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January 31, 2001

Bus tunnel deal may be revisited

By JOURNAL STAFF

SEATTLE -- A motion introduced before the King County Council would renegotiate the transfer of the Seattle bus tunnel to Sound Transit because of delays in the planned start of light rail service.

The motion--sponsored by Councilmembers Maggi Fimia, Rob McKenna and Chris Vance--would require a new transfer agreement that reimburses King County for additional costs incurred because of delay.

The additional costs include debt service on the tunnel itself, estimated at about $12 million annually, and the costs of keeping the hybrid electric/diesel buses currently used in the tunnel operational for an additional three years.

Working under the assumption that light rail service would begin in 2006, Metro has not contracted for any replacement hybrid buses. Metro estimates that extending the life of the existing buses would cost $7.4 million per year.

Under the existing agreement, signed last summer, Sound Transit is to assume the tunnel payments in 2004. However, Sound Transit now says its light rail system, $1 billion over budget, won't begin service until 2009, placing the original agreement in doubt.

As part of a six-month workplan adopted by Sound Transit, a review of all third party agreements, including the bus tunnel transfer, is ongoing.




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