UPDATE: 6/9/09 - According to Councilmember R. Cole, $6M of the $11M was re-allocated to a Bremerton stimulus project. Aparently the cost of construction of the NE 36th Bridge was much less than anticipated. None of the surplus was given to Microsoft.
"The 36th Street Bridge project in Redmond is not a hunk of federal stimulus that benefits only Microsoft. To the contrary, say guest columnists John Marchione and Bob Drewel, this public/private partnership will help reduce congestion in the whole area and help our economy and environment." Read column Seattle Times, 3/24/09
Total bridge cost is: $36,000,000
$17,000,000 is Microsoft's contribution.
$11,000,000 is contributed from the "Federal Economic Stimulus Package."
Why does Microsoft and Redmond need an $11 million economic stimulus from Uncle Sam? Read comments from readers of the Seattle Times 3/24/09 column by Mayor Marchione and Drewel. What do you think of this bridge and how it's being funded? If you have something to say, you are invited to comment below.
Maps are courtesy of the West Redmond Real Estate Buzz Blog and the Redmond Library Blog.
I can think of other cities that need an economic stimulus much more than Redmond. Poulsbo is one example. They lost over 35% of their tax base when Poulsbo RV and Courtesy Ford bailed out leaving "The Viking Junction" a ghost town. They've put in for for "TARP" funds to redevelop Viking Avenue without response. It's so bad for this city they are now attempting to annex into their Urban Growth Boundary to zone for "Residential Low"! Just a few a million would go so much farther in Poulsbo. Councilmember Richard Cole knows Poulsbo Councilmember Rudolf from "Suburban Cities" growth management work. Richard can tell you.
ReplyDeleteEMAILED from a Poulsbo City Planner (BY)-
ReplyDelete"Poulsbo has received economic stimulus money ($3.8M), with the project being improvement to Viking Avenue. If you are interested in information on the project, Andrzej Kasiniak, Assistant Public Works Director is in charge of the project. Mike Lund, also in Public Works Engineering Division may also be able to assist in answering any questions.
Thank you for taking the time to reply to the survey. Please understand that no change to an existing Urban Growth Area is being proposed or entertained through the annexation process."
Edie Berghoff
Associate Planner
City of Poulsbo
(360) 779-3006
Whoa! Love the design of the bridge! I hope the trees make it into the final spec.
ReplyDeleteWorking on the west side of 520 for MS - this bridge is a huge help for ridiculous drives back and forth. I agree it is expensive, but it is for one of the nation's top companies that is making a significant contribution. I make the "U" drive frequently and it will help traffic too. Ideally - this would help employees at Microsoft collaborate more effectively and improve the US economy as intended. Will it change the world? -- Probably not. Personally, in comparison, I'm MUCH more excited for the 4 lanes being added to 520.
ReplyDeleteAnother comment from previous... For MS employees - this is particularly relevant for employees of "Cedar Court" (114, 112, etc.) and also the new Studio buildings for E&D. This section of "west" campus is particularly isolated due to the highway that the bridge will fix. The construction has begun on this project I am happy to say. (as have the new 4 lanes for 520)
ReplyDeleteBob, if you don't like the move, take it up with Obama's administration - they set the rules for funding 'shovel-ready' projects. Personally, if my tax dollars are going to fund improvements in any community, I'd rather it be for my community than some other.
ReplyDeleteI have a home in Poulsbo (15 years) that I plan to live in for several years, some day. I've participated on the Viking Avenue Transportaiton Advisory Committee years ago. Poulsbo is my community, too.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised and pleased to learn Poulsbo did get $3.8M in transportation stimulus funding. On an income/capita basis and economic stimulus need Poulsbo deserves the funding more than Redmond. I was excited to hear Poulsbo Publc Works will be using pervious concrete.
Bob
Bob here is my 4-point rebuttal of your claims about a "microsoft bridge":
ReplyDelete1. The bridge project across State Hwy 520 is "shovel ready" and will create hundreds of construction jobs. This project is the kind of work envisioned by the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [see www.recovery.gov for more on the legislation].
2. The heavy traffic in the Overlake area and even downtown Redmond needs a serious solution. As you know, the daytime population of Redmond swells with thousands of commuters. The bridge has been designed by traffic engineers to provide some relief for a heavily congested area.
3. Redmond has approved plans and zoning for an urban center in the Overlake area (previously occupied by Group Health). A new urban center will provide services to the thousands of workers in the Overlake area. Since 148th Ave is the oldest and primary north-south corridor over Hwy 520 it has become extremely congested. Some 30 years ago, before Microsoft moved to the current campus, Hwy 520 ended at 148th Ave. Urban planners and traffic engineers did not comtemplate such dramatic growth in Overlake area.
4. Microsoft has become a serious and responsible partner for Redmond and the Puget Sound Region. Not only is Microsoft a desirable employment center; but also, continues to partner within our community by providing thoughtful building designs, parking facilities, and an even stronger commitment to green solutions. Microsoft represents a "city within a city", if you will. There are serious re-cyling programs in place for food preparations, eating utensils, and paper products. They are beginning a "Captain Sustainability" program to reduce the carbon footprint of energy consumption if offices. And the "Connector"/Shuttle vehicle fleet is dedicated to reducing commuters as well as fuel consumption.
I met Councilmember Richard Cole at a community meeting this week. He confirmed what I heard at the last Council meeting:
ReplyDelete- The bids coming back from the contractors for building the bridge
were lower than expected owing to to the poor economy.
- $6 Million of the TARP money was not needed to build the bridge!
- The stimulus money was divert to TARP projects in Bremerton.
I feel alot better now! It's also good to know Bill Campbell's Public Works Dept. is so effective in securing government funding for the city.