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