Two followups from last night’s
ALL THE QUESTIONS: As noted here, questions submitted in writing via Zoom were only visible to the meeting panelists. 28 questions were read/asked and answered, but anyone wondering what else was asked was left wondering. SDOT promised an “FAQ” list would eventually be published, but we asked today if we could just get the list of all the questions asked. Here’s the document sent to us as a result, with all 175 of the questions/comments submitted via Zoom Q&A.
WHERE THE MAYOR ACTUALLY WAS: During introductions, SDOT director
Sam Zimbabwe said
Mayor Jenny Durkan – who has spoken at past bridge-related meetings – “couldn’t be here because she has been in the other Washington, D.C., working hard” to secure federal funding. But as it turns out (thanks to the reader who caught this via a
5:30 PM: This Friday marks 16 months since the emergency closure of the
West Seattle Bridge. Tonight, SDOT is presenting updates and answering questions at a community meeting. You can watch above, via YouTube, but if you want to ask questions, participate via Zoom – here’s the link. We’ll post notes every 10 minutes or so.
SDOT director
Sam Zimbabwe welcomed attendees, reminding them that he too is a West Seattle resident. Since the bridge closure, “our priority has been first and foremost public safety,” he said, and reiterated the “mid-2022” reopening projection. He was to be followed by Deputy Mayor
David Moseley, but technical challenges intervened; instead, Zimbabwe summarized Moseley’s prepared remarks, saying Mayor
Kathy July 14, 2021 (1:06 pm)
Right decision to finally complete the gap in the West Duwamish Trail for bicycle traffic. Wrong decision to drag heels on this project until after the WS Bridge is fixed. The threat to people biking is more urgent than ever now that there are more impatient speeding vehicle drivers on this short stretch of West Marginal Way. As happens far too often, SDOT bows to the wishes of pearl clutching drivers who wildly exaggerate the impact that doing this project now would have on their commutes. My sympathy for truck drivers opposition to this project diminished yesterday when a speeding semi driver gave me the finger for being in a crosswalk on Harbor Island. I judged the distance to be adequate when I entered the crosswalk. He didn’t like having to slow down, I guess.