April 18

Seattle Times finds Mayor McGinn's tunnel statement here half true

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Last month Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn finished his walking tour of Maple Leaf by saying he had new information about the proposed deep-bore tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

“The deep-bore tunnel, with tolls, causes more congestion and delay on city streets than any other option,” McGinn told the March 19th meeting at Aljoya Thornton Place, 450 N.E. 100th St.

Apparently he repeated the claim on KUOW public radio last week, according to Sunday’s Seattle Times “Truth Meter:”

The claim: Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said last week on a radio appearance that the state’s data show the planned Highway 99 tolled tunnel would cause the worst downtown congestion of all options to replace the 58-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct.

What we found: half true

We took a look at the same numbers, and the state does predict its tunnel plan would mean more car traffic in the area, which the anti-tunnel McGinn points to as more congestion. But the state’s research also says drivers would reach their destinations sooner compared with the surface-transit option McGinn favors. Because of that, we find McGinn’s statement half true.

You can read the full story here in today’s Seattle Times.

About the author 

Sara W

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  1. Well, to be a bit more fair to McGinn, the numbers did show that the TOTAL amount of congestion hours would increase, which is why is claim is 1/2 true.

    However, since there would be more vehicles projected, I believe the hours of congestion per trip, or per vehicle would be less.

    This is just based on my quick reading of the article, maybe someone else has a different interpretation.

  2. Traffic does not equal congestion. It is entirely possible for large amounts of traffic to move easily and rapidly and not be congested.

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