Key post goes to foe of tunnel

OLYMPIA — A Mercer Island Democrat who opposes replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel will be the new chairwoman of the powerful House Transportation Committee.

Rep. Judy Clibborn will replace Sen.-elect Ed Murray, D-Seattle, who left his seat in the House to run successfully for the state Senate, House Democrats announced Monday.

The leaders of the House and Senate transportation committees have tremendous influence over the shape of transportation policy in the central Puget Sound region and the state as a whole.

The committees will deal with major issues this session, including replacement of the viaduct and finding additional money to help pay the escalating costs of transportation projects in the Puget Sound region.

Clibborn was one of 30 House Democrats who signed a letter last month that opposed replacing the viaduct with a tunnel.

"I don't see that we can do it," she said about the tunnel in a phone interview Monday.

The high costs of digging a tunnel "and the risk of not knowing what's underground" convinced her it was not a good idea, Clibborn said. "I hope we can work together to come up with something we can all agree on."

The latest state estimates put the likely cost of a tunnel at $4.6 billion and a new viaduct at $2.8 billion. The state says the existing viaduct has weakened over the years and could collapse in an earthquake.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council support replacing the viaduct with a tunnel, as do several legislators.

Chairing the House Transportation Committee is a highly sought-after position. Members of the majority caucus approve committee leaders.

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said 10 lawmakers sought the Transportation chairmanship. Several factors worked in Clibborn's favor, Kessler said, including her experience with local transportation issues and the fact she's from the central Puget Sound area.

"She is in the heartland of where all the major issues are," Kessler said.

Clibborn said she campaigned for the spot and talked to key members of the caucus to convince them she was the right person for the job. But, she said, "I didn't go to every single member and beg."

She said she wanted to chair the committee because transportation "is the most important thing in my district."

Clibborn, 63, was elected to the House in 2002. She's a former nurse who worked at Harborview Medical Center and was a long-term Mercer Island City Council member. She backed a 9.5-cent gas-tax increase in 2005 to help pay for highway improvements.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com