Looks like Seattle is getting a new tunnel. (sales, how much)

[70Ford]

State approves tunnel and amendment that could cost citizens | West Seattle Herald

Ya know, I wish I could be at the meetings for these things.

Member #1 "We need a tunnel!"
Member #2 "YES! Brilliant! A TUNNEL! I heartily concur!
Member #1 "It's gonna cost LOTS of money!"
Member #2 "We'll get a bid, and make it happen! Lots of jobs for everyone! YEAH!"
"Member #1 "What if there are cost over runs?
Member #2 "Shush yo' mouth!....!!!!! That's why we have property owners! They live for this kind of stuff. Why, you could paint a skunk green, call it "Enviro-Skunk" and sell it to a property owner here for 1 zillion dollars!"
Member #1 "You've got to be kidding me."
Member #2 "Well, yes...yes I am. But still, once this project goes over budget and there's a massive bill to pay and there's this huge hole in the ground and it's a major pain in the butt 2 years from now, well...at that time, local property owners & and the 10's of thousands of people affected will gladly pay just about anything to get out of the Hell that has been created."
Member #1 "That's like, so awesome in its smartness, it's Smarty-Awesome!"

[LongDawson]

I don't understand how, because half-way through they will find an ancient native American pile of sacred rocks, putting the entire project into automatic stop/halt.

Aside from that I think a tunnel is a great idea. Lots of countries building tunnels at relatively low cost, such as where my wife is from the average income is very very low yet in about 10 years they built a fantastic underground system that connects to a massive above-ground skytrain. It's hard to believe what other countries can do, but we are stuck with rotten infrastructure. We are supposed to be such a great country, but we are wasting our money on a mysterious "weapons of mass destruction" trillion dollar war invasion. A sales job put upon us by Mr Wolfowitz et al. Why are they not in jail?

It is really important to study how other countries can do this at such an affordable cost, and for US citizens to demand an end to funding an "attack dog" military which is so counterproductive and wasteful of our labor.

I believe in Seattle redundant environmental studies and legal fees will constitute what percentage of the final cost? Far too much.

Those are my thoughts.

[guylocke]

I think the tunnel is awesome

[Ira500]

Member #3:
" I move that we appoint a subcommittee to study the matter, that we authorize 250 thousand dollars for this study, and that after the study is completed we appoint a blue ribbon task force to study the study."
Member #2:
" But businesses will be going out of business, and we're expecting them to pay cost overruns?"
Member #1:
" Member #2 is out of order. Motion moved, seconded and carried. New business? Shall we have a mascot contest for the tunnel?"

[azoria]

^^^

Good one Ira! Would have repped you but it won't let me.




(For what it's worth, I like the tunnel.....)

[jenlion]

We were out there today, and yeah, I'd like there to be a tunnel. The whole area would be much more enjoyable without that monster.... But I'm not sure I'd enjoy it enough to be willing to PAY for it.

[Heiwos]

Originally Posted by LongDawson

Those are my thoughts.

All my thoughts too!

The one big justification for the tunnel is that there will be no disruption above, supposedly. That could save a lot of money, if only to users of the area. I fear another Big Dig, though, and sacred rocks found.

[Ira500]

I fear another Big Dig, though, and sacred rocks found.

Or a nesting site for an endangered slug variety.

[Luke9686]

Ask Boston about cost over runs for tunnels... They know a lot about it. That being said, now that the elevated highway (ugly) going right through downtown Boston is gone, that area is beautiful.

[XXclimberX]

who cares how much the tunnel costs. 20 years from now the people of Seattle will be thankful the viaduct is gone.