Mercer Street Forum Monday, October 6, 2008

Councilmember Licata Sponsers Forum on Mercer Mess

CONTACT: Newell Aldrich, Licata Office, (206) 386-9011

Subject: Mercer Project Forum October 6 @ City Hall, 6:30 p.m.

Please forward this notice freely, particularly to members of your
Neighborhood, District, and Community Councils.

Councilmember Nick Licata will sponsor a forum on the Mercer Street
project on Monday, October 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in Seattle City Hall at
600 Fourth Avenue, in the Bertha Knight Landes Room on the first floor.


The question to be discussed will be: *Should the City spend $43
million on citywide transportation improvements or on a two-way Mercer
Street Boulevard?*

The Mercer Corridor Project, that will build a two-way boulevard on
Mercer Street and narrow Valley Street to one-lane in each direction in
the South Lake Union neighborhood, is budgeted to cost $193 million. The
City Council has authorized $43 million in bonds for the project to
begin construction work.

Councilmember Licata will propose that the $43 million currently
allocated to the Mercer Project be redirected to building new sidewalks
in Seattle, funding the recommendations of the Bicycle Master Plan,
Pedestrian Master Plan, and providing a long-term capital program for
meeting our freight mobility needs.

The Seattle Department of Transportation has been invited to reply to
the proposal and explain why the Mercer Corridor Project is needed and
the $43 million should be spent on creating a two-way boulevard on
Mercer Street. Residential communities, business and employee groups,
and transit advocate groups who will be affected have also been invited
to participate.

Audience members will be polled on what is the best approach for
achieving more transportation choices, lowering carbon emissions,
encouraging greater transit ridership, and promoting economic
development.

What: A Forum about the Mercer Street Project

Who: Councilmember Nick Licata, representatives invited from the
Seattle Department of Transportation, transit and bicycle advocates,
South Lake Union residents, business owners, and employee groups.

Where: Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Bertha Knight Landes Room,
First Floor

When: Monday, October 6, Doors open at 6 with refreshments, program
from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

This forum is free and open to the public. No RSVP needed.