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Planning & Projects |
Transportation |
Regional
Transportation
South
Lake Union at a Transportation Crossroads
 Transportation
is to South Lake Union what water was to the Ancient Mariner. South
Lake Union is surrounded by transportation—I-5 to the east, the
Alaskan Way Viaduct to the west, busy Denny Way to the south, and huge
volumes of Mercer Mess traffic that prevent access to the
neighborhood's treasure—Lake Union itself. Woe to the poor soul
trying to navigate the Valley-Mercer rat's maze, where one wrong turn
takes you far from your destination!
It's ironic that all this transportation cuts South Lake Union off
from once-seamless connections with the surrounding neighborhoods.
Fueled by the vision of South Lake Union's Neighborhood Plan, however,
the neighborhood is now engaged in a number of major regional
transportation initiatives that could come together to break down
transportation barriers and provide badly needed service to those who
live and work in the South Lake Union area.
Much depends on the decisions of various public agencies and the will
of voters in upcoming elections. Here are brief summaries of current
transportation initiatives of high interest to the South Lake Union
neighborhood.
LINK Light Rail
One of the options being considered by Sound Transit is a light rail
alignment under Eastlake Avenue that would include a new pedestrian
and bicycle skybridge connection across I-5 to a new Harrison Street
Station. This connection would allow for easy access to light rail
from the most densely populated part of Capitol Hill - the seven
blocks west of Broadway - and serve as a physical connection to
Capitol Hill and the Cascade neighborhoods. This route would also save
Sound Transit hundreds of millions of dollars over other alternatives.
For more information on this option, go to
www.soundtransit.org.
The Seattle Monorail Project
It is likely that this November voters will have their say on funding
for the Seattle Monorail Project, which proposes to provide Seattle
residents with north/south transit service along the western side of
the city. The routes being considered would serve the city's largest
tourist attraction, the Seattle Center, and will also be accessible
from South Lake Union. For further information, visit
www.elevated.org.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct
Since the Nisqually earthquake last March, the need to replace the
Alaska Way viaduct has become increasingly urgent, as we now know that
the viaduct and seawall are likely to fail in another major quake. The
Washington State Department of Transportation, therefore, is looking
for the best way to replace the facility without putting the highway
out of service.
This has created a lot of momentum around a "cut and cover" tunnel
solution, which would also repair the failing seawall. The new tunnel
could extend beyond Roy Street, allowing reconnection of the street
grid between South Lake Union and Seattle Center. The opportunity to
re-establish the grid between South Lake Union and the Seattle Center will
have a tremendous impact on how cars, buses and people move around.
Future funding for the viaduct project will be determined by both
statewide and regional ballot measures, possibly this fall. For more
information, check
www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/viaduct/.
Streetcar Line Concept
A streetcar line from Westlake Center to the newly redeveloped South
Lake Union Park is also under consideration. A streetcar or streetcars
could connect SLU to the waterfront, the monorail to light rail, and
downtown to Lake Union. A possible extension of the waterfront
streetcar to Lake Union is a part of the Alaskan Way viaduct study.
Realignment of Valley and Mercer
More than 50 studies over the past few decades have looked at ways to
address the Mercer Mess, but the recent sale of the city-owned
properties along Mercer Street to Vulcan Inc. has created some new
opportunities. The city is looking at the potential for a widened
two-way Mercer Street that would connect directly between I-5 and the
Seattle Center. The city could then narrow Valley Street to create a
pedestrian-oriented waterfront environment around South Lake Union
Park, a solution that would provide smoother traffic flow on Mercer
and allow South Lake Union Park to be accessed easily by pedestrians,
bicyclists, and transit riders.
Stay tuned to the South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors (SLUFAN) Web
site for further news about these vital transportation initiatives
that concern us all!
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