My name is Bob Fleming, and I am very interested in seeing a greatly improved transportation system for Seattle and other improvements to make this area a better place to work, study, and get around.

What Is Meant By “Greater Seattle”?

The word “greater” can have several meanings, three of which could apply in “Greater Seattle.”

The usual meaning of Greater Seattle is the larger area centered on Seattle as a core. Greater Seattle includes Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, south King County, Shoreline, Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Lake Forest Park, and south Snohomish County. By expanding the area a bit it could also include the Everett area and the Tacoma area. I am considering this whole expanded area in my visions.

Greater Seattle could also mean a better Seattle, and that is my dream in coming up with these ideas.

Finally, Greater Seattle could mean a more important Seattle, and I think that with the ideas I have, Seattle could become better known throughout the World because of better transportation systems, better facilities, and more world-famous events. It would become an even greater tourist destination than it is now. The Seattle area would attract more conventions and major sports and cultural events. More businesses would set up operations in this area.

What Are My Ideas For Greater Seattle?

I can think of many things that could improve the area, but I am going to focus on just a few major things:

Viaduct Replacement: A decision has been made to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a bored tunnel under downtown Seattle. This solution is more expensive and has some problems, but I am in favor of it because it means that at last a reasonable decision has been reached that will permit the demolition of the aging viaduct. However I still oppose the tunnel due to one serious flaw, which I feel must be resolved before the tunnel can go ahead. The tunnel eliminates the current viaduct connection with Interbay and Ballard via Elliott Avenue West and 15th Avenue West. The north end of the tunnel will surface on Aurora Avenue North about a mile east of Elliott Avenue West. I feel this is a serious oversight. I will support the tunnel if the project includes a Mercer Street Expressway, as described in the next paragraph, that would have an interchange with the tunnel at Aurora and with the Mercer Street Expressway continuing west to Elliott.

520 Bridge replacement: The Washington State Department of Transportation is going to replace the old floating bridge that carries state route 520 across Lake Washington from Seattle to Kirland, Bellevue, and Redmond. Engineers believe the aging bridge is in danger of severe damage or even sinking in a severe earthquake or storm. For more details about the 520 Bridge, click here.

Mercer Street Expressway: The proposed surface improvements to Mercer Street in the South Lake Union neighborhood appears to me to be mostly an aesthetic improvement to the neighborhood without addressing the infamous “Mercer Mess.” I feel it much better to spend more money to do it right and solve the serious traffic congestion on this major connection to Interstate 5. My idea is to build a cut-and-cover tunnel with an expressway in the tunnel and the proposed surface street improvements on the lid of the tunnel.

Build the Green Line monorail: Reconsider the Green Line monorail, previously killed due to mismanagement and politics. The concept and design remain an excellent plan to provide mass transit to two parts of Seattle without as much cost and disruption as light rail would bring. I also suggest some improvements in the design and routing that would improve flexibility and shorten the route a bit. Click here for details.

Remodel the Seattle Center, renovate Key Arena, and more: Make a number of improvements to the Seattle Center, including remodeling Key Arena (and hopefully attract a new NBA team), modernize the Center House, upgrade and extend the monorail, and other improvements.

Modernize the Seattle Center Monorail: Replace the existing 1962 Seattle Center Monorail with a modern Hitachi mass transit monorail and extend it to Key Arena.

Build a Monorail Through Downtown to the Cruise Terminal: Build a modified version of the terminated Green Line project with a monorail from Safeco and Qwest Fields thorugh downtown Seattle, past the Seattle Center and to the Cruise Terminals at piers 90 and 91.

Host another Seattle World’s Fair: In 1909 Seattle had a world’s fair, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, that resulted in the creation of a new University of Washington campus. In 1962 the Seattle World’s Fair, or Century 21 Exposition, was not only profitable but was the beginning of what is now the Seattle Center. I think it is time to host another world’s fair that could bring more improvements to the Seattle Center and other areas, and fund monorail and other infrastructure construction.