(This post is part of a series.)

Two headlines today, on replacing the crumbling Alaskan Way Viaduct, the aerial highway through downtown Seattle that cuts off the city from its waterfront:

Seattle P-I: Viaduct Funding ‘Impossible’:  Sen. Murray says U.S. won’t put up $1 billion
Seattle Times: Murray Says Viaduct Request is DOA

Now, I’m not one to say “I told you so.”  No, wait.  Actually, I am.

But, more seriously, this is going to put a crimp in the city’s plans for replacing the viaduct with a tunnel.  Which means that the city will have that much more time to consider whether—with all theothertransportationprojects planned or underway in the region—the $4.1 billion tunnel project is really worth the cost.