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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Congressional Delegation Unites to help Viaduct
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/13/2005 3:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Congressional Delegation Unites to help Viaduct
"The Viaduct is essential to ensure the safety
and economic stability of our state"
Seattle- Mayor Nickels praised Washington state’s nine U.S. Representatives for their united call to recognize the Alaskan Way Viaduct as a project of national and regional significance.
“The entire state depends on being able to move goods and services through the region,” Nickels said. “If we are not able to replace the crumbling Viaduct soon, we are risking the stability our entire economy and the livelihoods of thousands of people.
“My thanks especially to Rep. Rick Larsen, who spearheaded this effort in the House. Across party lines, the delegation recognized that replacing the Viaduct is essential to ensure the safety and economic stability of our state.”
The “National and Regional Significance” designation would allow megaprojects like the Viaduct to be eligible for greater amounts of federal funding.
Read Rick Larsen's letter to the US House of Representatives
The Viaduct is an aging structure and was seriously damaged in the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake. One quarter of all north-south traffic through Seattle use the Viaduct every day, and its collapse could devastate operations at the Port of Seattle. Each year, the port moves more than $100 billion a year in international cargo, and the region generates $30 billion in trade.
The Washington State Legislature also takes this threat seriously. In a tight budget year and across party lines, the Legislature put $2 billion dollars, nearly half the total cost, toward replacement. The total cost of replacing the Viaduct with a tunnel will cost between $3.4 to $4 billion dollars.
Locally, the City is considering implementation of a Local Improvement District and will continue working with the region to define and pass a Regional Transportation Improvement District measure.
"Our delegation is committed to helping us replace the aging Viaduct," said Nickels. "I’ll keep working right alongside them until the job is done.”
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
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