The Seattle City Council agreed today to move forward with the Alaskan Way Viaduct deep bored tunnel and Seawall Replacement by unanimous vote, agreeing to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Washington Department of Transportation.

According to the press release, “The agreement authorized today outlines the city and state’s funding and construction responsibilities and outlines Seattle’s $927 million obligation to the project set for completion in 2018.” The Council is expected to act next year on proposed funding options, which could include “an increase in the Commercial Parking tax and a new Transportation Benefit District to collect vehicle license fees.”

Shortly after the council vote was announced, Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn responded to the decision with the champagne-beer analogy.

“I disagree with the decision. I disagree with the timing. But the reality is Mayor Nickels and the Council have entered into an agreement, and the City is now committed to the tunnel plan. If I’m elected Mayor, although I disagree with this decision, it will be my job to uphold and execute this agreement. It is not the Mayor’s job to withhold the cooperation of city government in executing this agreement,” McGinn said, stating that although he disagrees, he will continue to “ask the though questions” about where the money is coming from and where the financial burden will fall.

“I’m worried the people that want the tunnel have a champagne appetite and the City has a beer budget. The question is who will end up paying the tab,” he said.

Councilmember Nick Licata also made a post-announcement statement, in which he explained that did not believe this vote to be contractual.

“This agreement is policy statement, not a contract. I do not agree with certain elements of it, such as the intent to spend $150 million on the Mercer Project. But what is most important to me is providing a clear record that the city is not consenting to the provision of state law requiring Seattle-area property owners to pay for cost overruns,” he said. “I do not believe that in passing this agreement, the city of Seattle is agreeing to pay any cost overruns on the deep bore tunnel.”