Vashon Island bridge: Build one to the Kistap Peninsula? (Seattle: home, living)

[beenhereandthere]

Seems to me that the main reason why a bridge idea has failed everytime, is that folks want to build the bridge to King County or the Ruston area in Tacoma.
Why not just make it to the Kitsap side? I don't think you would have a huge population boom that would turn it into a Mercer Island like town.
Also, the water, between Vashon and Kitsap, is not nearly as large as between Tacoma/Vashon or King County/Vashon.
I'd like to go over there just to visit sometime, but a 20 dollar charge now is just to steep. Can't imagine living there and having to pay that every day, which is why it seems to me most people who live there work from home or just put up with at least 2 bus rides and a ferry to Seattle.
At least, you wouldn't feel like you're in a prison and if you needed say something like an emergency service to a hospital, you wouldn't have to depend on a helicopter.
If the residents there are that concerned about growth, toll it at least 5 dollars....I'm sure that would discourage some people. But a 5 dollar toll is better than a 20 dollar ferry (well, at least 19).
I've never understood why, even though they can have a say, the residents seem to have the only say on this.

[VOC1]

It will never happen because the residents are absolutely opposed to even the idea. Most of them moved to the island(s) because they...want to live on an island. The separation is part of the charm and allure. If they didn't want to live on an unconnected island they'd live on Fox or whatever.

As for why they have the main say in this it's because bridges are very expensive, and the WSDOT is not going to spend a couple hundred million+ to build a bridge that the residents don't even want. There are lots of other road projects people DO want that are in dire need of being done. And why wouldn't the actual residents of the island have the main say in this? Who else's opinion would be more important?


It will never happen.

[sean98125]

Given the choice of where to spend that money and the number of residents that it would serve I don't think WSDOT is going to push for a Vashon bridge any time soon.

I do think that we'll see a bridge across the central part of Puget Sound some time before 2050, though.

[beenhereandthere]

Originally Posted by sean98125

Given the choice of where to spend that money and the number of residents that it would serve I don't think WSDOT is going to push for a Vashon bridge any time soon.

I do think that we'll see a bridge across the central part of Puget Sound some time before 2050, though.

Actually, if you build it towards the Kitsap side, I don't think it would be that much, comparatively speaking to say, like the Narrows or rebuilding 520.
and again, maybe the residents would be more open to a bridge, going west bound.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

Actually, if you build it towards the Kitsap side, I don't think it would be that much, comparatively speaking to say, like the Narrows or rebuilding 520.
and again, maybe the residents would be more open to a bridge, going west bound.

Except who's going to pay it? Someone still needs to put up the start-up money (with the toll paying the rest.) Most of those V.I. residents do not want a bridge. I'm pretty sure Kitsap County is not going to want to be taxed for it, especially since Vashon Island isn't even part of their county.

[cjg5]

Islands with bridges to the mainland ruin their island feel. Absolutely slaughter it really. I've always said that a bridged island is really more like a peninsula. If I wanted to live on an island (and sometimes I really do entertain the idea, even on Vashon if not the San Juans) there is no way in hell that I would choose a bridged island. Why? Because that just isn't a true island with a true island feel for me. I'm sure most people feel the same way, and don't want their true island feel ruined by a bridge.

[gwix98]

I grew up on Vashon. Stayed until age 20.
The bridge thing goes back long before my birth 60 years ago.
It will never happen...never...
And frankly I am glad it won't.

[DevanXL]

Business | Vashon Island Bridge Idea About To Sink -- Instead, Panel Poised To Favor New Ferries, 2Nd Narrows Bridge | Seattle Times Newspaper Interesting article from back in 92 when they did a study about a bridge from Burien to Vashon to Kitsap. The residents of Vashon were furious with the Idea. Honestly I think it would be good for the future of the region and maybe something can go up before 2030. The one thing I can't understand is how an Island of 10,000 people can have such a voice in this matter. Like he said it would just become like mercer island but the difference is Vashon island is so large at 37 sq miles it shouldn't have a drastic effect on the Island. Just zone out area near the road were upper class neighbors would go and keep the rest of the Island semi rural. It's would cause I huge population boom. I understand why the people wouldn't want it but it would be good for the stability of the Seattle area and puget sound region. Many plans have been made for this but there seems to be only 2 hurdles, 1. The cost (which now may be justified) and 2. The people of Vashon Island.

[Autonomous Island]

The folks on the island have "a say" because they own the island. Why would private property owners (with many private roads) should have a bridge forced on them to make it easier for the motorcyclists and car tourists to invade their chosen (and paid for) quietude? How would that serve the public good?

[Autonomous Island]

The folks on the island have "a say" because they own the island. Why would private property owners (with many private roads) should have a bridge forced on them to make it easier for the motorcyclists and car tourists to invade their chosen (and paid for) quietude? How would that serve the public good?