Q: "Whatever happened to the mayor's effort to improve Seattle streets?" asked Seattle resident Wes Byers. His is a reference to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' longstanding pledge to make the city's streets a City Hall priority.

Byers has been eyeing street surfaces and repaving projects around town. His conclusion is that a number of streets are rougher than they ought to be, and getting worse as a result of the many new construction projects.

Denny Way looks pretty decent to him. But Byers says he's been watching and waiting for improvements downtown along Second Avenue between Denny Way and Jackson Street, and Fourth Avenue between Denny Way and Yesler Way, and even North 105th Street from Greenwood Avenue North to North Northgate Way.

"I drive these streets frequently when going to the International District or out to Northgate Mall," he said. "What can we expect?"

A: As a result of a $365 million levy approved by voters last November for transportation maintenance and improvements, Seattle's Department of Transportation has a full schedule of paving projects, according to transportation department spokeswoman Marybeth Turner.

There's been resurfacing work this year on Denny Way, Dexter Avenue North and Mercer Street north of the downtown core, as well as on Stone Way North at the north end of Lake Union, and several streets in the South Lake Union area. The city also tackled heavily traveled arterials in the University District and in West Seattle, she said.

Paving projects scheduled for next year include parts of Boren Avenue, Madison Street, Fifth Avenue through downtown to Denny Way, Elliott Avenue West and First Avenue South.

As it stands now, paving work on Second and Fourth is scheduled about three years from now, but work could start sooner, she said, depending on the future of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Paving for other downtown streets also is scheduled then.

If you'd like to check out the transportation department's current paving schedule, it's posted online at www.seattle.gov/transportation/streetmaintenance.htm#btg.