SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5768

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: The State Route 99 (SR 99) Alaskan Way Viaduct is a major arterial serving significant numbers of freight and passenger vehicles through downtown Seattle. The facility sustained damage during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and is susceptible to damage, closure, or catastrophic failure from additional earthquakes and tsunamis. During a recent 13-month period, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) facilitated a stakeholder advisory committee that analyzed various designs to replace the Viaduct. On January 13, 2009, the Governor, the City of Seattle, and King County agreed to a deep bore tunnel design, with four general purpose lanes in a stacked formation, to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): The Legislature finds that replacing the existing Alaskan Way Viaduct is a matter of urgency, and that the state must expedite the environmental review and design processes to replace the structure with a deep bore tunnel. The tunnel must be located under First Avenue from the vicinity of the sports stadiums in Seattle to Aurora Avenue north of the Battery Street tunnel, and must include four general purpose lanes in a stacked formation.

The SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project finance plan must include state funding not to exceed $2.4B and must also include at least $400M in toll revenue. These funds must be used solely to build a replacement tunnel and to remove the existing viaduct structure. State funding may not be used for central seawall or waterfront promenade improvements. The City of Seattle must bear all utility relocation costs associated with the state work on the viaduct replacement project.

The WSDOT must conduct a traffic and revenue study for a SR 99 deep bore tunnel for the purpose of determining the facility's potential to generate toll revenue. The study results are due to the Governor and the Legislature by January 2010.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Decision makers have been debating the Viaduct replacement project for years. It is time to act to replace this vulnerable structure and to appropriately support the significant SR 99 corridor through downtown Seattle. The decision has now been made. The tunnel option appropriately addresses safety, capacity, and affordability concerns, and provides minimum construction impacts to businesses in the region. The corridor is a significant freight corridor and the Viaduct replacement project is critical for freight interests. The tunnel option opens up the waterfront which will help transit service. The tunnel option provides great economic benefits to the region. The tunnel design is financially feasible and environmentally friendly. The bill should address cost overruns.

CON: The tunnel provides two-thirds the capacity of the existing Viaduct. Seventy percent of Seattle voters have previously opposed a Viaduct replacement. Tolling the tunnel will force more congestion on I-5. The existing Viaduct should be retrofitted. Industrial areas around Ballard (the maritime industry) will not be adequately served by the tunnel design.

OTHER: There are questions regarding how the tunnel design proposes to mitigate traffic through the corridor to protect industrial area. Some environmental groups do not support any tunnel design. The tunnel proposal should be consistent with previously enacted tolling legislation and legislation addressing reductions in vehicle-miles-traveled. Tolling revenue from the tunnel should go to support transit services. AAA doesn't have the engineering expertise to adequately judge one design over the other, but requests that the final design be safe, reliable, and enhance mobility through the corridor.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Murray, prime sponsor; Duke Schaub, Association of General Contractors; David Dye, WSDOT; Richard Prust, ARUP; Matt Rosenberg, Cascadia Center for Regional Development; Dave Gering, Manufacturing Industrial Council; Ron Posthuma, King County; Vlad Oustimovitch, West Seattle; Tayloe Washburn, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce; Rob Sexton, Downtown Seattle Association; Maud Daudon, SNW Securities Corp; Charles Knutson (on behalf of former Governor Dan Evans), Seattle Chamber; Commissioner John Creighton, Port of Seattle; Nancy Hiteshue, Washington Roundtable.

CON: Eugene Wasserman, North Seattle Industrial Association; Art Skolink, Victor Gray, Viaduct Preservation Group; Gene Hoglund, Working Families for Elevated Solution.

OTHER: Dave Overstreet, AAA Washington; Morgan Ahouse, Sierra Club; Bill LaBorde, Transportation Choices Coalition; Herald Ugles, ILWU Local 19; April Putney, Futurewise.