My Candidate's Statement on I-405.

The previous post detailed my Voters’ Pamphlet candidate’s statement for governor will be an attempt to inform voters about the Seattle Times decade long abetting of Sound Transit’s fatally flawed light rail extensions along I-5 and across I-90 Bridge.  This post details how the statement will attempt to tell voters the Times has also failed to deal with I-405, “Washington’s worst corridor for congestion.”  

They continue to abet WSDOT and Sound Transit inept approach to the I-405 congestion. The paper refuses to acknowledge WSDOT decision to impose limited HOT fees on two I-405 HOV lanes has increased GP travel times between Lynnwood and Bellevue and failed to assure 45 mph for many of those willing to pay fees.

The paper continues it's decade long abiding if not abetting Sound Transit's refusal to add transit capacity along I-405 and their plan to wait until 2024 for I-405 BRT.  They apparently don’t recognize Sound Transit’s BRT, a single bus route every 10 minutes making 10 stops between Lynnwood and Burien will never suffice.

The Times apparently doesn’t recognize HOT fees reduce commute times by reducing the number of vehicles on HOV lanes from those able to carpool to limit traffic to the 2000 vph needed to assure 45 mph.  Contrary to WSDOT claims, there’s no evidence paying tolls increases that capacity.

That the problem with the 2^nd HOT lane is it increases traffic on remaining GP lanes to where more drivers are willing to pay the WSDOT limited fees for HOT.  During peak commute they increase traffic beyond the 2000 vph on both HOT lanes, slowing traffic when most are commuting.

The current travel times on GP and HOV lanes between Lynnwood and Bellevue are only going to increase with future growth.  The only way to alleviate the problem is to limit HOT to one lane with fees raised to limit traffic to 2000 vph and use added lane to reduce congestion for all GP traffic.

On I-405 between Renton and Bellevue a Dec 25, 2017 Seattle Times article included the following:

In 2019, work crews on Interstate 405 will start building a new lane in each direction between Renton and Bellevue, as part of a series of changes that aim to improve traffic flow on what officials call Washington’s worst corridor for congestion.

Yet they continue to abide WSDOT still not beginning. That WSDOT plans to impose tolls on the new lane as well as on current HOV lane show they still don’t recognize flaws with 2 HOT lanes.  That limiting HOT to the new lane and allowing GP traffic on additional lane increases both velocities.

The Times also needs to acknowledge the slow speeds on both HOT lanes and the need for multiple stops negate any potential BRT benefit.  That If 100 of the 2000 vehicles per hour were high capacity BRT buses they could accommodate 10,000 riders; adding the equivalent 5 lanes of traffic at 45 mph. 

During peak commute, rather than multiple stops, every T/C on I-5 north of Lynnwood, south of South Center, and along I-405 could have direct BRT routes to Bellevue or Overlake depending on demand.  Riders could have access to T/C with added parking or local bus routes from near where commuters live.  Instead Sound Transit plans to spend $300 million on a T/C near Kirkland with no access from parking or local routes.

The bottom line is the Seattle Times needs to recognize WSDOT plans for 2 HOT lanes are more about increasing revenue than in reducing congestion.  That Sound Transit’s I-405 BRT should reflect real improvements rather than an attempt to appease those wanting BRT with a fraction of what’s needed.  That failing to do so will increase "Washington's worst corridor for congestion".

My candidate's statement is an attempt to "persuade" them.