Traffic congestion up 84%

Published 10:14 am Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Is traffic really as bad as it seems?

Yes, and now there are more numbers to back it up.

The Puget Sound Regional Council, a shepherd of funding for many local transportation projects, recently issued a report on compounding congestion.

From Everett to Seattle on I-5, there were 4,600 more hours of delay each day in 2014 than 2010, an 84 percent increase.

Even looking at just the one-year difference was depressing: The 10,100 hours of delay in 2014 topped 2013’s 7,930 hours by 28 percent.

In Snohomish County, the key chokepoint was the U.S. 2 interchange in Everett.

As a result, traffic patterns changed, pushing the delays to the far-left lane, too. Travel times in carpool lanes increased by 25 percent during the morning rush.

All this, and the region is still growing and adding more jobs — two key ingredients to congestion.

The council promises more numbers in March. Gee, can’t wait.

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