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Extra Fizz: City Agenda Supports Tunnel

By Josh Feit January 12, 2010


I got a copy of Seattle's official 2010 State Legislative Agenda. All nine city council members, the city's lobbying team, and anti-tunnel Mayor Mike McGinn have their names printed on the cover of the document.

Here's one noteworthy agenda item:


We support moving forward on the deep-bore tunnel as the preferred alternative for replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and upholding the responsibilities set forth in the Viaduct Memorandum of Agreement (Seattle Ord. 123133). As the project manager for the deep-bore tunnel, the State has the role to implement the project on time and on budget. We will continue to work with the State on design and cost estimation of the the tunnel to assist in this effort.

The city ordinance recognizes last year's state bill (which made Seattle accountable for any cost overruns.)

The mayor's office called to clarify the mayor's position. Referring us to a statement McGinn's then-transition team member (and now city lobbying shop member) Ethan Raup made in front of the council in mid December (our report on that here), McGinn's office says McGinn is still concerned about cost overruns and, despite the fact the McGinn's name is stamped on the front of the document, the new mayor is not in agreement with the policy currently circulating in Olympia.
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