I-405 Stride Bus Rapid Transit Project Problems

The Sound Transit Board October 23, 2025, agenda included the following Business Items:

B. Motion No. M2025-50: Authorizing the chief executive officer to execute a contract with Shimmick Construction Company, Inc. for construction services for the Stride Renton Transit Center, a component of the I-405 Stride Bus Rapid Transit project, in the amount of $48,194,800 with a 15 percent contingency of $7,229,220 for a total authorized contract amount not to exceed $55,424,020, plus applicable taxes.

 

C. Motion No. M2025-51: Authorizing the chief executive officer to execute a construction agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the design build delivery of the Tukwila International Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit project as part of the I-405 Bus Rapid Transit project in the amount of $168,740,000 with a six percent contingency of $10,124,400 fora total authorized agreement amount not to exceed $178,864,400.

 

D. Motion No. M2025-52: Authorizing the chief executive officer to execute a master agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the construction of Stride Bus Rapid Transit Improvements by Sound Transit on State Highway Right of Way and authorizes issuance of task orders under the master agreement for specific projects.

 

The 3 motions didn’t include the normal recommendation for passage as the October 9th System Expansion Meeting was cancelled.  They are the  latest result of the July 1, 2016 Prop 1 ST3 Map for Stride I 405 BRT,  a 11-station, 38-mile route between Lynnwood and Burien was costed at $812--$869M (2014$) and projected to have 15,000—18,000 riders when completed in 2024. 

 

A May 8th System Expansion Committee video showed the Baseline Stride BRT Program had devolved into four projects costing $2,350 million to be completed in Q2 2029.  The 1st project was a Bus Base North costing $499.5M starting construction this summer, with completion Q4 2027.  Despite the Key Attributes including the following as one of the 10 “Not Included” projects: 

 

Operations and maintenance facility not included

 

 

The Sound Transit board approved spending $287 million on a triple-decker interchange on I-405 with no parking for access. Another concern was the following:

 

Relies on WSDOT to maintain adequate speed and reliability of I-405 express toll lane system

 

The problem being the WSDOT I-405 express toll lane system requires 2-person carpools transfer to GP lanes, or like SOV drivers, pay HOT fees to travel on one of two HOV lanes.   During peak commute the increased GP lane congestion will increase the number of those willing to pay the current fees, potentially slowing HOT funded HOV lanes. Especially between Bellevue and Burien, where the WSDOT 2-lane HOT lanes will leave only 2 GP lanes.  During off-peak commutes those willing to pay will result in wasted HOV lane capacity yet needless congestion on GP lanes.  

Both problems could be resolved if the WSDOT would increase HOT fees on a single HOV lane to whatever it took to limit traffic to assure target velocity and travel time.  The additional GP lane would reduce congestion and travel timed for those not willing to pay.

 

Instead, the bottom line is whatever money Sound Transit will spend on I-405 Stride Bus Rapid Transit project will do little to help those willing to pay the 

 HOT fees and increase the travel times for those who won’t.