<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Creating jobs in Snohomish County communities will aid in reducing the daily grind that is the commute to Seattle.

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Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com

Commute cure? Create jobs closer to homes

By Mike Benbow

There are times when government statistics lose luster because they tell us things we already know.

I saw one of those statistics the other day, courtesy of the Puget Sound Regional Council, and I can't get it out of my head.

For one thing, it's important to the quality of our lives. I also find it interesting. I hope you do, too, although it certainly won't shock you.

Without further ado, let me tell you that those of us living in northwest and central Snohomish County, let's say the Everett area and north, have increased the number of miles we drive to work.

If you think for a minute, that shouldn't be a surprise. More and more people are moving into Marysville, Stanwood and Arlington. Many of them work in Seattle and even beyond. It shouldn't shock us to hear that people are living farther and farther away from where they work.

In fact, according to the data, our commute increased by 11 percent between the years 2000 and 2006, from 15 miles in 2000 to 16.7 in 2006.

That's among the biggest increases in the region, where the average jumped from 12.2 miles to 12.8, only a 5 percent increase. Residents of Tacoma and eastern King County saw their drives increase about 13 percent.

I'll be honest: The idea of a daily drive to and from Seattle scares me. I will never do it. So I'm wondering why more and more people want to drive longer and longer each day on what is typically a nerve-wracking and often a downright debilitating route.

It's money, of course, according to the council's analysis of data gathered in an annual household travel survey. Money gives us choices or limits them, and that's really true when it comes to our commutes.

But it's not always the way that you might think.

Those with lower incomes, say less than $40,000 for the entire household, had the shortest drive to work, just 10 miles on average, according to the study. Lack of money for those folks forced them to live close to work, likely in an apartment close to a bus stop, if they work in Seattle.

The drive increased until household income reached $100,000, plateauing at about 14 miles. The study didn't say this, but I'm guessing those in the $100,000 group are looking for the nicest house they can afford, with one or both parents willing to drive a little extra as a sacrifice to the family.

That may be one reason why the commute of Snohomish County residents has grown so much. In Snohomish County, single-family homes have consistently been about $50,000 less expensive than those in King County. That's one reason our housing market has stayed so strong. People have sacrificed time on the road for a better deal on a house.

After $100,000 in income, the commutes dropped.

"Average distances begin to fall slightly above $100,000 annual household income as residents in high-income brackets have more options for home locations and can move closer to centers of employment," the report stated.

That also makes sense. People with plenty of disposable income can trade it back for closer housing to make their drives shorter and more convenient.

Again, these stats aren't a big surprise. But they are good evidence of something we already know: Too many people who find jobs in Seattle can't afford the homes there and keep heading farther away to buy.

That's why the Seattle drive is so frustrating and why we need to work harder to create jobs closer to where we live.

Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.