The Mayor’s 2005-2006 budget proposal provides $159 million in funding for 190 projects that support 38 neighborhood plans. The proposed capital improvement program would invest more than $67 million in 2005, an increase of $16 million from 2004. Then, in 2006, $92 million would be spent on neighborhood projects. The Mayor protected the

Here are some highlights of projects and programs planned for Admiral, Delridge, Georgetown , Greater Duwamish, Morgan Junction, South Park , West Seattle , Westwood-Highland Park and surrounding neighborhoods.

Get Seattle Moving

In 2005, the Mayor’s budget proposes to repave more than 85 lane miles of city streets, including more than 44 miles of arterial roadways. His proposal also includes improving the timing of traffic signals at more than 150 locations and installing 55 new curb ramps. In addition, the Mayor’s budget includes funding to fill up to 70,000 potholes if needed.

• Duwamish Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) - Provides real-time information to drivers through more traffic cameras, new electronic message signs and for the first time, controlled coordination between the mainline railroad gates and Seattle’s adjacent traffic signals. Special signal timing will be provided to help traffic "recover" from long freight train impacts.
• Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail - Designs the final section of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail, from Jose Rizal Bridge to I-90 to Puget Sound. Funding also provides construction of the portion of the trail from 4th Ave. S to Airport Way by Safeco Field. The City received a Transportation Enhancement Program grant for the first phase; this project is also funded by the voter approved 2000 Parks Levy.
• Improvements to SR-519 - Addresses growing congestion in the South Downtown area. Preliminary engineering and environmental assessment analysis will be completed and $5 million in Transportation Improvement Board grant funds will help move existing railroad tracks west, and street reconstruction to allow waterfront traffic to bypass the majority of the rail-switching tracks. A truck-only access road will be built between Terminal 46 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Inter-modal yard to improve freight movement. Project design integrates with Alaskan Way Viaduct and Port of Seattle Terminal 46 redevelopment. Partnership with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), King County, the Port of Seattle, BNSF, First & Goal, and the Baseball Public Facility District.

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Keep our neighborhoods safe

Seattle has one of the lowest violent crime rates of any major city in the nation. However, property crime and illegal drugs remain an issue in our neighborhoods. The Mayor’s budget proposes to expand the Neighborhood Corrections Initiative Teams (NCI) into all five police precincts. This is a partnership between Seattle Police and the state Department of Corrections (DOC), which allows officers to more effectively supervise DOC clients residing in the city. NCI teams are proactive and they are often able to intervene before crimes occur. The Mayor also proposes to reconstitute the Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA) program, which helps keep known drug offenders out of neighborhoods where they cause the most harm. All neighborhoods will also benefit from the addition of two full-time staff members for the Seattle Disaster Aid and Response Teams (SDART) to train Seattle neighborhoods to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours following a major disaster.

• Begin Construction of the City’s Joint Training Facility – Provides a resource within city limits for specialized and legally required training for employees of the Fire Department, Seattle Public Utilities, and the Seattle Department of Transportation. Much of the training equipment is cross-functional; all three departments, for example, require training for tunnel extractions and elevated tower operations, including rescues. Specialized training requirements for the Fire Department will be incorporated; potential features include classrooms, conference rooms, an apparatus bay and associated equipment storage, locker rooms, as well as training props that include a six-story drill tower, two-story burn building, covered woodworking and welding prop, collapsed building scenario prop, trench safety and rescue props, a sand throw prop, and heavy equipment practice area.
• Begin Burying of the Myrtle Reservoir - In order to improve water quality, enhance security of the water supply, and provide much needed open space, the City will begin burying this water supply reservoir.
• Reduce Flooding on Major Arterials – To reduce the risk of urban flooding, improvements will be made to the storm drain system along Delridge Way Southwest, Southwest Myrtle Street, 4 th Avenue South, 8 th Avenue South, and 7 th Avenue South.
• Reduce the Landslide Risk– To reduce the risk of landslides, improvements will be made to the drainage systems at 47 th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Maplewood, Atlas Place Southwest and Southwest Juneau, Marine View Drive and 47 th Southwest, Southwest Jacobsen and Alaska Avenue Southwest, and Southwest Prescott and Admiral Way.

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Create jobs and opportunity for all

The Mayor’s budget proposal maintains $160,000 in funding for neighborhood business district grants. Like neighborhood matching funds, these grants enable business districts to determine how to best serve the economic development needs of their neighborhood. The Mayor’s proposal also funds Community Technology Grants of $80,000 to provide matching funds and technical assistance to underserved communities.

• Improve the Power Infrastructure – Since economic development cannot happen without reliable infrastructure, the City proposes to strengthen the power–supply system, including improvements to the Massachusetts Street Substation.
• Provide Funding for Technology to Underserved Communities –Through the cable franchise agreement, the City will also provide 88 high speed cable broadband connections worth more than $150,000 to community organizations. Those who received these connections in 2004 include: Community Schools of West Seattle, High Point Community Council, Westwood Heights Technology and Senior Center, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and the West Seattle Senior Center.

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Build strong families and healthy communities

With the passage of the Families and Education Levy, we will increase investment in children and youth by $4 million, for a total of $31 million, benefiting families in every neighborhood. The Mayor’s Children and Youth Budget aligns levy funds with general fund support.

The Mayor’s 2005 budget will maintain full funding for the capital funds to increase and preserve rental housing ($20 million), expand our supply of affordable homeownership units ($3.6 million) and repair and weatherize existing housing stock ($4.3 million).

Support the Development of Croft Place – The City is supporting the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA), which is currently building townhouses for formerly homeless families. The project is designed to accommodate large families and complement the single-family home neighborhood.

• Assist with the Development of Cooper School – The City is assisting the DNDA to redevelop the long-vacant Cooper School into an arts/cultural neighborhood center with live-work housing. The building is expected to house a number of arts programs, as well as a public alternative middle school for at-risk youth.

• Stabilize arts and cultural investments – Restoration of Admission Tax funding for arts and culture ensures support for neighborhood arts council initiatives, access to arts experiences in communities and after school youth arts training. Funding supports programs like the Nature Consortium in West Seattle, whose annual Arts-in-Nature Festival at Camp Long explores environmental issues through arts and cultural activities and the High Point Diversity Festival.
• Build Brandon Mini-Park - Develop a neighborhood park with recreational courts, a playground, and a picnic shelter.
• Puget Boulevard Commons – Improve the boulevard; consider expansion of the P-Patch.
• Complete Yancy Street – Finish the improvements to the Yancy Street open space with the completion of the Dragonfly Pavilion, including a garden of native and drought-tolerant plants. The project has also added trails and access to Longfellow Creek, restored wildlife habitat, and created outdoor classrooms for use by local schools.
• Georgetown Playfield – Improve the landscaping and field surface.
• West Seattle Stadium - Improve the stadium for a variety of active uses including track and field.

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