That didn't take long. Just a few hours after the state issued (politically timed) shock-and-awe numbers warning of the cost and delay that would result from ballot measures on the deep-bore tunnel, a new pro-tunnel group calling itself "Let's Move Forward" seized the estimates in an email to reporters. (Posted in full after the jump.) The group is made up of business and labor organizations.

Among their warnings: A referendum campaign is "part of stealth effort for gridlock inducing surface plan" (but cites zero data that show the tunnel preforming better than the surface/transit, because, well, those data don't exist). Let's Move Forward spokeswoman Sheila Stickel also compares the anti-tunnel activists to Tim Eyman (for paying signature gatherers, which, of course, every other initiative does), implies they're lying to get signatures (but never says how), and says its "a referendum that likely won’t pass legal muster.” Does this group intend to file a lawsuit, attempting to keep tunnel measures off the ballot? I tried to reach Stickel but she hasn't replied to email and her phone was "not accepting calls at this time."

Let’s Move Forward Coalition Urges Voter Awareness of Costs in Mayor’s Costly Delay of State-Funded Tunnel and Transit Plan

McGinn’s Cynical delay efforts will cost tens of millions, according to State; part of stealth effort for gridlock inducing surface plan

SEATTLE— In response to a bi-partisan request from leaders of the State House and Senate Transportation Committees, the Washington State Department of Transportation today released startling numbers on the actual cost of delaying scheduled construction of the deep bore tunnel replacement for the damaged Alaska Way Viaduct. The cost, in the tens of millions, fly in the face of referendum proponent claims—repeated by the Mayor and other surface option backers—that they are acting in the interest of taxpayers.

“The proposed referendum is being sold to voters by paid signature gatherers as a way to stop a costly project, but the referendum neither stops the project nor minimizes cost. The biggest risk of loss at this point is the delay progress,” said Sheila Stickel, spokesperson for Let’s Move Forward, a coalition supporting the state funded tunnel compromise reached after a decade of study and public input. “In fact, tens of millions will be wasted in delays for a referendum that likely won’t pass legal muster.”

Referendum backers, primarily advocates of a rejected surface plan that would dump 110,000 cars per days on Seattle’s already clogged street grid and I-5 and force all cost to Seattle taxpayers , are expected to turn in their signatures Tuesday, fueled by Tim Eyman style paid signature efforts.

“The sad part is that the people of Seattle are being misled,” said Stickel. “Paid signature gatherers will likely say anything to get a signature. What we need from the Mayor and other surface backers is honesty about the costs of their actions, and how they expect to pay for—and plan for—their alternative.”

Mayor McGinn, the most consistent backer of a surface option, had pledged repeatedly during his campaign that he would not stand in the way of the tunnel, if elected. The Mayor has repeatedly violated his pledge, most notably by his veto of city agreements with the State and his public pursuit of the current referendum.