Council Will Put Tunnel Referendum On Ballot | PubliCola

In a subdued press conference this afternoon, four members of the Seattle City Council said they planned to send an ordinance to put a portion of legislation adopting three agreements on the deep-bore tunnel on the ballot Monday. However, they argued that the referendum—which King County Superior Court judge Laura Gene Middaugh ruled could go to the ballot this afternoon—was merely a vote on the “process” for moving the tunnel forward, and not an up-or-down vote on the tunnel itself, which is how tunnel opponents have represented it.

via publicola.com

Tragic isn't it? And all because different interests bought into the big myth that the Repair was too expensive. What puzzles me is how easily people have been swayed that the Alaskan Way Viaduct can't be repaired economically while we are just completing an equivalent task with the Spokane Street Viaduct. Literally at the same time. And Spokane Street Viaduct is somewhat longer than the AWV, had similar soil conditions, was done while traffic kept moving (albeit probably with some vexation) and it cost just $160 million. Quite astonishing.