The viaduct stalemate continues to splinter Seattle politicians. Democratic House members from the 36th District, Helen Sommers and Mary Lou Dickerson, just issued a statement opposing moving viaduct money to a 520 bridge project. That was one of two options proposed by the governor. Dickerson and Sommers point out that funding for the viaduct was one reason Seattle voters supported a statewide gas tax increase.

The people in our district -- as well as in most Seattle districts -- voted in 2005 to sustain the increased transportation revenues because they had confidence that the viaduct was a priority project. We need to respect that confidence.

Sommers and Dickerson said that they're hoping "cooler heads will prevail" soon and they can convince the governor to support rebuilding the viaduct.

Sen. Ed Murray said yesterday he'd support moving viaduct money to a 520 project.

UPDATE: Republicans from East King County are hoping to have their area benefit from the viaduct logjam. Reps. Reps. Fred Jarrett, Jay Rodne and Glenn Anderson issued a statement today saying they "joined the governor in rejecting the City of Seattle's proposed timeline." They say they money for the viaduct should go instead to the 520 bridge and to widen I-405.

Jarrett, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee said moving money "from the less traveled Alaskan Way Viaduct to the congested I-405 and 520 bridge makes fiscal sense, particularly when Seattle can't even come up with an acceptable timeline to bring the question before voters."

THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM: From a press release:

Seattle Democratic senators met today to discuss the Alaskan Way Viaduct and mutually agreed that it will be a top priority for them to find a solution amidst the recent meetings among legislative leaders, the City of Seattle, and the governor.