Making progress on light rail. Several key elements of Sound Transit’s 15.6 mile Central Link Light Rail from downtown Seattle to SeaTac Airport were completed in 2007, including much of the construction in Rainier Valley; one of two deep tunnels through Beacon Hill to connect tracks from downtown to Rainier Valley; the operations and maintenance base in SoDo; the Downtown Transit Tunnel upgrade allowing light rail to share the tunnel with buses; and delivery of the first rail cars. Launching the South Lake Union line of the Seattle Streetcar. The Seattle Streetcar began operating in December, along the 2.6 mile South Lake Union line. Connecting the South Lake Union and Denny Triangle neighborhoods with downtown Seattle and with regional transportation systems, the streetcar line hit the 100,000 riders mark in a mere 43 days, instead of 105 days as projected. Keeping pedestrians & motorists safe. The automatic cameras installed at four high-traffic intersections to catch motorists who endanger lives by running red lights proved effective. After this successful one-year pilot project, the Mayor announced 24 additional red light cameras will be installed at 19 intersections throughout Seattle in 2008. Other improvements to pedestrian and driver safety made in 2007 include installing 26 pedestrian countdown signals, repainting 789 crosswalks, improving signage for 26 school zones, building 13 blocks of new sidewalks, repairing 14 blocks of existing sidewalks, and initiating an Aggressive Drivers Response Team to help tackle the serious problem of road rage. The City also continued its traffic safety campaign to reduce fatal and disabling collisions along the Rainier Avenue South corridor. We installed four electronic signs displaying the speed of passing vehicles, added pedestrian count-down signals at select intersections, conducted targeted police enforcement, and installed billboards reminding drivers that “crashes cost.” Fixing potholes & maintaining streets. The City paved 27 lane miles of arterial streets, and chip-sealed 33 lane miles of residential streets. Crews repaired 94 percent of potholes within two business days after they were reported. Helping commuters. The City installed eight new traffic signals, performed maintenance on 1,000 signals, replaced 20 traffic control cabinets, improved 12 high-collision locations, and upgraded two left turns at traffic signals. City crews replaced approximately 6,300 regulatory signs and 1,043 street name signs. Taking care of bridges. The City completed the replacement of the Fremont Bridge approaches in 2007; all four lanes were open by July 4. The City also completed environmental review and reached the 50 percent design level for replacing the Magnolia Bridge. Investing in clean & green transportation. The City’s fleet now includes 443 advanced technology and alternative fuel vehicles. In 2007, the City’s fleet used 700,000 gallons of B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). The City also used 17,000 gallons of B40 (40 percent biodiesel and 80 percent ULSD) in a continuing pilot project to evaluate B40 use in the City’s fleet. Supporting bicyclists. Seattle’s award-winning urban bike trail system grew with an extension of the Burke-Gilman Trail in north Seattle and the opening of the new Chief Sealth Trail in southeast Seattle. The City marked 20 miles of streets with bike lanes or shared-use road markings (“sharrows”), and installed approximately 70 bike route signs. The City adopted the Seattle Bike Master Plan, which sets a goal for increasing bicycling three-fold within the next 10 years, and furthers Seattle’s effort to become the most bicycle friendly city in the nation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by trading motor vehicle with bike trips. Taking care of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The City, state, and county formed a partnership to explore options for replacing the viaduct along the central waterfront, and formed the Alaskan Way Viaduct Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The agencies moved forward on six safety and mobility improvements on the north and south ends of the corridor.