A fresh vision for Alaskan Way

Gov. Christine Gregoire is warming to the idea of surface and transit improvements as a sensible solution to the conundrum of what to do about the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct.

If the goal is reasonable replacement of traffic capacity on the waterfront — and elsewhere in Seattle's north-south corridor — this may prove the only politically viable way to move forward. Literally. A narrow boulevard that accommodates very little traffic is not a good idea, but neither is an Indiana speedway with no traffic lights. Remember, one goal is to reconnect downtown and the waterfront.

Gregoire arrives at the surface-transit option in the same way as other experts who simply lack a better idea. Last March, Seattle voters turned down an expensive tunnel, and in slightly less emphatic terms, nixed a replacement elevated roadway.

The elevated roadway is the simplest solution, but if Gregoire, working with King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, has a more environmentally friendly way to accommodate cars, pedestrians, cyclists, freight and transit, she should go for it.

That is the promising news: Gregoire is meeting with Nickels, Sims and legislative transportation chairwomen, Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, and Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. The governor and mayor are working together now, rather than at cross-purposes as they were last year.

Gregoire is in a bind. One year ago, the talk was all about how dangerous the roadway is. If nothing is done, all that talk becomes hollow.

One promising feature of the group's new approach is a pledge to take a holistic look at the north-south traffic in Seattle. Instead of merely promising to replace daily capacity for 110,000 cars, instead of dumping all those cars onto the waterfront roadway, traffic planners are studying the broader notion of transporting people and products from North 85th Street to South Spokane Street.

The surface-transit option could have a lot of different features: a corridor for freight, truck lanes, bus lanes, new bus service, dedicated lanes and other possibilities.

Seattle is having a difficult time accommodating existing traffic, let alone adding cars that ply the viaduct each day.

The state has about $2 billion remaining for the viaduct project. What has been lacking are the leadership skills and vision to put together a plan that keeps the city and the region moving.