If you didn't know any better, you might think Ballard was populated with reserved Scandinavians who show little emotion.  At last Monday's Alaskan Way Viaduct and Tunnel forum in Ballard, home of the only group to endorse Speaker Chopp's proposal, there were only two shows of emotion:  a polite round of applause when the retrofit was proposed, and a tiny outburst from a resident who didn't want to wait until presentations were done before asking questions.  

Moderator Peter Philips did a nice job of retaining control of the event and allowing everyone to ask their questions or make comments.  Many of the guests had clipboards and took notes, and most took handouts that project team had in the hallway.

More than 60 people and six staff were in the auditorium at the start, and 102 people half an hour in.  The presentations were similar to those you've all seen describing the components of the tunnel hybrid, the timeline, the cost and funding plans, and answers to the standard questions.  

New information:
- The city department of transportation is holding off on the Road Diet for Nickerson

- There will be no stoplights at the north nor south portals from the tunnel into street grids

- The number of lanes needed on West Mercer Place may expand from one in each direction to two eastbound up the hill:  a total of three lanes

- The project team is evaluating a bike path separate from the Alaskan Way surface street instead of alongside traffic

- The state transportation department took cores to 170 foot depth north of Battery Tunnel this past weekend during the viaduct inspection closure.  Similar cores are happening on 1st Avenue.

- The city said traffic counts on 15th Avenue have decreased in the past four years.  Few believed this and asked that travel times be measured.

- The grade in tunnel may be cut to 4 percent max, from 5 percent max

- Metro's deficit has grown from $90 million to $100 million, shrinking to about $70 million.

Peter had asked the panel to prepare answers to standard questions and they presented that information, then brought their presentations up to date for latest developments.  After this first hour of presentations, Peter took written questions from the audience.  The questions/comments included:

- Are four lanes enough capacity  (the state's Ron Paananen needs to grab the chart which shows traffic volumes and entries and exits from April-May photo study)?

- To go to six lanes would require a tunnel 64 feet in diameter per Ron Paananen.

- How does the north portal work, especially for Ballard, Fremont, N Bay, cruise ships?  (in development)

- How does the south portal work for events at stadiums? (in development)

- Does the whole project end now that legislature rejected stimulus funds for Mercer?  (no-other funds pending)

- Has a Local Improvement District been considered to replace stimulus funding on Mercer?

- Is tolling being considered to fund the project, and when does it expire?  (yes we are looking at it, too soon to know when
it ends)

- What are travel times from Ballard to points south? (in development)

- How does Colman Dock and Ferry traffic fit into the traffic pattern on Alaskan Way surface?  (in development)

- Has any analysis been done for northern routes east-west:  45th, 65th, 80th, 85th?  (no)

- How safe will the tunnel be in a tsunami?  (plenty safe per analysis during cut and cover time)

- Will there be tow trucks to quickly evacuate break-downs in the tunnel?  (no, smoke exhaust, fire suppression, escape routes)

- The many stoplights on waterfront will slow traffic. Can we add more pedestrian overpasses like Marion Street?

The project team had presented to Labor earlier in the day and its major concern is disruption during construction and the
negative impact that could have on jobs.

Faces in the Crowd:

Stakeholders:  Philips, Coney (Queen Anne), Gene Hogland (Working Families for Elevated), Warren Aakervik (BINMIC), Vlad Oustimovitch (W Seattle), Mary Hurley (Ballard)

Others:  Craig Keller (Retrofit), Gael Tarleton (Port), Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36th District), Jordan Royer, Robert Rosencrantz, and Jesse Israel (city council candidates), Jim Parsons, (Project Team Leader), Harvey Parker and Dick Robbins (Tunnel experts), Alex Glass Hastings, Viet Shelton (Mayor's staff), Kevin Clark.  

One TV reporter from KING 5, but there was no coverage of the event that I've found. None of the print (or PI web) reporters that I saw.

Craig Keller and Gene Hogland had Initiative 99 forms in the lobby and were asking people to sign.  Neither Eugene Wasserman nor Suzie Burke attended.

Bob's Interpretation:

The presentation team needs to use its clearest tool: the animation showing a vehicle driving through the tunnel and under
Seattle.  It answers many of the standard questions.  

As soon as it is done, the animation showing the surface route southbound on Elliott to viaduct to waterfront will also be effective.  I don't know why they don't use this.

Not all of the presentations were effective.  Instead of crisp answers to standard questions, it often took three to four minutes to
answer a question, losing most of the audience.  After giving these community forums so many times, the presentation should be better.  

Ron Paananen and Ron Posthuma were more effective-giving answers filled with facts, but brief. John Reilly, the tunnel expert engaged by the project team, was very effective in answering questions about seismic, safety, fire and evacuation in the tunnel.

Andy Dempsey, the traffic analyst, only spoke twice all night, but was effective with details.   I have a call in to the Project Team to suggest they sharpen their answers.

The two beds on the Ballard stage were not used by anyone, though several guests fell asleep during the presentation.

As always, mistakes herein are mine.  Sorry.

Bob Donegan was a member of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Stakeholders Advisory Committee and continues to work toward a solution to the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project.