What are some of the arguments against the deep bored tunnel?
The proposed deep bore tunnel, while the best option on the table, has its detractors. Some legitimate arguments against the tunnel include the fact that current planning doesn’t allow for access and egress from downtown. Additionally, the carrying capacity favors transit over cars – perhaps a short-sighted decision given growth projections for the Puget Sound region that will inevitably result in more vehicles on the roads. Tunnels today can be built so trucks with explosive and dangerous material may be carried through them. The planned tunnel for Seattle, while advanced, won’t be able to accommodate that type of material. Of course, there are legitimate arguments about cost. Any price tag of $4.2 billion is cause for reflection. However, when total life-cycle costs are considered, the Tunnel+Transit option is a very good value for the needs of the state and region. Is it true that the tax increase needed to pay for the tunnel – projected to be $930 million by some estimates – could
