We know. It does sound like a painful, invasive operation. Would it be too much to ask our government to use English when asking for our input on the details of things they're forcing down our throats? Coming up, the Federal Highway Administration, WSDOT, and the City of Seattle are holding three local meetings on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program (which will also include info on the new waterfront surface street). "You will be able to ask questions and share your thoughts on what environmental elements and mitigation measures should be studied in the supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the proposed bored tunnel alternative." Meeting details after the jump! more ›

• Big Blog won points with a post about The Bachelor's ex-wife and her YouTubed guest spot as a groupie on local band Out From Underneath's Seattle-heavy music video. Onwards and upwards, Gas Works Park.
• The blog formerly known as bigasscity is quoting none other than ZZ Top while crunching the numbers about Metro's projected budget shortfall and how much money the city could have saved by rejecting the bored tunnel viaduct replacement option.
• Cliff Mass thinks it's "pretty definite": we're looking at more snow, probably on Sunday. Actually, that works well with our schedule. How kind of the gods to check with Seattlest HQ's Google Calendar before sending the cold front!

The bored tunnel option just got a big wet kiss from the Senate, though its House reception will not be so warm. Still, the clock's ticking and WSDOT, King County, and the City of Seattle are inviting you on a free short walking tour of the viaduct on Saturday, March 21, while the structure is closed to traffic for an inspection. more ›

When the inevitable anti-tunnel initiative was filed, Governor Gregoire said she'd be disappointed if there was a delay. (A delay? Dealing with the viaduct? Pshaw.) The governor is in a hurry to disburse that estimated $2.8 billion, conjured up for a design that's said to be one percent complete. (Here we pause to admire the precision of knowing what one percent of a plan looks like.) more ›

• The B-Town blog's seventeen-year-old film critic loves racist grandpa Clint Eastwood. In other Burien child labor news, the blog has also taken on a fifteen-year-old intern.
• If someone broke into your car and stole your things sometime before December 11th, MetBlogs has the info on how to stop by a police station and claim that which has been ganked.
• Phinneywood reports that the 12,000 tons (24,000,000 lbs!) of sand spread during Snowmaggedon will be all cleaned up a week from today. As always, when it comes to city services, we'll believe when we see it.

We were wondering when we'd hear from the PWC about the extra-extra-final-nope-not-another-word bored tunnel decision. The letter begins equably enough, with them talking about how the state, county, and city have divvied up responsibility, and what Seattle gets out of it:

The City is going ahead with Mercer and Spokane projects, the new waterfront street, other street improvements, the First Ave streetcar line, and investments to increase transit speed and reliability downtown. Funding sources have been identified, and the package looks viable--if Seattle citizens are willing to stomach some new taxes. The County gained the authority to levy a 1% MVET tax for transit, which can be spent to boost transit service countywide. Some of this money will be invested in increased service to West Seattle, Delridge, Ballard, and Aurora north.

Probably the first question P-I staffers need to ask themselves is, How badly do they want it? more ›

As a result of the continued overwhelming response and input on replacement options from stakeholders, we have asked our respective transportation teams to continue their review. Once this information is in hand, and working closely together, a final recommendation will be made to the state Legislature in January. [...] We only have one chance to do this right.