Gregoire objects as Seattle pols propose yet another version of 520 bridge

Gov. Chris Gregoire pushed back Monday afternoon against Seattle lawmakers who are seeking separate transit lanes for the future Highway 520 replacement bridge, instead of a pair of high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

That change and others suggested by Seattle officials would require up to two more years of studies and delay the project, the governor contends.

The governor's comments put her at odds with House Speaker Frank Chopp of Seattle, a fellow Democrat.

Chopp and five other elected officials declared their support Monday morning for transit-only lanes.

"The mayor and the council now stand united against the current plan," Chopp said at a news conference, with marshes and abandoned road ramps in the foreground and the roar of morning traffic over the lake.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, Councilmembers Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien, state Sen. Ed Murray and state Rep. Jamie Pedersen joined him, along with 100 supporters. These include the Cascade Bicycle Club, Sierra Club, Washington Park Arboretum Foundation, and the Coalition for a Sustainable SR 520, representing Madison Park, North Capitol Hill, Montlake, Roanoke Park, Portage Bay, Laurelhurst and the boating community.

Last week, the city council issued a letter saying that a greatly enlarged Montlake interchange and a 30-foot-high floating bridge deck, as proposed, are both unacceptable — and asked the state for a 120-day period for the two governments to work out a new design.

State law calls for a toll bridge with two general-purpose lanes and one HOV lane each direction.

The governor's letter says in part:

"Changing the configuration now would require a new environmental process. The office of Attorney General tells us that revising these decisions from several years ago would set the project back at least 18 to 24 months. Our commitment to ensuring public safety does not allow that kind of delay."

But the letter acknowledges there would be technical discussions between the city and state, before the Washington state Department of Transportation states its Montlake interchange choice this fall.

Sen. Rodney Tom, a leading advocate for a six-lane bridge as now planned, said talks with the Seattle groups have lasted long enough. "To me, every time they turn the corner they come up with a new wrinkle. We have an agreement, let's move forward," he said.

Debates and design research have been under way since 1997 to replace the nearly 47-year-old four-lane bridge, which is at risk of sinking in a severe earthquake or windstorm.

The Seattle lawmakers gave no specifics as to whether they have bills or other moves in mind for this legislative session.

It's unclear whether transit lanes would enable a smaller bridge, given the need to support a potential 200-ton train, or for barriers to separate trains or buses from car lanes. (Sound Transit has no funding source yet for a 520 rail line.) But supporters say transit would require less highway ramp space than would HOV lanes.

Seattle isn't pushing for a thinner four-lane crossing. "It's not realistic to think we're going to get less than four general purpose lanes, at this point," Pedersen said.

A few weeks ago, the state chose a winning contractor to start construction by building pontoons in Grays Harbor, and Pederson and Chopp also emphasized they have no desire to obstruct that construction. They said they hope that if all sides work in good faith, the bridge could stay on schedule.

WSDOT's project Web site says the floating section will open in 2014, but doesn't give a date for the more controversial Seattle landing.

The $4.65 billion project is at least $2 billion short of funding, and the state has yet to choose a toll strategy to close some or all of that gap.

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