I-405 toll-lane traffic not meeting standard for speed

Signs show the rates for using the express toll lanes for traffic headed southbound on I-405 on Feb. 16, 2016, in Bothell. Lately the rates have been hitting the maximum $10 almost daily. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, file)

Signs show the rates for using the express toll lanes for traffic headed southbound on I-405 on Feb. 16, 2016, in Bothell. Lately the rates have been hitting the maximum $10 almost daily. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, file)

Tolls on I-405 are hitting the maximum $10 posted rate almost daily. Money is flowing. Profitability is not a problem.

But one year into the experiment, the lanes are failing a second key standard.

Traffic within the lanes is now moving at 45 mph or faster just 85 percent of the time. That’s below the required 90 percent threshold, which the state had been meeting across the 17-mile tolling corridor until June.

“We’re looking at a whole host of things to try to address that,” said Patty Rubstello, toll operations director for the Washington State Department of Transportation, during a Nov. 16 presentation to the Washington State Transportation Commission, which sets toll rates. “We want to look at any operational things that we can further refine out there to bring that back up.”

The problem is northbound in Snohomish County.

The state added a lane in both directions of I-405 south of Highway 522 — but it did not do the same north of Bothell. The result is an even larger bottleneck for commuters heading home in the evening, with five lanes going down to three. Two express toll lanes also go down to one at that point. The area also includes a busy interchange at Highway 527 at Canyon Park.

“There’s just so much more traffic getting there, (and getting there) much faster,” Rubstello said.

One project aimed at helping ease the crunch is coming this spring, when WSDOT plans to open up shoulder driving in a 1.8-mile stretch. The right-hand shoulder will become a general purpose lane only in heavy congestion and be managed using electronic signs.

As for other improvements? “More information will be coming out on that,” Rubstello said.

For those who think this might spell the end of tolling, think again.

State legislation that authorized the lanes gave a two-year window for the project to pay for itself and meet traffic speed standards.

“Tolling would cease if we’re not meeting both. It does not have a mandated consequence if we’re missing one but not the other,” said Ethan Bergerson, a WSDOT spokesman.

State planners are taking things a step at a time.

“What we’re focused on right now is doing everything we can to improve performance up there,” Bergerson said.

Shutting down tolling in the single-toll lane section is not on the table.

“It’s definitely early to get into something like that,” he said. “It’s not just like flipping a switch. It would require funding to go in and change striping and taking down signs.” That, too, would involve the Legislature.

The federal government also could have a voice in the future.

The Federal Highway Administration enforces the 45 mph standard in toll lanes. California is among states that have been urged to make changes for failing to meet the standard. But there’s typically no heavy hand involved.

“We definitely work with the state. We work with them to understand what the issues are,” said Nancy Singer, a FHA spokeswoman.

Washington is not on any federal radar, she added.

“It’s sort of too early to write it off. (The lanes) are relatively new,” she said. The state has yet to submit its annual certification report, she added. “They need to report. … From there, we would work with the state, if indeed there was an issue.”

In last week’s briefing before the Commission, which was filmed by the Stop405Tolls group, Rubstello noted that while the express toll lanes are falling short of the 90 percent mark, it’s still better than the 60 percent seen in the former high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

Critics who commented at the public meeting noted, however, that the improvement was because of the added lane, not tolls. And moving more vehicles does not necessarily mean moving more people because of a drop in carpool rates. Both are key distinctions, ones this column has discussed since even before the lanes opened.

The state has lumped improvements under the banner of tolling, said Philip Skoog, of Bothell.

“They haven’t separated the two,” he said in public comments at the meeting. “Tolling is not very effective. What’s effective is adding more real estate.”

Drivers using the toll lanes through Snohomish County are far more likely to pay that maximum $10 posted toll rate.

The state expects to send $6 of that $10 back into improvements in the corridor, with an initial emphasis on fixing the northbound commute. Adding another lane north of Highway 522 is in the long-term plans.

“In the end, no matter how high you raise the toll, there still will be more cars coming. And the tolling is not what is going to relieve this problem,” said David Hablewitz, of Bothell.

But it may help pay for the relief.

Street Smarts: 425-339-3432; streetsmarts@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.