I recently read the article from the I-405/SR 167 Executive Advisory Group to discuss next corridor projects and priorities Monday in Bellevue and after doing some research I am completely opposed to implementing this “master plan” for I-405.

This “master plan” is based off of flawed claims which I believe won’t help traffic at all. All of its goals sound great in theory, but it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.

We can look at parts of the “master plan” that are currently in place on parts on I-405. In Bellevue I have witnessed no signs of congestion getting better, in fact it has gotten much worse since the toll lanes were implemented. These toll lanes took the place of the old carpool lanes; the toll lanes are what our state leaders call the “Add 2 lanes in each direction of I-405.” They have replaced the free carpool lane and made it so anyone can drive in those lanes as long as they pay.

This has defeated the entire purpose of carpool lanes which is to allow cars with more people to go through traffic more easily.

Our state leaders are overlooking another vital part of solving our problems with traffic congestion. To fix the problems of congestion we must regulate the inflow and outflow of cars on the freeway to match the amount of cars the freeway can accommodate. By adding more lanes, toll lanes, etc., we are changing the flow of traffic.

We have not yet changed the traffic lights that regulate the inflow and outflow of cars on the freeway to match the flow of traffic which is why I believe we are experiencing worse congestion than before the “master plan” was beginning to be implemented. With the master plan finally coming to fruition I can see that there are and will be many problems to deal with which makes me question if this so called “master plan” is really going to benefit us in the long- haul.

Casey Guay,
Renton