Panel of Experts to Review Alaskan Way Viaduct and SR 520 Projects The 2006 Washington State Legislature adjourned on March 8 with new legislation regarding the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall. Here are the key highlights:

1). Project planning. The Regional Transportation Governance bill, ESHB 2871, requires WSDOT to complete all environmental and financial work before starting construction. This includes preparing a finance plan that identifies funding sources, cash flow, staging and construction phasing plans.

2). An expert review panel will study the project’s financing and implementation plans, and submit a report to the Governor, the legislature’s joint state transportation committees, and the Office of Financial Management by September 1, 2006. The review panel will be made up of five to ten experts, selected by the chairs of the State Senate and House Transportation Committees, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Governor to assure a balance of disciplines. The panel will be formed by June 1. After reviewing the panel’s findings, the Governor will declare whether the finance plans for both alternatives are feasible and sufficient to complete the project. They will not recommend one alternative over the other.

3). Public input. The bill requires the city of Seattle to hold an advisory vote in November, or hold public hearings on the expert review panel’s findings and adopt an ordinance stating the City Council’s preferred option by November 1, 2006.