When the Washington Department of Transportation dropped the bomb Jan. 19 about charging up to a $5 toll to commute one way through the proposed Deep Bore Tunnel project, some West Seattle residents and realtors became concerned that this price tag, added to the melee of construction around the West Seattle Bridge, is layering obstacle upon obstacle for potential commuters and home buyers here to reach downtown Seattle.

“When I think ‘toll’ I think 80- cents or a dollar,” said Jessica Lander, an Arbor Heights resident who commutes three times a week to visit her grandmother in Ballard. “They expect me to spend 10 bucks each visit? No way.”

Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council president, told the West Seattle Herald that the tunnel toll idea “has been around for about a year,” but acknowledged that he was surprised by the $5 amount, and will work to get that figure down.

“This study just came out, and the City Council is now looking at it,” Conlin said. “I think the high end of the tolling seems prohibitive. (Off-peak hour tolling would be cheaper) Once the bids come in for the project we’ll know where we stand, and if the toll estimates are still this high I will advocate reducing them.”

“When I look at the viaduct, access between West Seattle and downtown is going to negatively impact real estate dramatically,” said David Smith, senior sales associate, Coldwell Banker Danforth. He said he sees parallels between the construction period prior to the new West Seattle Bridge in the mid-80’s and the construction plans today.

“I’ve been selling real estate for 25 years in King County,” said Smith. “When the lower bridge was damaged, West Seattle became a forgotten community. Once the new bridge was built prices caught up. In terms of high tolls, I feel that homebuyers will start to look at other neighborhoods. As a REALTOR ® what I’m afraid of is what happens to both West Seattle and South Seattle in an already difficult economy.”

“I was working actively at that time period when the lower bridge was damaged and built my business at that time in West Seattle,” said Mike Gain, who takes the opposing position. He started Cayce & Gain Real Estate about 30 years ago with Roger Cayce on California Avenue. Gain is now CEO of Prudential Northwest Realty one block east of the Alaska Junction.

“We actually did fine and grew through that time period and did all our business in West Seattle,” he added. “I am not concerned about negative impact on West Seattle because of the bridge. We’re not locked in. We have so many different routes, and they’ll open other routes. There will be more traffic congestion, but it won’t be that devastating.”

“Sellers have asked me over the last five years about the viaduct question and access to the rest of Seattle, and if construction might lower their property values,” said James Tibbetts, associate broker, Windermere Fauntleroy. “It’s a great question. Once the viaduct does get shut down no question it will affect the market. How could it not? What percentage (of commuters) needs the viaduct? That’s the question. The good news is the commute from West Seattle to downtown is not like the commute from, say Federal Way to downtown Seattle, where you’re going 20 miles north.”

“We live in a grid city,” said Tibbetts, a West Seattle resident. “There is more than one way in and out (of West Seattle.) We’re going to use 1st and 4th avenues, West Seattle is still the best bang for the buck. We might even see a boom because homebuyers might want to live in this area where they can shop locally to avoid commuting east. We just don’t know yet.”

“I think it’s something you just live with,” said Randie Stone, referring to the access question. Stone is owner, Alki Beach Real Estate, and specializes in waterfront, water view, and condominium properties. “I’m not unaware. Every homebuyer will always question that. Something’s always going to be negative, and here the good outweighs the bad. Where are you going to find nicer people and better views? I find that these days homebuyers want to keep life simpler. Rather than going to Europe every year, they like staying home and doing family things, and walking along the beach.

“I don’t think the tunnel or bridge construction will deter home sales. Look at what Bainbridge Island residents go through to get downtown.”