The tunnel study is underway (as of May 1, 1996).   <A HREF="http://www.wcc.com/">Woodward-Clyde</A>, a world leader in 
tunnel design and construction, will perform the study.   
<P>
Funded by $2.6 million tax dollars, the study is 
being jointly administered by Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration.  Not only
will the study determine the feasibility of building a tunnel, both government agencies have kicked in
an additional $1M each to turn the study into a feasibility/design study, resulting
in engineering plans and drawings.
<P>
The results of the study are due just days before the November election.
<P>
Intermediate results of the study will probably be made available through public
forums.  We will do our best to provide every available detail here online.
<HR>
At the last minute, after the contract had been awarded but before work began, Caltrans and FHWA added $1M each
to bring the total to $2.6M.  We have no documentation yet
as to why or how this decision was made, but it came as quite a surprise to seasoned
project watchers.
<HR>
<H2>A little bit of history</H2>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/96.05.01.slide.eshooltr">Eshoo seeks independent tunnel study.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/96.04.10.slide.study">Supervisor claims CalTrans trying to rig tunnel study.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/96.03.20.slide.fhwamemos">FHWA memos suggest narrow tunnel is adequate.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/96.03.13.slide.speedupstudy">Pacifica council wants tunnel study before November vote.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/96.01.24.slide.tunnelstudy">Supes happy with feds' progress on tunnel study</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/bypass.fedsrespond.12.21.95">FHWA says bigger tunnel is needed than environmentalists claim</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/bypass.fhwaresponse">Supes upset with tunnel study. (Includes full text of FHWA's response to tunnel study request!)</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/bypass.fhaokstunnelstudy">Federal Highway Administration gives preliminary OK to tunnel study scope.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/independenttunnelstudyordered">Board of Supervisors unanimous in demand for independent study of tunnel.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/tunnelstudyinhouse">CalTrans to do tunnel study in-house unless Board of Supervisors tells them to seek independent help.</A>
<P><A HREF="../HMBReview/DSlide/fedsordertunnelstudy">Feds: Study tunnel option</A>