City of Seattle Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

NEWS ADVISORY
SUBJECT:   Nickels Budget Would Pave More Streets at Lower Cost
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    9/17/2002  10:15:00 AM	FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of the Mayor  (206) 684-4000

Nickels Budget Would Pave More Streets at Lower Cost

Seattle – Mayor Greg Nickels today announced that the City would pave 20 percent more miles of streets next year using fewer funds than are being spent this year.

Nickels said his 2003-2004 budget will re-prioritize transportation funds and contribute $4.3 million for paving, compared to this year’s $4.9 million.

"From the day I took office, we have been looking at how to be far more efficient and effective with tax dollars," Nickels said. "As a result, we’ve been able to cut departmental costs in several ways, including using more efficient materials."

The mayor added that no General Fund dollars would be used for street paving. The money earmarked for paving is being redirected from elsewhere in the City’s transportation budget.

Seattle paved 20 "lane miles" of roadway this year and will pave at least 24 lane miles next year, Nickels said. "Well paved roads mean fewer potholes," he added. "By taking care of our roads, we make it easier to get around. That’s good for business. It’s good for people. And it just makes sense to take better care of what we have."

Today’s announcement is one in a series of proposed budget initiatives the mayor is releasing prior to submitting his final budget to the City Council on Sept. 23.

"By developing transportation solutions that get back to basics, make it easier to get around, and shape the future," Nickels said, "we are creating a transportation system that offers more choices, encourages greater investment, and makes life easier."

Other transportation system highlights from the mayor’s 2003-2004 Proposed Budget include:

• Continuing to fund the Pothole Rangers program. The Pothole Rangers have filled more than 1,200 potholes since the program was started in January.
• Completing approximately 10 bike trail connections in Seattle’s bike trail system over the next two years, thereby linking dozens of neighborhoods that previously lacked access to the city’s extensive bike path network.
• Improving the timing on more than 200 signals to reduce unnecessary delays at stoplights.
• Installing approximately 20 cameras on major roadways with live feeds to the Seattle Department of Transportation Website to help drivers avoid bottlenecks or accident-related congestion.
• Providing better signage in major freight corridors to help businesses get their shipments faster.
• Investing $5 million to begin an environmental impact study and design work on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall.
• Continuing the City’s aggressive program to provide better signage near schools so that children walking to and from their neighborhood school will be safer. The mayor’s budget matches the 800 new signs erected on residential streets this year with 800 more.
• Constructing 80 blocks of new sidewalks.
• Securing county and federal dollars to bring express bus service to Aurora Avenue.
• Pursuing $70 million in regional funds to help reduce the Mercer mess.

Mayor Greg Nickels understands that traffic congestion is Seattle’s biggest headache and a continuing threat to the local economy. The mayor’s proposed budget for 2003-2004 tries to do more with fewer dollars, including paving more roads at cheaper cost, and to make real progress on the city’s traffic problems. The mayor’s transportation program gets back to basics, makes it easier to get around, and takes aggressive steps on long-term transportation issues.

Getting back to basics means taking care of and improving Seattle’s inventory of roads, bridges, sidewalks, bike lanes and trails, signage, signalized intersections, retaining walls, parking meters, and trees. It also means making the most of $8.7 billion worth of investments while stretching our limited budget.

• In his 2003-2004 proposed budget, Mayor Nickels will re-prioritize transportation funds in order to contribute $4.3 million for paving (NOTE: in 2003, no paving money will come from the General Fund). Next year, Seattle will pave more roads than this year – at less cost. In 2002, the City will pave about 20 "lane miles" using $4.9 million. In 2003 at least 24 "lane miles" will be paved. We’re able to pave more roads, using less money through more efficient use of materials. Well paved roads mean fewer potholes.
• Mayor Nickels’ transportation budget will continue funding for the Pothole Rangers. Since January, more than 1,200 potholes have been filled. Motorists and cyclists are enjoying smoother commutes.
• Over the next two years, approximately 10 bike trail connections in Seattle’s bike trail system will be completed, linking dozens of neighborhoods previously lacking access to the city’s extensive bike network.
• In 2003, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will improve the timing on more than 200 signals to reduce unnecessary delays at stoplights.

Mayor Nickels wants to make it easier to get around Seattle. Through the following initiatives, businesses will be able to operate more economically and efficiently and residents can spend more time enjoying life, rather than being stuck in traffic.

• In 2003, Seattle will install approximately 20 cameras on major roadways, to help drivers avoid bottlenecks or accident-related congestion by giving them real-time traffic information on SDOT’s Web site.
• To help businesses get their shipments faster, the Mayor has committed up to $40,000 over the next two years for better signage in major freight corridors.
• In 2003, Seattle will recruit more participants for the "Way to Go Seattle" program. In 2002, This federally funded program, which calls for volunteers to give up their cars for a month, has reduced congestion by eliminating 150,000 trips from Seattle’s roads .

Mayor Nickels will advance the following projects and policy initiatives to mold a transportation system that increases convenience and safety, shapes our future, and makes it easier to get around.

• The Mayor has secured than $5 million in City funding and $4 million from state and federal sources for an Environmental Impact Study and initial designs to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall. Additionally, the Mayor is actively soliciting more local, state, and federal funding to ensure a safe, long-term solution for the Viaduct.
• More than a dozen new crosswalks and 800 new, more visible schools signs were installed on major roadways in the last year. In 2003, 800 more new schools signs will be installed on residential streets, providing an easier and safer way for kids to get to school.
• The Mayor launched a new, economical sidewalk initiative that stretches existing dollars to develop 80 new blocks — approximately five miles — of sidewalks within the next two years.

• As the Mayor pledged, Seattle is clearing the way for light rail service this year. During the first week of September 2002, buildings on the Old Rainier Brewing site were demolished and the City issued permits advancing the construction process. The City also committed $43 million to helping southeast businesses survive construction and to creating community development opportunities in nearby neighborhoods.
• The Mayor has committed substantial city resources, including right of way, use of the West Seattle Bridge and a $20 million start-up loan to support the Seattle Monorail Project, should voters approve the proposition in November.

• The Mayor is working with King County Metro to implement express bus service on Aurora Avenue and is exploring the feasibility of adding similar service on other arterials. The Mayor already has helped secure $2.8 million in federal funding to pave the way for express service on Aurora. Congress is expected to approve an additional $2.5 million in funding in 2003.

• Mayor Nickels is pursuing approximately $70 million in regional funds to clean up the Mercer Mess, increase access to the Mercer Corridor and downtown neighborhoods, and reduce congestion on I-5.
• Mayor Nickels is helping shape a regional vision for the Greater Seattle area by working with neighboring cities to ensure that Seattle all residents are served by a strong transportation network, including improvements to I-405, I-90 and SR-520.
• The Mayor is supporting Referendum 51 and advocating for a regional transportation package to go before voters in 2003. If approved, funds could go to support the Alaskan Way Viaduct and seawall, light rail, improved technology to inform drivers of driving conditions, noise walls along I-5 and Ferry system improvements, among other things.

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Mayor's Office

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