C.R. Douglas Interviews Dow Constantine

“his recent emergence as a full-blown fan of the deep-bore tunnel, a position that pits him squarely against Mayor Mike McGinn”

Because he wants to have a future in politics? Just a wild guess.

I, on the other hand, am hoping that the entire interview in not focused on the tunnel. There are some other very real issues that might be more important than this one. Folks need to get a grip.

I, on the other hand, am hoping that the entire interview in not focused on the tunnel. There are some other very real issues that might be more important than this one. Folks need to get a grip.

Actually, he said he entered this not giving a shit whether they did surface or the tunnel, just as long as they didn’t rebuild that monstrosity. He attended many of the stakeholder meetings. He said the 29 people came at this with all different perspectives, but it became clear that they just couldn’t make surface work, and by the end they all agreed (including Carey Moon!) that the DBT was the best option.

Like I said.

He’s the Executive now Erica, not a council member. That’s twice in the last week.

When did Cary Moon agree to that? It hink she would be pretty surprised to hear that she agreed to that.

Reasons he cited on KUOW were that they couldn’t make surface work. Access to downtown will actually be improved because rather than cars lining up at 2 exits they will filter out onto the surface grid just like with the surface plan and access downtown from countless different places. You work against having a dense thriving urban center when you remove capacity at the core, forcing people and businesses outward to places where they can get around.

He also said we need to retain our industrial jobs–not everyone can be writing code–and turning that area into an impassible morass will cause businesses to relocate to places like Auburn. The tunnel opens up the waterfront, both the viaduct and the surface freeway cut off the waterfront. The tunnel can be built with the viaduct still in place so our economy doesn’t take a huge hit from 3 years of no access. The tolling study actually found that people would only not take the tunnel when traffic was light anyway. Buses can’t move in gridlock anymore than cars can.

Nick Licata called in and said the council’s consultant had found that surface would cause more pollution because cars would be crawling along in a huge waterfront parking lot, and that downtown streets would get so maxed out it would be impossible to add transit in the future.

At the end of the stakeholder process. I believe she mentioned it in an article at the time, I’ll try to find that. He said she was also a big fan of the south portal interchange that’s she’s now so convinced is going to destroy Pioneer Square.

he is the Executive. you earn that title.

You implied that he’s pandering to the voters, whereas his motivation is trying to make the waterfront and the region better. Most of the people in his home district of West Seattle, as well as Ballard and Magnolia, want another viaduct.

Seattle Times 12/19/08–A viaduct stakeholder group Thursday afternoon added to the mounting pressure to continue consideration of a deep-bore tunnel as one option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. For the stakeholders, the tunnel is far from dead…”We need to move forward with something we can afford now, but leave the door open (for the tunnel),” said stakeholder Cary Moon, with the People’s Waterfront Coalition, a supporter of a surface-street viaduct replacement. “We need to continue to study the tunnel if funding becomes available.” http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008537898_viaduct19m.html

Seattle Times 12/19/08–A viaduct stakeholder group Thursday afternoon added to the mounting pressure to continue consideration of a deep-bore tunnel as one option to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. For the stakeholders, the tunnel is far from dead…”We need to move forward with something we can afford now, but leave the door open (for the tunnel),” said stakeholder Cary Moon, with the People’s Waterfront Coalition, a supporter of a surface-street viaduct replacement. “We need to continue to study the tunnel if funding becomes available.” http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008537898_viaduct19m.html

This is a better source for his opinion on the Tunnel than you could possibly get in an open forum.

You forgot to mention Licata’s comment about increased fatalities with a Surface Option (there is your radio teaser, Surface fanatics).

Considering Constantine has a Masters in Urban Planning, participated in Stakeholder Meetings, and has been involved in this process since it started 10 years ago, I trust he knows what he is talking about when it comes to the viaduct replacement issue. He is one of many progressive voices in Seattle who recognize the current plans for a surface option will not work and that there is no money for new transit, making the tunnel the best current option.

Per the insinuation that he is pandering to voters, I have been represented by him in West Seattle for 6 years and have never seen that. I have seen him speak at many events and have talked to him myself on a few occasions. He will say what he believes on an issue – even when it is not popular. I think he is doing a great job as a thoughtful and focused leader at a time when our region and state definitely need that

How does the viaduct “cut off the waterfront”? Even a blind person could walk between downtown and the waterfront without being blocked by the viaduct.

How does the viaduct “cut off the waterfront”? Even a blind person could walk between downtown and the waterfront without being blocked by the viaduct.

note that the deep bore agreement still lacks funding: the one percent MVET for Metro has not been enacted and service is being cut; the Port has sorta promised $300 million; WSDOT may find $400 million from tolling; Seattle needs to raise about $900 million for the seawal replacement and the connecting arterials. Cary Moon correctly phrased the funding issue; the deep bore was launched any way.

Dow remains a consistent voice of reason and progress. He’s one of the few local politicians that retains his credibility year after year. He’s making consistent reforms to the County and is doing it from the at all levels by giving employees at all levels a stake in the process of change management. Thank you Dow for trying something new. You are a refreshing change!

It seems like Mr. Constantine has spent his time in office holding on to Chris Gregoire’s apron strings.

It seems like Mr. Constantine has spent his time in office holding on to Chris Gregoire’s apron strings.

It seems like Mr. Constantine has spent his time in office holding on to Chris Gregoire’s apron strings.

We want LINK!

It seems like you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.