ezra's blog

Governor lacks leadership on viaduct

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 19:27:03 -0800

The Governor made a big mistake by asking for input from Seattle voters on the viaduct. The whole viaduct debate is a falsely framed debate that will be made even more confusing by a public vote. Understanding the complexities of how the different proposed replacements will be funded and whose pocket that funding comes out of will not be clear to voters.

The fact that a reduced capacity tunnel or surface expressway, are not on the table also limits the choices presented to voters. Voters will be asked to choose between the two most auto-oriented proposals, and that simply doesn’t make sense, not for transit, the environment or the future of a livable Seattle.

If a public vote is inevitable, as it now appears, many choices should appear on a ballot. The public should vote using Instant Run Off Voting (IRV). IRV would allow voters to express their first, second and third choices, and give elected officials the ability to see these results. Only having two choices is an outmoded voting method, and in this case will really skew what the true public opinion is.

2006 is poised to be the year for transit in Seattle

Wed, 10 May 2006 09:41:44 -0700

With the demise of the Monorail last year, where pro-transit forces had been content to fight with each other, our dysfunctional family can finally reunite with the common goal of making Seattle a city where transit is #1

In 2006 Seattle voters will be presented with two transportation measures. Measures that I believe should be presented in Seattle as companion measures to get buses on the street and transit moving through the city. With the King County Transit Now! initiative adding buses to the city and the region. The transportation measure in Seattle should focus on moving buses through downtown and the city.

Creating a progressive, environmentally friendly urban city is really a recipe of an investment in transit, combined with transit oriented land use decisions, such as smart growth, affordable housing and transit oriented development.

Bus Rapid Transit makes perfect sense for Seattle

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:18:00 -0700

All it takes is a little inspiration and some political will to get the ball rolling with creating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the Seattle region. While rail transit is an important strategy for connecting urban centers and serving neighborhoods, building new rail infrastructure takes time and funding to complete.

For Bus Rapid Transit, the infrastructure already exists, because the streets are already built! A new network of BRT routes, traveling in separate bus lanes on existing streets, could just take several years to complete. Just imagine how exciting it would be to have BRT routes criss-crossing the metro area, connecting neighborhoods and providing mobility throughout the region by the end of this decade.

In Curitiba, Brazil the city has spent decades building a BRT system. This system has inspired many cities throughout the world because in Curitiba they don’t wish they had a rapid system, they’ve built one, and because it’s a system of buses, it’s not cost prohibitive to operate.

Seattle lacks progressive values when it comes to public access for cable

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:41:27 -0700

The sweetheart deal for Comcast working its way through city hall does little to benefit access to communications for Seattle residents.

In a Progressive city like Seattle while we’re being lauded for our leadership on issues like the Kyoto Treaty and global warming, we’ve done little to create access to cable television and the ability to create original programming for Seattle residents.

“Public Access “ programming is the missing link in the new sweetheart deal with Comcast. Demand has been strong for creating public access programs, and the limited space on one channel has not kept up with the demand. With each subsequent contract, funding from Comcast for equipment for the Public Access channel has been reduced, while funding for the Seattle Municipal channel has been increased. The programming for the municipal channel is controlled by the city, not by the public.

Very few people would disagree that the programming on Seattle’s Public Access channel often lacks quality. Yet the conundrum of bad programming and open access can be addressed by creating two Public Access channels, one with ongoing shows that are approved by the Public Access Board of Directors, the other channel open to the public on the existing lottery system. With an investment in equipment for show producers and with two Public Access channels, Seattle will be able to claim our Progressive label. We’ll be able to create real access for the public to producing quality community television for civic issues, the arts and for other points of view.

Seattle transportation priorities must focus on transit

Sat, 08 Apr 2006 12:15:13 -0700

The City Council and Mayor in Seattle are deliberating and deciding the priorities for increased transportation funding this year, probably in the form of a city-wide ballot measure this fall, spurred on by the desire of the Mayor to find some funding for burying the Alaskan Way Viaduct in a tunnel on the waterfront.

Transit funding must rise as a top priority for this ballot measure. Any ballot measure in Seattle in 2006, must include a significant amount of funding dedicated to increased bus service and new transit hubs.

Basic transportation improvements remain important for Seattle. Lets not diminish the importance of sidewalks (for those areas that lack them), bike lanes and fixing the backlog of street repairs. Yet these priorities, which can also come from an increased allocation from general fund dollars, are basic quality of life issues, and are not specifically related to congestion relief and creating alternatives to car dependence with better transit.

Removing or burying the viaduct must be a top priority for the city. Yet, the funding for this project must also be part of a long-term plan in Seattle to create a vibrant downtown. A downtown of increased density, with a focus on new affordable housing and serving as Seattle’s primary transit hub.