Full disclosure: I have no idea how a Local Improvement District (LID) really works, but it occurred to me the other day that perhaps Urban Village neighborhood councils could lobby for one to implement aspects of “Walk, Bike, Ride” in their area. For example, Eastlake is in pretty good shape and not on the funding list for many improvements, but also has identified several desired projects.
Eastlake would like completion of the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop including “Green Street” improvements for Fairview Ave E and some would like to see an over-water pedestrian and/or bike connection between Roanoke and Hamlin.
Additionally several spots need new curb ramps or sidewalk repair, and for over 10 years they’ve wanted removal of the rush-hour commute lane configuration that “[PDF] encourages speeding that makes it dangerous to walk on Eastlake Avenue.”
For transit, while Eastlake doesn’t have anything like Seattle Center or Swedish Hospital to draw a RapidRide line, with funding many of the “station” improvements could be done by SDOT: bus bulb and sidewalk extensions to eliminate buses having to pull in and out of traffic, curb ramps, lighting, and perhaps even larger shelters with a real-time arrival information board. The obvious candidates are the 3 stops at Harvard, Lynn, and Garfield that serve both the 66 and 70 along the 1.3mi stretch of Eastlake Ave E, neatly covering the entire neighborhood within .5mi walking distance of a station.
I like it, but why stop there? Could the entire city be a LID?
You’re forgetting a big thing: Eastlake Streetcar! I bet if an Eastlake LID paid for a third or so of it and a U District LID picked up the tab for a third or half of the U District portion, the feds would pay for the rest. It’s a really promising project, with a mix of existing residential density and opportunity for more development, and it could actually fully replace a bus route, unlike any of the other streetcar projects. I really agree about filling in that gap on Fairview where you have to go up the super steep hill and back down again. Then Fairview could really be a major bike route.
The good thing about neighborhood-specific LIDs is that that way neighborhoods who wanted more could pay higher taxes, while neighborhoods that didn’t want as much could pay lower taxes.