Contractors Against Initiative 912

Olympia -- Keep Washington Rolling, a broad group of transportation supporters, has launched a campaign to stop Initiative 912. Initiative supporters turned in over 400,000 signatures July 8, which now have to be validated. If it reaches the November ballot as expected, the initiative would allow voters to repeal the gas tax increase passed in the latest session of the legislature.

Keep Washington Rolling includes labor organizations and some of Washington biggest companies as well as environmental groups. Other members of the group include Boeing, Microsoft, PEMCO, Associated General Contractors of Washington, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council and Washington Conservation Voters.

Keep Washington Rolling supports the $8.5 billion transportation package that will help fix the most dangerous high accident roads and corridors, correct deteriorating road conditions, and relieve some traffic chokepoints. It will also put a down payment on big road safety projects including the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and State Route 520 bridge as well as the earthquake retrofitting of more than 150 bridges

Washington drivers average about 12,000 miles a year and get about 17 miles per gallon.

Monorail Project on the Skids

Political pressure and public outcry about construction and finance costs totaling $11.4 billion have derailed the Seattle Monorail. "At this point everything is on hold," said Seattle Monorail Project spokesperson Natasha Jones.

Two weeks after SMP and Cascadia Monorail Co., the project's sole bidder, completed contract negotiations and released details to the public board members postponed the agency's plan to being $350 million selling short-term debt to pay contractors. Additional public hearings were also scheduled for this summer and the Seattle City Council has delayed a financial review of the project.

At the top of critics' concerns is the estimated total project cost of $11.4 billion once construction, property purchases and the 50-year debt have been paid. SMP financial backers and officials say the figure is unreasonable because its represents an estimate of the total tax dollars that might be needed over 50 years to finance and pay other costs of the monorail.

SMP board members have until Oct. 15 to approve the $1.6 billion design-build contract with Cascadia, a 28-member team led by Fluor Enterprises and train supplier Hitachi of Japan, or the amount goes up for the next two months. If a final contract isn't agreed on by mid-December, then negotiations will reopen, said Cascadia president Patrick Flaherty.

After contract details were released, political opponents emerged.

"We do not believe that changes at the margin or more explanations will be enough. Do not be afraid to reorganize the staff dramatically, consider new taxes or even to re-bid the project," wrote Seattle city attorney Tom Carr and council member Nick Licata in a letter to the SMP board. Richard Conlin, Chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee and state Sen. Ken Jacobsen, (D-Seattle) have called for an end to the project.

Port Commission Oks North Bay

Seattle -- The Seattle Port Commission approved a plan to bring a new generation of jobs, industries and public benefits to property formerly used to store imported cars and fishing nets.

The commission agreed to go forward with development plans for the 57-acre North Bay site in Seattle.

North Bay project plans call for 2.2 million sq.- ft. of research and development and related manufacturing activity to the site, along with 1.1 million-sq.- ft. of office space and 100,000-sq.- ft. of retail. The plan also calls for nearly doubling the space for maritime activities already using the site.

The site would be developed over a period of 20 to 25 years and provide the Port with a return of about $77 million. The project would generate an estimated $162 million in tax revenue to the city, county and state. The project must be approved by the City of Seattle before the Port can begin work.

Vulcan Sells Land for Housing

SEATTLE - Vulcan Real Estate announced it is selling a 14,000-sq.-ft. parcel of land in the South Lake Union neighborhood to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for the development of patient family housing.

The Alliance plans to develop affordable accommodations for cancer patients undergoing treatment at its facilities in South Lake Union or at one of its three partner organizations-the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center.

Located at the northwest corner of Pontius Avenue and John Street, the work on the planned 75-room facility could start as early as 2007.

In conjunction with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Alliance currently operates the Pete Gross House, a 70-unit apartment building for patients and families, located on Minor Avenue North, close to the Alliance's outpatient clinic on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center campus.

The facility will be five or six stories tall and will be designed to complement some of the surrounding buildings Vulcan is developing in the neighborhood. The total size of the SCCA building is not yet determined.

Spokane Awards Aircraft Maintenance Contract

Spokane - The Spokane Airport Board, a construction contract was awarded to build the XN Air Aircraft Maintenance and Avionics facility at Spokane International Airport. XN Air, LLC is a subsidiary of Cheney-based XN Technologies. Graham Construction & Management, Inc. of Spokane was awarded the project with the low bid of $1,585,132. The 140-calendar day project began in early July and will be completed in November. The project involves the construction of a 16,000-sq.-ft. aircraft maintenance and avionics facility that will feature two hangar bays with adjoining shops and office and laboratory space, and a parking area for aircraft and vehicular parking for customers and employees. The facility will be located on the newly constructed Pilot Drive on the east side of the airfield.

Joeys Opens At Lake Union

Seattle - J.R. Abbott Construction Inc. recently completed Joeys at Lake Union. This 7,500-sq.-ft. restaurant was a complete renovation of the Cucina! Cucina!

Joeys is operated by Joeys Restaurants who own the Cucina! Cucina! Restaurants in Washington and several Joeys Restaurants in the British Columbia and Alberta provinces of Canada.

Abbott completed this project in 12 weeks. Architectural services, mechanical and electrical engineering were provided by Omicron Corp. J.R. Abbott's team included Superintendent-Bret Coonrod and Project Manager-Andy Sprague. Major subs included SME Inc., Merit Mechanical, Inc., Emerald Glass, Inc. and Fawcett Painting, Inc.

Medical Center Plans Expansion

PORT ANGELES, Wash. - Olympic Medical Center plans a multi-million expansion and renovation this summer that will double the Cardiac Services department, build a new, high-energy MRI, relocate and enlarge dining facilities, and improve patient and staff access.

"Our goal is to develop a facility that offers state-of-art healthcare, a calm healing environment for patients and improved efficiencies for staff," said Mike Yates, principal with Mahlum Architects.

The 32,000-sq.- ft. project is estimated to cost $7.85 million.

Cardiac Services will be relocated from the second floor to the main floor, giving the department a stronger identity and creating much needed space for the increasing patient load. The 5,700 square-foot department will house diagnostic/treatment rooms, administrative offices, rehabilitation space, staff lockers and lounge, waiting area and reception lounge. A new high-energy MRI unit will be located for the first time on-campus, convenient to patient parking.