The slowing effect is due to the dielectric constant. For quasi-TEM like CPW, CPWG, microstrip, the nonisotropic medium (fields partly in air, partly in dielectric) can be approximated or simplified as an isotropic medium with an effective dielectric constant. The effective dielectric constant will be somewhere between the values for air and the dielectric constant of the substrate. Wider lines will contain more of the fields in the substrate so the effective dielectric will get closer to the dielectric constant of the substrate and the wave will be slower. The spacing and widths of the lines generally need to be set at values that will achieve the desired impedance and not necesarily "as close as possible".