Seattle Times Ignores Real I-405 Problem

The Seattle Times May 10^th Editorial “A Costly Future For Transportation” exemplifies their failure to recognize the reasons for the area’s congestion problems.  The editorial picture of I-405 traffic heading south towards Bothell typifies the problem.   

First, the photo reflects a relatively recent increase in congestion. A 2015 PSRC “Stuck in Traffic: 2015  Report” chart detailing I-405 delays between Lynnwood and Tukwila showed there were no delays until after Bothell going south or after Bothell going north.  Second the photo belies WSDOT claim implementing HOT was the way to reduce I-405 congestion, especially their claim for benefits for those willing to pay the $10.00 fees.  

However the most significant problem reflected in the photo is that all three lanes in both directions were filled with cars, but not a single bus.  A  high capacity bus can accommodate more than 100 riders,  easily more than those in all three lanes of traffic depicted in the photo. 

Yet Sound Transit has spent a decade refusing to increase I-405 bus routes despite the years of increasing congestion. Route ST 532 from Everett has been limited to 16 buses between 4:30 am and 8:25 am.  ST 535 from Lynnwood limited to 11 buses between 4:48 am and 9:48 am with additional buses every 30 minutes.  However between 6:30 and 9:30 am I-405 bus transit has been limited to a total of 12 buses.  Thus it’s no surprise there were no buses in the photo. 

Sound Transit no longer provides quarterly ridership reports for individual routes instead choosing to report system wide results.  (They’ve also ended access to archived ridership reports, ending comparisons with earlier years)  However the last “Service Delivery Performance Report- Q3 2018”  shows daily 532 and 535 ridership was 2,068 and 1718 respectively, nearly 1900 commuters each morning and afternoon.  Whatever percentage of the 1900 commuted between 6:30 and 9:30 am likely resulted in “standing room only” on the 12 buses. 

Those riderships “suggest” increasing bus capacity would  attract more commuters.  Yet, Sound Transit’s response is to wait until 2024 to implement their version of BRT, spending $869 million for a bus route from Lynnwood to Bothell every 10 minutes.  They spend $300 million of the funds on an 85^th St T/C near Kirkland with no parking for access.

What’s needed are 50 additional buses an hour to supplement current ST532 and ST535 schedules.  They would provide direct BRT routes from each of the major P&R lots along I-5 between Everett and Lynnwood and along I-405 into Bellevue.   Surveys of those working in Bellevue would be used to allocate bus routes to P&R lots.  Local bus routes from near where commuters live to P&R would increase access, boosting transit ridership without the need for expensive new parking.

The added transit capacity would be especially attractive with reduced BRT commute times.  Implementing HOT with fees raised to what’s required to limit traffic to the 2000 vehicles per hour could assure 45 mph.  The photo shows $10 fees aren’t sufficient. 

Instead the editorial opined, “the Legislature wisely addressed Eastside commuter’s daily I-405 logjam through a widening project”. Yet the “widening project” will do absolutely nothing to reduce congestion in the photo.  The legislators (and Times) failed to recognize WSDOT plan for implementing 2 HOT lanes on I-405 is more about raising revenue than reducing congestion.

The WSDOT “pilot project,” HOT on 2 of 5 I-405 lanes between Bothell and Bellevue has increased GP congestion and failed to achieve 45 mph for many of those who paid HOT fees.  The WSDOT “widening project” between Renton and Bellevue does nothing to add bus routes needed to reduce congestion.  Forcing carpoolers to use GP lane will surely increase congestion and the incentive to pay HOT fees, slowing BRT routes and those who pay the fees.   Both belie the claim “the Legislature wisely addressed I-405 congestion” by allowing WSDOT to implement HOT on 2 of 4 lanes between Bellevue and Renton.

The bottom line is the Seattle Times should be more concerned about the failure of WSDOT plans for HOT fees on two I-405 lanes to reduce congestion than whether the revenue will be used to expedite construction. The editorial is another example of failure to recognize the major reason for congestion throughout the area is the lack of an adequate public transit capacity alternative.