"Gregoire also gave a nod to a state study that shows the tunnel will accommodate about one-third of the existing viaduct traffic, while the rest would choke downtown streets and I-5. That treffic would be worse without the tunnel, she argues, saying, “We will move cars through the tunnel and we will not displace them.”"
This shows the idiocy of all or nothing tunnel advocation. We still need a surface option tunnel or not. Dismissing it as unfeasible, or insufficient just comes down to illogical rhetoric. No matter what, there needs to be a surface solution. Asking if we should start by trying it, and then evaluate if the tunnel will provide the ROI needed isn't obstructionist, its the sensible thing to do when talking about taking out a multi-billion dollar loan.
The problem isn't the billionaires, they are always pretty transparent about what they want. Its the street level uninformed voters in the city and suburbs who assume cause it seems fancy its a good idea.
We need to start accepting that some huge portion of the population is a silent passive aggressive John Balio and act accordingly.
I find it hilarious that the people beating the drum about reduced capacity of the tunnel are the same people who wanted a surface option to start with coupled with some of the people who favor switching people to public transport through inconvenience and road diets. The same people who argue that by dedicating a big portion of 520 to transit it will force people not to drive. If they are all correct, the surface streets could handle the entire traffic volume but anybody inconvenienced (ie West Seattle to Downtown commuters) will be pushed to taking transit. I have a lot more respect for anyone who says they just don't like a tunnel than this desperate, jump on the latest sound-byte bs.
@13 lol - can't even put your bike on the bus, cause the Deeply Boring Tunnel won't be having any transit.
Get used to riding in limos folks - and 4-5 minutes SLOWER than the CURRENT VIADUCT, if you're in the Tunnel and 10-20 minutes SLOWER if you're anywhere in Downtown Seattle, cause it's not going to handle the 40 to 50 percent of trips the current SR-99 Viaduct does that start or end in Downtown Seattle.
Mainly billionaire Paul Allen, for whom the tunnel project throws in a free (at public expense, that is) lidding and makeover of Avenue Avenue on the non-waterfront stretch where Allen's company owns virtually all the private property on both sides of the SR-99 corridor.
@14: Hmm, I must have missed the paragraph in the EIS that described the prohibition of buses in the tunnel. Oh--maybe because it isn't there, that in fact, buses can run in the tunnel, and since we already have a transit tunnel and a freight/commuter tunnel through downtown Seattle, we might not need a third?
Forgive my typo. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Aurora Avenue gets a new name in a few years after the city/state gives naming rights to Allen and he sells them to the highest bidder.
@26: Vulcan gave $5000 to anti-Mallahan PACs. Other than that, the only contribution from Vulcan was an executive who privately gave $150 to the McGinn campaign.
Vulcan's interest is in Mercer, not the waterfront. Whatever solution goes forward - tunnel, rebuild, or surface - Vulcan will be involved to make sure it doesn't fuck up South Lake Union.
@17 "Allen's company owns virtually all the private property on both sides of the SR-99 corridor"
Total and complete BS. You might be able to make it 30% if you include Gates holdings but I doubt even that without some creative new-math.
Your comments make it clear you hate Paul Allen but, if you think about it, tunnel overruns that supposedly (not legally) would fall on the property owners who benefit from the tunnel would, according to your false claim, fall primarily on Paul Allen and we should all rejoice and be happy.
This thread is threatening to take even SLOG to a new low.
I have no idea how this benefits Seattle homeowner more than it benefits people living in adjacent communities. Yet you'll pay for it in Seattle.
And you will pay. I don't need a study to say with confidence that this build has a 100% chance of going over budget and a 40% chance of even being finished on time.
This shows the idiocy of all or nothing tunnel advocation. We still need a surface option tunnel or not. Dismissing it as unfeasible, or insufficient just comes down to illogical rhetoric. No matter what, there needs to be a surface solution. Asking if we should start by trying it, and then evaluate if the tunnel will provide the ROI needed isn't obstructionist, its the sensible thing to do when talking about taking out a multi-billion dollar loan.
Am I correct in assuming thats what anti-tunnel supporters want?
It isn't.
It's about ego and the Billionaires wanting to force the middle class to pay for their vanity projects.
We need to start accepting that some huge portion of the population is a silent passive aggressive John Balio and act accordingly.
that's when you'll find out.
you're new to this, right?
@9 - probably exactly one of them, but barely at all. So, maybe more like .25 of them?
Get used to riding in limos folks - and 4-5 minutes SLOWER than the CURRENT VIADUCT, if you're in the Tunnel and 10-20 minutes SLOWER if you're anywhere in Downtown Seattle, cause it's not going to handle the 40 to 50 percent of trips the current SR-99 Viaduct does that start or end in Downtown Seattle.
Got Debt?
Mainly billionaire Paul Allen, for whom the tunnel project throws in a free (at public expense, that is) lidding and makeover of Avenue Avenue on the non-waterfront stretch where Allen's company owns virtually all the private property on both sides of the SR-99 corridor.
In point of fact, neither Paul Allen nor Vulcan have taken any position, monetary or otherwise, on the tunnel.
Forgive my typo. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Aurora Avenue gets a new name in a few years after the city/state gives naming rights to Allen and he sells them to the highest bidder.
Vulcan's interest is in Mercer, not the waterfront. Whatever solution goes forward - tunnel, rebuild, or surface - Vulcan will be involved to make sure it doesn't fuck up South Lake Union.
Total and complete BS. You might be able to make it 30% if you include Gates holdings but I doubt even that without some creative new-math.
Your comments make it clear you hate Paul Allen but, if you think about it, tunnel overruns that supposedly (not legally) would fall on the property owners who benefit from the tunnel would, according to your false claim, fall primarily on Paul Allen and we should all rejoice and be happy.
This thread is threatening to take even SLOG to a new low.
I have no idea how this benefits Seattle homeowner more than it benefits people living in adjacent communities. Yet you'll pay for it in Seattle.
And you will pay. I don't need a study to say with confidence that this build has a 100% chance of going over budget and a 40% chance of even being finished on time.
My sympathies, Seattle.
Envy ill becomes you.
Now, go have brunch with your friends at the "winning bid" team from Stuff it, Tax Payers (STP) and make sure they pick up the check this time.