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WSDOT: Finance Plan for Tunnel "Same as in 2009"
In response to requests from tunnel opponents to release documents detailing how the state plans to pay for the deep-bore tunnel, tunnel project manager Ron Paananen tells PubliCola the state released the same basic information back in 2009, and that the numbers the state department of transportation (WSDOT) releases later this month will be essentially the same as those it released two years ago. In other words, WSDOT is saying there's no smoking gun that will prove the state can't pay for the project.
As Fizz reported this morning, the anti-tunnel campaign has accused the state department of transportation (WSDOT) of deliberately "covering up" the financing plan for the deep-bore tunnel. Supporters of Protect Seattle Now, the anti-tunnel camp, have filed several records requests for the latest version of the financing plan, which WSDOT has denied; PSN plans to announce a legal action against WSDOT under the state public records act tomorrow morning.
The state withheld the documents based on the "deliberative process" exemption to state public disclosure law, which says that if a document contains “preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended," it is not subject to public disclosure. The campaign responded that even if the documents do include opinions and policy recommendations, WSDOT has the discretion to provide redacted copies anyway.
But WSDOT has another response. This morning, Paananen told PubliCola that the state has essentially released the numbers the pro-tunnel campaign is seeking already. He said that the "basic components for financing this project," which WSDOT plans to release in late August, are "the same as they were in 2009," when WSDOT planner Amy Arnis wrote an email explaining that the total cost of the project, including interest, will be $6.14 billion. In other words, WSDOT now claims the anti-tunnel campaign has nothing to worry about. (The anti-tunnel camp distributed that email earlier this week, and we reported the number in this morning's Fizz.) The email also laid out how the state planned to pay for the project at the time.
"Denying [the requests] under deliberative process rules is consistent with what we've done with other documents throughout the course of this project," Paananen added. "We have [generally] hung on to documents until they're final, and once they're final, everything is subject to public disclosure."
As Fizz reported this morning, the anti-tunnel campaign has accused the state department of transportation (WSDOT) of deliberately "covering up" the financing plan for the deep-bore tunnel. Supporters of Protect Seattle Now, the anti-tunnel camp, have filed several records requests for the latest version of the financing plan, which WSDOT has denied; PSN plans to announce a legal action against WSDOT under the state public records act tomorrow morning.
The state withheld the documents based on the "deliberative process" exemption to state public disclosure law, which says that if a document contains “preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended," it is not subject to public disclosure. The campaign responded that even if the documents do include opinions and policy recommendations, WSDOT has the discretion to provide redacted copies anyway.
But WSDOT has another response. This morning, Paananen told PubliCola that the state has essentially released the numbers the pro-tunnel campaign is seeking already. He said that the "basic components for financing this project," which WSDOT plans to release in late August, are "the same as they were in 2009," when WSDOT planner Amy Arnis wrote an email explaining that the total cost of the project, including interest, will be $6.14 billion. In other words, WSDOT now claims the anti-tunnel campaign has nothing to worry about. (The anti-tunnel camp distributed that email earlier this week, and we reported the number in this morning's Fizz.) The email also laid out how the state planned to pay for the project at the time.
"Denying [the requests] under deliberative process rules is consistent with what we've done with other documents throughout the course of this project," Paananen added. "We have [generally] hung on to documents until they're final, and once they're final, everything is subject to public disclosure."
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