First SR 99 tunnel tolling committee meeting Thursday
Published on Wed, Dec 7, 2011 by Washington State Department of Transportation - NEWSRead More County & State
SEATTLE – Seattleites advising the city and state about ways to reduce anticipated State Route 99 tunnel traffic impacts will meet for the first time this week.
The SR 99 Tunnel Project’s Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Puget Sound Regional Council board room in Seattle.
The committee was created by the Washington State Department of Transportation and city of Seattle and will assist in exploring ways to reduce traffic diversion due to tolls and meeting the project’s funding goals. It will also investigate non-tolling strategies for reducing or mitigating traffic diversion.
“We need to ensure that the tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct operates in a way that serves both the needs of SR 99 users and the surrounding community,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. “The expertise on this advisory committee will play a key role in achieving our traffic management and funding objectives.”
WSDOT, Mayor Mike McGinn and the Seattle City Council each appointed five members of the 15-member committee. Members represent a wide variety of those potentially impacted by the project, including freight, residents of adjacent neighborhoods, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians.
“This committee and their insight will be critical as we further our tolling analysis for the SR 99 tunnel,” said Seattle Councilmember and Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen.
“We are giving this committee an important and difficult task - recommending ways to minimize impacts from traffic diversion on city streets while maintaining tolling revenue required to fund the project,” said Mayor McGinn.
The public is welcome to attend committee meetings to view the information presented and submit written comments. Committee materials will be available following each meeting at www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.
The advisory committee will submit its initial recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, State Transportation Commission, Seattle Mayor and Seattle City Council by December 2012. It will finalize its recommendations in December 2015, when the SR 99 tunnel is scheduled to open and tolling begins.
For more information about the SR 99 Tunnel Project, part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/Tunnel.
The SR 99 Tunnel Project’s Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Puget Sound Regional Council board room in Seattle.
The committee was created by the Washington State Department of Transportation and city of Seattle and will assist in exploring ways to reduce traffic diversion due to tolls and meeting the project’s funding goals. It will also investigate non-tolling strategies for reducing or mitigating traffic diversion.
“We need to ensure that the tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct operates in a way that serves both the needs of SR 99 users and the surrounding community,” said Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. “The expertise on this advisory committee will play a key role in achieving our traffic management and funding objectives.”
WSDOT, Mayor Mike McGinn and the Seattle City Council each appointed five members of the 15-member committee. Members represent a wide variety of those potentially impacted by the project, including freight, residents of adjacent neighborhoods, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians.
“This committee and their insight will be critical as we further our tolling analysis for the SR 99 tunnel,” said Seattle Councilmember and Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen.
“We are giving this committee an important and difficult task - recommending ways to minimize impacts from traffic diversion on city streets while maintaining tolling revenue required to fund the project,” said Mayor McGinn.
The public is welcome to attend committee meetings to view the information presented and submit written comments. Committee materials will be available following each meeting at www.alaskanwayviaduct.org.
The advisory committee will submit its initial recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, State Transportation Commission, Seattle Mayor and Seattle City Council by December 2012. It will finalize its recommendations in December 2015, when the SR 99 tunnel is scheduled to open and tolling begins.
For more information about the SR 99 Tunnel Project, part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR99/Tunnel.
