Funding plan to rebuild Mercer Street gets Seattle council's OK

The Seattle City Council voted 6-3 Monday to approve a new funding plan for the Mercer Street rebuild.

The project includes about $105 million in city tax and utility money. A year ago, the council froze most of the funding because Mayor Greg Nickels lacked a plan to pay for the entire project.

But the state has since nominated Mercer to receive $50 million from the new federal economic-stimulus package. That, along with $14 million from sales of city-owned land, and $31 million from nearby landowners, and city taxes, would cover the Mercer budget.

Monday's vote shows the Legislature that Mercer is "shovel-ready" for stimulus cash, Councilmember Jan Drago said.

Voting yes were Drago, Richard McIver, Tim Burgess, Richard Conlin, Jean Godden and Bruce Harrell. Opposed were Sally Clark, Nick Licata and Tom Rasmussen, who wanted the stimulus money in hand first.

The project, to turn eastbound Mercer into a two-way boulevard, would beautify the growing area, make walking safer and improve driving in some directions, but it would cause delays for afternoon drivers trying to reach Interstate 5.

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