Important Progress for the 520 Bridge

Posted by  Brad Smith  
Senior Vice President and General Counsel

We recently reached out to the people of the Puget Sound area to help advance a critical local and state issue: the timely replacement and expansion of the SR-520 bridge across Lake Washington. 

Many responded. I want to thank everyone who took the time to contact their elected officials and voice their support for the prompt completion of this critical project. Your efforts clearly helped legislators and local officials from both sides of the lake appreciate the need to forge a compromise that allows the project to move ahead on schedule.

I also want to thank our government and community leaders -- Governor Gregoire, state legislators and many others – for their collaborative efforts to bring this important project closer to reality.  By passing legislation to authorize tolling and allow Eastside construction to begin, lawmakers have taken a key step to improve public safety and have kept on track a design that has been 13 years in the making. 

Important design details remain to be worked out to address the concerns of Seattle neighborhoods.  We’re glad the recent compromise will allow the project to move forward while ensuring those concerns are aired and resolved.

This is a vital infrastructure investment that will produce huge benefits for our region and our state.  Microsoft is committed to continuing our advocacy and collaborating with our many local partners to ensure timely and cost-effective completion of the 520 bridge replacement.  You can track our efforts athttps://520bridge.posterous.com, and you can get the latest progress reports on the project from theWashington State Department of Transportation.

Comments

• Anonymous
  July 12, 2010
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  July 12, 2010
  Having commuted in the Seattle area for most of the past 10 years I can say that in my opinion the diamond lanes are just enough incentive to encourage me to coordinate with others who have similar commutes. King County's vanpool system works great and Microsoft's support of the system makes it very inexpensive -- usually free. It is a little work to coordinate schedules with a few strangers, but for the most part it's a great deal.    Would I vanpool without the diamond lanes? I don't know. But I've done it all... driven myself... rode with another driver... bicycled... and bussed... and I can tell you that because of the diamond lanes, when I drive, I always try to coordinate with another person. Especially during those times discussed above. My commute is about 15 miles and the diamond lane saves time.

• Anonymous
  July 12, 2010
  Without pointing fingers, I have no doubt that many of the people who oppose diamond lanes are the ones who DO NOT use them regularly.   Their comments and reasoning for not having them are often selfish.