The City Council took another step this morning toward fulfilling this vision for a new central waterfront when we announced our intent to approve agreements between the Washington State Department of Transportation and three City departments—Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities. These agreements will allow construction on the deep-bore tunnel replacement but not until we see the final construction bids and terms of the design-build contract between the state and the winning contractor.
Every Council member is concerned with the risks of this project and how those risks will be managed. The Council will therefore delay final approval of the agreements with WSDOT until after the design-build bids are reviewed and the final design-build contracts are negotiated. It's important that we see the winning bid price and how the various risks associated with the tunnel are shared between WSDOT and the design-build contractor.
A Council resolution introduced today, and the final agreements introduced last week, make it very clear that neither the City of Seattle nor our taxpayers are responsible for any cost overruns associated with this project. WSDOT has agreed to execute these agreements. All taxpayers in the state of Washington are helping to pay for this project, so it is important that we monitor the final decisions to be made by WSDOT, including the terms of the design-build contract. Late this year or early next, the Council will take final action formally approving the agreements with WSDOT. This is a prudent course that allows important work to proceed, but makes our final decision contingent on the final costs and design-build contract terms.
Seattle citizens can be assured that the Council will continue our judicious review of this project.
I've written previously on this topic. You can read these earlier posts here and here. All posts in the Alaskan Way Corridor category are here.