Congestion Pricing Comes to Washington State
Highway 167 In Auburn, WA
This weekend Washington State opened its first HOT Lanes on SR-167 just outside of Seattle between the towns of Renton and Auburn. Despite what you might believe given the hysteria over Metro's HOT Lanes proposal, the world didn't end, Washington is still a part of the United States and people's lives went on unobstructed.
In fact, the Seattle Times actually reports that traffic rode smoothly this weekend with only minor confusion amongst motorists.
The first day of experimental "HOT lanes" on Highway 167 went well Saturday, despite a "perfect storm" of traffic snarls, said state Department of Transportation officials.
Torrents of rain, a police chase, a collision and construction on Interstate 405 combined to create slowdowns on Saturday.
Still, 215 people paid tolls that varied from 50 cents to $1.75 for the privilege of driving alone in the high-occupancy/toll lane, said Craig Stone, regional administrator for the state Department of Transportation.
To learn more about the 4-year HOT Lanes pilot program in Washington, go to articles in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, view a news report by Seattle's NBC affiliate, or read a press release by the FHWA.
Photo: Brewbooks/Flickr
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog Los Angeles
LAPD shoots, strikes unarmed unhoused man as he walks away from them at Chesterfield Square Park
LAPD's critical incident briefing shows - but does not mention - that two of the three shots fired at 35yo Jose Robles were fired at Robles' back.
Metro Committee Approves 710 Freeway Plan with Reduced Widening and “No Known Displacements”
Metro's new 710 Freeway plan is definitely multimodal, definitely adds new freeway lanes, and probably won't demolish any homes or businesses
Automated Enforcement Coming Soon to a Bus Lane Near You
Metro is already installing on-bus cameras. Soon comes testing, outreach, then warning tickets. Wilshire/5th/6th and La Brea will be the first bus routes in the bus lane enforcement program.
