Many faithful readers of the Herald wondered why we so strongly supported the monorail. You are seeing the reasons coming forward now as we all wonder how we will get downtown under the plan the state has drawn up for the tunnel that will allow that ugly and unsafe Alaskan Way Viaduct to be consigned to the dustbin of history.
The proposal not only will cost more than twice what we have in hand to pay for it, but construction will maroon many daily commuters from downtown, forcing arduous trips around the natural and man-made barriers between here and there. The current proposal does not even have off-ramps or on-ramps in the downtown section, making this tunnel even less worthy of our support.
We supported monorail so strongly because it was the only viable help for West Seattle residents to get downtown and back again once the viaduct fails or is removed.
Before the hardcore monorail haters get pen in hand to write us hate mail, we totally agree that the people running it blew up the dream with their own incompetent handling that permitted the mayor and the City Council to effectively finish off the project. It is dead and will be buried in August when the car tab tax is repealed and all bills paid.
As seen at the meeting at West Seattle High School last week, no amount of prodding by the deputy mayor kept our citizens from demanding some answers. When will the Spokane Street Viaduct be widened? Why are there no off-ramps and on-ramps from the tunnel option downtown?
Then there is the previous question, where is the money?
Instead of having official-steered yak fests on subjects the citizens of West Seattle don't want to talk about, how about a down and dirty session on the problem of the viaduct? You folks in City Hall killed our way in and out of here when you killed the monorail instead of steering it back to financial reliability.
It appears our worst nightmares will come true. "Tough it out West Seattle - we will see you again in a few years when we have built our tunnel. After all, you have to help us pay for the huge costs it will bring."
Anyone ready for a fleet of water taxis?
