Convention Center Alley Vacation Passes Full Council

Yesterday, the Council passed the alley vacation for the Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) that the Transportation and Sustainability Committee approved last week, as we reported. The O'Brien amendment that would have gotten more money for transit from the WSCC in the event of serious service degradation failed 6-3, with only O'Brien, Sawant, and Herbold voting for it. The other Councilmembers chose not to reopen the negotiated benefits deal.

The overall measure passed. The official record has six votes in favor, Herbold abstaining, and doesn't record anything for Juarez or Harrell; the video (1:03:45) is quite clear that all nine raised their hands in favor.

The legislation allows the DSTT to close to buses as early as March 2019. Whether it actually happens in March, or in in September instead, depends on the Master Use Permit process with a different city department, discussions between Metro and the WSCC, and actual construction progress. The race is now on for SDOT to complete its downtown transit improvements by March.