As the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) prepared to announce proposals to build the deep-bore tunnel from its two remaining bidders (WSDOT says it will release the bids tomorrow morning), a coalition of environmental, social-justice, and homeless advocacy groups announced plans to file an initiative to stop the tunnel. It would be the second such initiative; another group, Seattle Citizens Against the Tunnel, is collecting signatures and hopes to put its own initiative on the ballot in May.

Yusuf Cabdi, who chairs the United African Public Affairs Committee, says the group hasn't finished drafting the initiative, but plans to release specific language in a week or so. The initiative will focus on the issue of cost overruns, specifically the fact that the state legislature passed a law that could put Seattle taxpayers on the hook if the tunnel goes over budget.

On Friday, the state will release its supplemental draft environmental impact statement. The last version of the SDEIS backed away from some of the state's previously stated environmental goals (like moving people and goods, as opposed to cars) and included no reference to tolls in the new tunnel; earlier this week, state officials said tolling in the tunnel could create significant diversion of cars to city streets .