For West Seattleites, the biggest piece of Mayor Greg Nickels' recently announced transportation proposal probably is the widening of the Spokane Street Viaduct.

Nickels' proposal, which could go before voters in the fall election, would cover Seattle's estimated $500 million backlog of transportation needs and invest in the future over the next 20 years. The Seattle City Council will hold public hearings on the plan and could change it before deciding whether to send the package to voters this fall.

The city has long planned to double the width of the connection between West Seattle and Interstate 5, which is estimated to cost between $128 million to $145 million. Money from other sources is expected to defray some of the expense.

The citywide transportation program proposed by the mayor includes money for street paving and repairs on portions of California Avenue, 35th Avenue Southwest, Delridge Way, Roxbury Street, Sylvan Way and 106th Street.

Repairs and paving would be done on West Seattle's shoreline roads too, Alki and Harbor avenues, Beach and Marine View drives, and Lincoln Park Way.

To pay for the transportation improvements, the mayor would tap three sources.

He proposed a property tax levy that would amount to $195 a year for a median-value King County home. That could raise about $65 million a year.

He also suggested charging a 10 percent fee to park at commercial parking lots to raise another $13 million.

The third source would be a business transportation tax. Employers would be charged $25 for every full-time employee. That would raise about $5.5 million and compensate for those who travel into the city to work every day but live elsewhere.

California Avenue is already scheduled for repaving this summer, from Edmunds Street to Admiral Way. The mayor's proposal would add repaving of California Avenue from the Junction south to about Frontenac Street.

Fauntleroy Way is designated for pedestrian improvements and possible transit fix-ups, from 35th Avenue to the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. Transit improvements will depend upon voters approving the "Transit Now" proposal from King County, cautioned Gregg Hirakawa, spokesman for the Seattle Department of Transportation.

New sidewalks would be installed around elementary schools, some of which have no sidewalks currently, and some deteriorated sidewalks would be replaced. Elementary schools on the list include Alki, Arbor Heights, Cooper, Fairmount Park, Gatewood, High Point, Highland Park, Lafayette, Pathfinder, Roxhill, Sanislo, Schmitz Park as well as Concord Elementary in South Park.

Just as the city shares the cost of new sidewalks with property owners, the cost of new school sidewalks would be split with Seattle Public Schools on school district property, Hirakawa said.

Bike lanes would be painted on more than 30 streets up and down West Seattle.

Many West Seattle streets views already have bike lanes, such as Alki Avenue, Harbor Avenue, Beach Drive and West Marginal Way Southwest. Other streets recommended as bike lanes would be sections of 42nd, 48th, 59th and 63rd avenues southwest, as well as Admiral Way and Thistle Street.

There are plans to build an elevated roadway on South Lander Street to move cars and trucks over Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad tracks. It would be north of the Spokane Street Viaduct and could affect traffic on the West Seattle Bridge.

The city is also planning to install new street signs all over the city. They would have larger lettering and be more reflective, Hirakawa said.

Currently Seattle street signs are 7 inches tall. The new ones would be 9 inches tall. Streets with a speed limit of at least 40 mph, such as West Marginal Way, would have street signs 11 inches tall.

According to a survey done for the Seattle Department of Transportation at a recent transportation forum at West Seattle High School, 97 percent of the attendees surveyed rated the overall condition of Seattle's transportation infrastructure "fair" to "poor." It remains to be seen if that will translate into votes for this and other transportation packages.

The Seattle City Council is scheduled to begin considering the transportation proposal June 12. Public meetings are planned in mid- to late-June.

Tim St. Clair can be reached at tstclair@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.