The planned tunnel to replace Seattle’s Alaskan Way viaduct will include tolls, and that will push traffic onto nearby streets and I-5, according to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. So, he’s hiring a consultant to look at ways to handle extra traffic.
He says options include light rail to West Seattle, or renovations to I-5 through downtown.
The Seattle Times reports McGinn spoke at an anti-tunnel forum last night. He was joined by Councilman Mike O'Brien, and representatives from Sightline Institute and Move Smarter Seattle.
It became a one-sided event when the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and pro-tunnel City Council members declined to participate."The debate about whether or not we're going to do a tunnel is over," explained Ron Judd, project outreach director.
State officials plan to pick a winning construction bid on the tunnel this month.
McGinn will be in West Seattle this evening for a community Q&A, at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, according to the West Seattle Blog. The topic of the tunnel is expected to be among the topics he'll discuss.