mitigation working? Are the number of people using the toll Viaduct more or less equal to the amount that a Waterfront Boulevard could accommodate? Of course, there'd be no expectation that the number of toll users on the Viaduct would need to fall to zero, but enough to understand whether Surface + Transit would work or not.
  • Step 3a: If these mitigation measures are working adequately, tear down the Viaduct and replace it with an open Waterfront Boulevard
  • Step 3b: If they aren't working then bring out the wrecking balls and build a Viaduct replacement.

Surface Improvements

The goal is a multimodal, system-wide solution where existing streets, transit, and I-5 are improved to provide mobility for the future.

• Provide more north/south through routes to redistribute Viaduct trips into the street grid.
• Provide more connections from the Spokane Street viaduct south of downtown -- some of which is now underway with the passing of the 2006 city transporation levy -- and better connect existing underused arterial streets like Dexter Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Ninth Avenue and Westlake north of downtown.
• Improve traffic flow through the downtown grid by timing traffic signals, repairing missing links on underused arterials, untangling bottlenecks, and managing turn movements. Consider more one-way streets south of downtown.
• Optimize I-5 for through trips by fixing the "weaving" problems caused by downtown ramp placement, and keeping 3 lanes northbound by closing the Seneca off ramp. Consider reconfiguring the express lanes in the future for freight, transit, and HOT lanes.
• Consider building a pedestrian friendly 4-lane urban street on the waterfront, the same width as Alaskan Way, with traffic volumes similar to 1st Ave.
• Invest in freight priority lanes on freight corridors to keep freight moving on surface streets and an improved I-5.

Transit & Trip Reduction

This combines urban densification, discouraging automobile use, encouraging transit use, and other means.

Encouraging transit use means bringing transit characteristics closer to their ideal: fast, safe, frequent, convenient, congestion-proof, and with guaranteed seating, while keeping it cost-effective, energy-efficient, high-capacity, sustainable, and easily integrated with existing transportation options.

• Invest in high capacity transit for the Viaduct corridor. One option is an extension of Light Rail to West Seattle.
• Improve bus service throughout the city to improve transit convenience for more communities.
• Implement and improve Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan to improve bicyclist facilities, safety, and convenience throughout the city and to and from downtown.
• Expansion of subsidized bus pass program, and vanpool and carpool incentives.
• Evaluate more pedestrian ferry service, Waterfront Streetcar expansion, extension of King County Metro Rapid Ride (bus rapid transit) to serve this corridor, if cost effective.
• Evaluate new approaches to automated Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) technology, which has been endorsed by the European Union as an urban sustainability tool.

Discouraging automobile use means implementing effective demand management programs to discourage use of the single-occupancy vehicles that make up the bulk of existing traffic.

• Variable tolling / congestion pricing / greenhouse gas emissions tax on local highways.
• Increase the cost of parking for commuters.
• Decrease the availability of parking for commuters.
• Parking cash out programs.
• Passive measures: fuel prices and congestion naturally increase over time.

Urban Densification means locating housing near jobs, schools, shopping, and services, so that transit, walking, and biking become convenient alternatives to automobiles. Seattle began this process under Mayor Norm Rice’s "urban village" initiative, where selected neighborhoods are "infilled" with mixed-use (ground-floor businesses + upper-floor residences) apartments and condominiums along transit corridors.

• Invest in bike lanes, bike trails and pedestrian safety and convenience throughout the city. Again, some of these efforts are now underway with the passing of the 2006 city transporation levy.

Engaging Business

Engage area businesses in a comprehensive look at ways to cut down on trips, including tools such as the implementation of best management practices, tax incentives, public education, and the use of new technologies. How can work hours be arranged differently, including work from home; how can freight trips be reduced (packaging improvements, etc.), how can we use new understandings -- such as the economic studies that show a "local multiplier effect" (greater economic benefit) when relationships are established between local businesses that keep dollars local.

Once these improvements are in place and citizens are given advance notice of the new choices, the Viaduct should then be closed and torn down. Transportation planners estimate 30% of the current viaduct trips would shift to other roads, 20% would shift to the new Alaskan Way, 25% would choose better transit, and 25% would switch to biking, walking or "just won’t happen".

The total cost of these measures, including the costs to remove the Viaduct and repair the seawall, is an estimated $1.6 billion.

Viaduct project officials are planning to close the viaduct to use for 2-4 years during construction. The traffic plan for this period defines the measures necessary to keep Seattle mobile without this segment of highway, using a similar set of strategies. After just one year, Seattleites may have already adjusted to life without it. How necessary will it be to replace it once we’re living in that new reality?

Water Access for All

In addition to get more support, there must be waterfront access guaranteed via a park and not just sight lines between waterfront view condos. This is essential or the surface + transit project will fail as it will be seen to only benefit rich developers and rich condo owners.

Kirkland is not a bad model. But better is the Olmstead brothers park, Seward Park. The houses on the land side are back from the road and the road doesn't block access to the water. Once you cross it, you are on park land.

The "working" part of the waterfront must remain so as much as possible. It's not likely that a salmon cannery is ever going to be viable here. But the cruise ship terminal to the North is viable as is the Victoria Clipper Ferry and the Washington State Ferries. The port's marina is nice if you have a large boat, but a city waterfront dweller should be able own a kayak and walk it over the water and launch it on a half a dozen spots. There should be fishing access, that's pier and water access. Fish are a sign of a healthy ecology. Some waterfront restaurants welcome but this retail area can't be just tee shirt and ice cream shops. It will never be Alki beach, or Seward Park but is sure could be better than it is now.

The secondary issue is that of the calming effect that water has on people. We are asking more people to live closer together in smaller spaces. We would like these people to all get along. Water access has been shown to have a calming effect on people. What better way to let the stress of the job evaporate than to sit on the pier and watch the sunset? To put one's kayak or wind surfer in the water and go for an evening sail?