Politics Northwest
February 10, 2009 8:29 PM
Tunnel plan burrows through state Senate
Posted by Mike Lindblom
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island and chairwoman of the Transportation Committee, predicted tonight that a bill to fund a proposed $1.9 billion, deep-bored Seattle tunnel will pass the Senate.
"There's a lot of support," she said, after a hearing, where members raised few objections.
The tunnel is the biggest piece of a Highway 99 rebuild that costs $3.1 billion, including a new elevated segment and interchange in Sodo.
The only discouraging words came from Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who wondered if state taxpayers would be on the hook if cost overruns occur. (Yes, they would.) Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, held out hope that if the tunnel is under budget, the leftover money would go to other projects.
Tolls on the tunnel should be able to cover any overruns, Haugen said.
Senate Bill 5678, co-sponsored by Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, would have the state dig the tunnel, and spend $2.4 billion in gas taxes and federal grants previously earmarked for Highway 99. And it would require tolls to fund $400 million or more. The Port of Seattle has already pledged $300 million, making the numbers add up to $3.1 billion.
Seattle will consider additional city taxes for parks, utility relocation, streetcars, a waterfront seawall replacement, and road improvements.
King County has asked the state to allow a countywide car-tab tax to fund Metro transit buses, but Haugen opposes that. Ron Posthuma, assistant transportation director for King County, said he's in talks with Gov. Chris Gregoire to come up with another bus funding plan the state can accept.

nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Thunder and lightning again lighting up sky
- Datsun 210 sought in police shooting
- Voters expand same-sex rights
- Details emerge about Fort Hood suspect's history
- UCLA game thread
934 - Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
389 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment
304 - Troubling portrait emerges of Fort Hood suspect
282 - McGinn widens lead over Mallahan in Seattle mayoral race
178 - Decision day for health care in the House
117 - Schools emerge as new tactic in gay marriage votes
97 - Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
79 - Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working
69 - Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
69
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Recipe: Penne with Smoked Turkey Sausage
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Nancy Leson | An elegant offshoot of Seattle's Wild Ginger in Bellevue
- Voters expand same-sex rights
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Tim Lincecum charged with misdemeanor possession
- Green River Valley: Anxiety ebbs over flooding potential
- Do It in a Day | Spend a cozy, homey day in Edmonds

May
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
Andrew Garber
Covers politics and state government from Olympia.
Jennifer Sullivan
Covers the state Legislature from Olympia.
Chantal Anderson
Covers the state Legislature from Olympia.
Emily Heffter
Writes about the city of Seattle and local politics.
Mike Lindblom
Covers transportation.
Jim Brunner
Writes about money and power from Seattle.






