What is the solution to Seattle's traffic woes?

Question

Seattle area commuters are looking at billions of dollars in costs to replace 520 and the Alaskan Way Viaduct. But these megaprojects don't even increase capacity. What do we do to unjam our clogged freeways? Your ideas?

Answer 1

1. Build a bridge or tunnel from the Seattle waterfront to the ferry terminal in Winslow.

2. Replace the Viaduct with a tunnel, which would be tied into the new bridge or tunnel to Winslow.

The technology for both projects exists today.

3. Starting in Everett, have a light rail line that when not on former railroad right of way... bike trails... would run down the center of I - 5. starting at the Everett Mall, to Alderwood Mall, Northgate Mall, utilize the downtown tunnel, stop at the Sports Arenas, South Center Mall, SeaTac Airport, SeaTac Mall,link with the Tacoma light Rail, Tacoma Mall, swing along the new Rt 16, over the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and stop along the way at major Park & Rides and the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.

It could have Park & Ride lots built all along the rt.
By stopping at Malls, you have a ridership base almost instanly. These are existing major destinations with parking as well.

4. Build a light rail line along the entirety of I-405, runing a loop service in both directions, linking to the line being built now, and extend the currently built on to Auburn along 167, then tru an existing abandoned Electric Rail Interurban Tunnel, connect to the Tacoma Trolley and the Everett/Silverdale line.

5. Replace some ferry crossings to bridge or tunnel, such as Edmonds - Kingston and Southworth - Fauntleroy

The ferries are nice as a tourist thing but are really obsolete.
They are expensive, slow and infrequent.

Answer 2

The only real solution costs billions and takes years. That is to build additional highways. Currently, traffic in an out of Seattle is pretty much reliant on I-5. From the North, you can take the 520 to get you to I-5. From the South, you can the 167 to I-5, or to the 405 to get to I-5..... Unless there are additional highways built or the existing highways better connected to increase traffic flow, there will always be problems. The ferries help some from the west, but are as another poster said, becoming obsolete, expensive and slow. Reality is that most people commuting want to get there fast, and they go alone, so they drive, by themselves, adding to the traffic problems that they themselves curse. (Remember, you aren't part of the problem, you are only a victim of the problem.) Light rail could help, but again, people love the independence of having their car right there. Building new highways would help, but it would be tied up for years in court before a single shovel turned earth. Seattle just doesn't have the room, and Eminent Domain would surely be vehemently opposed. I feel a rail system would have to be the answer, but getting buy-in by the public would be difficult. Currently, the people outside King County already subsidize much there through statewide taxes and fees. Any increase that would seemingly benefit only Seattlites would not be met with much favor.

Answer 3

I find it very ironic that an area that prides itself on being very eco-friendly and regularly passes laws that favor environmental issues has such trouble with traffic. We want to force everyone else to help the environment, but we aren't willing to give up our cars on a regular basis.

The real answer is mass-transit. Carpools, light rail (like the monorail that keeps getting voted down - even after it was finally passed), busses, ferries, etc. are all good ideas. We need to get out of our cars!

Answer 4

i hear you. i hate driving in Seattle. mass transit, bikes, carpooling, and better urban planing where people work closer to where they live would all help. Seattle needs to go back 20 years and try again, if you ask me. seems like that's when the problems began. i think it is very difficult, if not impossible, to solve the problems with more roads, unless people accept toll roads, then maybe more roads would help, but that probably wouldn't help long term either.