5352-S.E AMH DICK LEAT 072
ESSB 5352 - H AMD 513
By Representative Dickerson
WITHDRAWN 4/10/2009
On page 37, beginning on line 9 of the striking amendment, strike all of subsection (23) and insert the following:
"(23)(a) The legislature finds that the city of Seattle has agreed to pay for and ensure the adequate and efficient access for freight and vehicles, and adequate and efficient access to neighborhoods along the state route 99 corridor, as part of their responsibilities in the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project as recommended by the governor, King County, and city of Seattle in the letter of agreement dated January 13, 2009. The legislature further finds that the state's responsibilities for construction of the deep bore tunnel and removal of the existing viaduct include funding and providing for the following elements: the design and construction of the state route 99 south end replacement project, between South Holgate Street and South King Street; working with the city of Seattle to design the north portal to the bore tunnel, and construction of the north portals to the tunnel; construction of the new Alaskan Way surface street; and design and construction of the state route 519 project. The elements of the city's plan include:
(i) Performing all work necessary to ensure that the Alaskan Way surface street is an efficient alternative access route for freight and vehicles, including:
(A) Operating the four-lane Alaskan Way surface street between Holgate Street via Elliot Avenue and Western Avenue to Denny Way in a manner that optimizes through traffic and freight movement to and through the surface street corridor along the waterfront, including synchronizing traffic lights and traffic control devices and erecting additional traffic lights and traffic control devices if necessary;
(B) Managing and operating access to the port of Seattle and other major destinations south of the port, including along Alaskan Way by way of the state route 99 and state route 519 interchange, to facilitate efficient and reliable traffic flow; and
(C) Managing and operating reliable and effective access to and from state route 99 and to and from the Mercer Corridor for the Port of Seattle and other residents and businesses in northwest Seattle;
(ii) Working with the state department of transportation and, prior to removal of the viaduct, developing a plan that optimizes traffic flow from neighborhoods in northwest Seattle to the deep bored tunnel, including:
(A) Providing for the efficient movement of traffic along major arterials, including but not limited to North 46th Street, North 39th Street, Nickerson Street, Dexter Avenue North, Mercer Street, and West Mercer Street; and
(B) Providing for traffic light synchronization; addressing on-street parking; reducing and managing congestion at the north and sound ends of the Aurora Avenue bridge, including congestion related to the Queen Anne Drive and 6th Avenue North turnaround; and bridge operating policies that affect congestion and traffic flow; and
(iii) Prior to removal of the viaduct, developing and implementing a plan that maximizes safe and efficient vehicle throughput on Mercer Street, including: optimizing traffic flow on Mercer Street, which includes two-way West Mercer Street improvements, and from Elliott Avenue to state route 99, and managing and operating access to state route 99 and the deep bored tunnel in a safe and efficient manner.
(b) In order to ensure that the city of Seattle complies with its commitment as described in subsection (a) of this subsection, $50,000,000 of the transportation partnership account appropriation provided in this section, or as much thereof as has not been obligated and is appropriated from this account, whichever is smaller, that is available for contribution to the south Spokane Street Viaduct component of the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project, is contingent on the city of Seattle complying with this section.
(c) All costs related to the work performed by the city of Seattle to provide adequate and efficient access for freight and vehicles along the state route 99 corridor, as described in subsection (a) of this subsection, shall be borne by the city.
(d) The city of Seattle may comply with this section, and avoid the loss of funds provided for the South Spokane Street viaduct, simply by providing a written commitment to WSDOT confirming its intent to implement subsection (a) of this subsection and to be solely responsible for all costs associated with the listed improvements. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the city of Seattle from completing the improvements to the South Spokane Street viaduct prior to beginning work on the access improvements identified in subsection (a) of this subsection."
EFFECT: Replaces the existing provision that conditions the state's contribution of up to fifty million dollars to the South Spokane Street viaduct project on the city's completion of certain city street improvements with a similar provision. Modifies the existing provision by: adding a legislative finding that certain elements of the replacement project are the state's responsibility, and making various language changes to reflect the state's responsibilities; permitting the city of Seattle to comply with the requirement to make the specified city street improvements by providing a written commitment to the state Department of Transportation confirming its intent to make those improvements, instead of permitting the city to comply by entering into an agreement with the Department of Transportation; and providing that the city may continue to work on the South Spokane Street viaduct project prior to beginning work on the listed street improvements.
--- END ---