Monorail bid low enough; talks given green light

By Mike Lindblom
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The monorail's governing board last night unanimously approved formal contract talks with Cascadia Monorail Co., a consortium led by Washington Group International, Fluor and train supplier Hitachi of Japan. Cascadia submitted its bid three weeks ago, and monorail staff determined the team is qualified based on its transit experience, price, design and other factors.

However, neither the agency nor the contractors have released contents of Cascadia's bid. Contract talks will be held in secret until both sides reach a tentative agreement, on a timetable yet to be determined.

Tom Horkan, SMP director of design and construction, said the Cascadia proposal does not exceed the voter-approved $1.6 billion cap on construction debt or the amount available from a citywide car-tab tax.

The line connects Ballard, Seattle Center, downtown and West Seattle.

Just getting a qualified bid for the embattled project could itself be considered an accomplishment.

Las Vegas is the only other U.S. city to attempt monorail as cross-town transit lines rather than an airport people-mover, downtown shuttle or amusement ride. "For us to reach this milestone is always a relief," said Fluor executive Jeff Fielder.

Though the agency has held dozens of public meetings to discuss station and track concepts, the true details — the shape of a Ballard monorail bridge, the appearance of the stations, and the location of huge switches above the streets — will be determined largely in the confidential talks.

Monorail Chairman Tom Weeks said Tuesday the public will have time to examine a final plan before the agency votes on a contract. A public hearing is required by state law.

Howard Anderson, who owns the historic Doyle Building at Second Avenue and Pine Street along the route, is skeptical about the agency's tactics. "The public hearing is just to say on record they had a public hearing, 'We listened.' There's nobody from the public that's really involved in the process," he said.

Officials say the confidentiality is needed to give the monorail agency a stronger bargaining position for the public interest and to protect the companies from the release of proprietary information about their monorail technologies.
 
Board member Rick Sundberg, an architect, said some negotiations might occur after one or more hearings. Also, the City Council must conduct a financial review before giving permits.

Also yesterday, a three-judge panel from the Washington State Court of Appeals heard arguments over whether Initiative 83, the "Monorail Recall" measure, is legal and should appear on the November ballot. The initiative would ban or repeal city permits to build a new monorail. A decision could come within a few days.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com