Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel

[Bruce]

That $200 million would have paid for most of the budget shortfall in the First Avenue streetcar project...if only the mayor didn't cancel it and add more costs on top of that.

I'd much rather have our Embarcadero knockoff than a High Line knockoff. While elevated views are cool, they're pretty inaccessible and don't really work well with our terrain.

[jakeroot]

Good old Apple Maps...(yes, this was fixed a while ago)...

https://twitter.com/TracyTTraffic/status/1084774959803641856

[MantyMadTown]

That $200 million would have paid for most of the budget shortfall in the First Avenue streetcar project...if only the mayor didn't cancel it and add more costs on top of that.

Wait, she canceled it? I thought the project was on hold until there was a new report on it.

[jakeroot]

That $200 million would have paid for most of the budget shortfall in the First Avenue streetcar project...if only the mayor didn't cancel it and add more costs on top of that.

Wait, she canceled it? I thought the project was on hold until there was a new report on it.

That's correct, although there is an impression that she "cancelled" it without coming out and saying so.

[Bruce]

The new report did come out (after weeks of delays from the city) and didn't recommend any actions to set the project back towards construction. It's pretty much assumed that Mayor Durkan will leave the streetcar issue to the next mayor...though her new SDOT chief did work on the DC Streetcar project, so who knows.

[MantyMadTown]

I'm really hoping someone will bring it back soon. I don't want it to be canceled forever

[jakeroot]

I'm really hoping someone will bring it back soon. I don't want it to be canceled forever

I doubt it will be cancelled forever, the current mayor just doesn't want to appear to be decisive, I guess. It's a major link between two systems. Even if the system never grows beyond SLU and Capitol Hill, at least linking those two systems would be pretty important.

I was down in Sumner yesterday speaking with the city's Community Development Director, and even they're in the early stages of developing a trolley system for their Main St (not trolley bus, rail trolley). If they get theirs built first before Seattle...that doesn't make Seattle look good.

[Bruce]

The irony of the best-quality streetcar project proposed during this fad of modern streetcars (with dedicated lanes, connections all over, filling a real need, and having potential for very high ridership) getting cancelled while other systems aren't is just laughable.

The Sumner proposal sounds interesting, but I doubt that it would get built anytime soon. The current FTA is less and less keen on funding new rail projects.

[jakeroot]

The Sumner proposal sounds interesting, but I doubt that it would get built anytime soon. The current FTA is less and less keen on funding new rail projects.

They said it was a long way's off (next administration might give it funding). They showed my class at UW how they've started to change their development guidelines to favor townhouses and pedestrian-friendly frontage (having "hired" us to work on the site of an abandoned QFC east of the Fred Meyer); they're interested in taking that to the next level with a trolley. Apparently, they've got pretty good funding going for early studies, but I'm not sure where the money is coming from.

[jakeroot]

Funny that we just brought this up. Completely out of character, Durkan has decided to build that final connection...

https://twitter.com/MikeLindblom/status/1085976986659348480

[MantyMadTown]

Funny that we just brought this up. Completely out of character, Durkan has decided to build that final connection...

https://twitter.com/MikeLindblom/status/1085976986659348480

Well I'm glad that it's now approved. All we need now is for Seattle to come up with extra funding to complete the gap. Even though it will be built at a higher cost than expected and won't be completed until at least 2025, I think connecting the two streetcar lines will be great for the city.

[Bruce]

The crux of the issue is that the entire Move Seattle levy (property tax approved in 2015) is falling apart without delivering a single major project. The RapidRide bus upgrades have pretty much been obliterated, the streetcar is on ice, and the sidewalks and bike lanes are being pushed back indefinitely.

[Bruce]

Overhead signage in the southbound tunnel.

[mgk920]

Overhead signage in the southbound tunnel.

'Burma Shave".



Mike

[nexus73]

That's pretty neat how the signs were fit into a restricted space.  I wonder how good they will look to those who drive in the tunnel?

Rick

[jakeroot]

Woah are those lit? Didn't know WSDOT was still installing sign lighting.

Anyone know if there are specific standards governing the installation of signs in restricted-height areas, like here? Like if smaller shields and text are permitted, etc. The shields here certainly look undersized (though plenty readable).

Never seen that variation of the "ferry" symbol, I don't think.

[Alps]

That's pretty neat how the signs were fit into a restricted space.  I wonder how good they will look to those who drive in the tunnel?

Rick

We'll have an idea on Saturday.

[ErmineNotyours]

Overhead signage in the southbound tunnel.

I don't see any greenout under T-Mobile Park, so that sign wasn't made too early.

I have seen that style ferry symbol in Washington: https://goo.gl/maps/oUTsvtTPQbo

[mrsman]

Overhead signage in the southbound tunnel.

I don't see any greenout under T-Mobile Park, so that sign wasn't made too early.

I have seen that style ferry symbol in Washington: https://goo.gl/maps/oUTsvtTPQbo

The signage is very nice.  It seems like many of the newer tunnels are being designed with signs that have room for only one line of text.  The Big Dig in Boston has similar signage, but not as well lit.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3632969,-71.0576811,3a,75y,121.03h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sM6Q69Ypij9jZjypJaHnjGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Bruce]

Overhead signage in the southbound tunnel.

I don't see any greenout under T-Mobile Park, so that sign wasn't made too early.

I have seen that style ferry symbol in Washington: https://goo.gl/maps/oUTsvtTPQbo

The signage is very nice.  It seems like many of the newer tunnels are being designed with signs that have room for only one line of text.  The Big Dig in Boston has similar signage, but not as well lit.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3632969,-71.0576811,3a,75y,121.03h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sM6Q69Ypij9jZjypJaHnjGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The same style of signage has been used in the I-5 express lanes for a long time.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6208019,-122.3286191,3a,75y,176.14h,84.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOIY8z3chC9FAuPpLJlTq5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[TheStranger]

Overhead signage in the southbound tunnel.

I don't see any greenout under T-Mobile Park, so that sign wasn't made too early.

I have seen that style ferry symbol in Washington: https://goo.gl/maps/oUTsvtTPQbo

The signage is very nice.  It seems like many of the newer tunnels are being designed with signs that have room for only one line of text.  The Big Dig in Boston has similar signage, but not as well lit.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3632969,-71.0576811,3a,75y,121.03h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sM6Q69Ypij9jZjypJaHnjGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The same style of signage has been used in the I-5 express lanes for a long time.

https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6208019,-122.3286191,3a,75y,176.14h,84.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOIY8z3chC9FAuPpLJlTq5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Another recent example is along US 101's Presidio Parkway stretch in San Francisco:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8029509,-122.4556708,3a,75y,88.93h,95.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sThnfoCj6HAgNrr0aiV9-3A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

Never bothered to notice this. Up until the closure of the viaduct a couple weeks ago, the ramp meters for the northbound on-ramp from Colorado Ave were briefly visible, as the temporary route for northbound 99 passed over this ramp. As someone who has an inexplicable interest in ramp meters, I had been wondering if WSDOT was going to use backplates or whatever...guess I could have known a lot sooner if I had just looked left.

[Bruce]

The February 4 date is officially official now.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/the-highway-99-tunnel-opens-next-week-here-are-answers-to-your-questions-about-the-project/

A few news media crews got to drive through the new tunnel today.

https://twitter.com/jwhittenbergK5/status/1091084951120797696

https://twitter.com/GrahamKIRO7/status/1091129211501203457

[Bruce]

KOMO video of some of the safety systems in the new tunnel:

https://komonews.com/news/sr-99-tunnel/were-proud-to-show-it-off-officials-are-ready-for-new-sr-99-tunnel-to-open

[Henry]

I'm so excited to check out the new tunnel, but I'll be sad to see the viaduct go.