opinion by Cary Moon and Julie Parrett, People's Waterfront Coalition

On October 25, The New York Times wrote about Seattle's Highway 99 waterfront problem, giving the "Transit + Streets" idea a fair airing as a viable option. It was so refreshing to see an article examine alternative futures for Seattle's downtown shore land, and rationally consider other approaches to mobility besides cars on highways. On the next day, the Seattle Post Intelligencer ran an op-ed by Cary Moon, urging leaders to avoid the ugly political brawl between tunnel and elevated plans, and to see the connections between global warming, infrastructure decisions, and emissions.

The Transit + Streets option--in short--would eliminate the viaduct, build a pedestrian-oriented waterfront with an access road, redirect Highway 99 traffic through downtown arterials, and increase the use of public transit in order to cut down on traffic.

So where is the decision process right now? The Seattle City Council declared the elevated option illegal, restated the tunnel as their preferred alternative, and if that proves infeasible or unaffordable, making the Transit + Streets approach Plan B. The Mayor concurred.

A recent poll showed 75% of Seattle voters believe the tunnel is too expensive. A slim majority of Seattleites and several powerful state representatives like the elevated option, primarily because it seems cheaper and simpler.

The Governor is expected to decide in November, and she's not hinting how she'll go. (Insiders are guessing elevated.) Based on how the politics shifted since the City Council's action and the new cost estimates, it seems neither the tunnel nor elevated highway has much of a chance of being built--but neither side is backing down. The People's Waterfront Coalition's short term goal is to convince leaders to sidestep this lose-lose (and expensive) battle, and focus constructive effort on a lower-cost, environmentally responsible solution.

Building any kind of highway perpetuates car dependence and increases carbon emissions when we should instead be choosing solutions that offer us viable alternatives. Now is the time to move past bad choices.

We also need to urge state officials to remove the legislative restriction against funding multi-modal solutions for viaduct replacement, so that they can fully consider a Transit + Streets proposal that invests in transit, improves the street grid to handle redistributed traffic and freight, and builds a four-lane pedestrian-friendly street on the waterfront.

Don't force Seattle to repeat a decision from 1953. It's time to invest in a more affordable and environmentally responsible solution for mobility.

Now that the ball is in the state's court, please write or call Governor Gregoire and tell her what you think. Talk to your state reps however you can: at campaign events, in the grocery store, or via phone or email.

You can leave messages for the Governor and your state reps at the toll-free legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000. By web, contact Governor Gregoire at www.governor.wa.gov. www.governor.wa.gov

To find and contact your state representatives and senator, go to: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder
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