What is it about 167? (Seattle, Tacoma: tax, move, commute)

[The Siobhan]

Not sure if I should have this thread moved to the greater Washington section, or keep it here since it affects those who commute into Seattle for work, but here goes.

What's the deal with 167? Currently, I am trying to commute from Sumner to Seattle (until the end of June). Starting next week I will probably take the train, but for the past week I was driving up 167 and then taking Kent/Des Moines to hit I-5. The 10-15 miles it takes to get from 410(?) to Kent/Des Moines takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Most of the congestion of the corridor happens between the 410 junction and just before 18. When I pass the exit for highway 18, traffic eases up for a few miles before getting congested again. It doesn't seem that the back up occurs when people are trying to exit onto 18.

[Inkpoe]

Well, down yonder is where it's really affordable and a lot of people moved there. Unfortunately, 167 simply didn't keep up. You want to talk about bad, try getting on Meridian Ave. Just that whole area has way too many people and not enough easy/direct access out.

[PollyGlott]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

Well, down yonder is where it's really affordable and a lot of people moved there. Unfortunately, 167 simply didn't keep up. You want to talk about bad, try getting on Meridian Ave. Just that whole area has way too many people and not enough easy/direct access out.

It's surprising to me how congested 167 gets! After all, it's a four-, and sometimes six-lane, highway. I've run into congestionon on it as early as five A.M...
And yes, Meridian is a nightmare, but that's to be expected since it has dozens of (unsynchronized) traffic lights and hundreds of businesses. I often take parallel streets to avoid the traffic, which is brutal at all hours...

[Andy]

SR-167 is an embarrassment. Hate to make this political, but Washington must end the 30 years of one party rule in Olympia. It is time for change in the Gov.'s mansion for once.

[pw72]

Originally Posted by Andy

SR-167 is an embarrassment. Hate to make this political, but Washington must end the 30 years of one party rule in Olympia. It is time for change in the Gov.'s mansion for once.

Agreed. Welcome to Seattle/Tacoma freeway hell. Most freeways are way too small, and when they do expand they only expand as an HOV lane. Great, provide a lane that few can use.

167 should offer three lanes of general traffic in each direction, but it doesn't. Because our government believes we need to keep freeways small to encourage car-pooling. Wow. This was a nice theory in 1980, but not now, as we all can see.

The anti-freeway attitude of the 80's and beyond is coming back to bite us in the ass. We need more lanes, not HOV lanes, but just lanes.

[Inkpoe]

167 doesn't have a real HOV lanes... it's a HOT lane, which renders it useless-- but you have people actually paying for it anyways.

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by pw72

Agreed. Welcome to Seattle/Tacoma freeway hell. Most freeways are way too small, and when they do expand they only expand as an HOV lane. Great, provide a lane that few can use.

167 should offer three lanes of general traffic in each direction, but it doesn't. Because our government believes we need to keep freeways small to encourage car-pooling. Wow. This was a nice theory in 1980, but not now, as we all can see.

The anti-freeway attitude of the 80's and beyond is coming back to bite us in the ass. We need more lanes, not HOV lanes, but just lanes.

Here's an idea, don't want a long a$$ commute, don't move a long a$$ distance away from the city.

Shocking concept, I know.

You subsidize things you like, and tax things you don't like. We have decided that we don't want urban sprawl (see Growth Management Act) so why should we subsidize it (which is what happens when you expand freeways)? Want to lower congestion, put tolls on every 'free'way into the city of Seattle. Use the revenues to fund expanded transit options.

Oh, and anyone can use an HOV lane, just get a passenger or take a bus. If you need help locating someone to ride with you, try Avego:
http://go520.avego.com/st-pilot/

[tobester]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

167 doesn't have a real HOV lanes... it's a HOT lane, which renders it useless-- but you have people actually paying for it anyways.

If you are a carpool, you don't pay to use the HOT lanes.

[Transmition]

Originally Posted by Andy

SR-167 is an embarrassment. Hate to make this political, but Washington must end the 30 years of one party rule in Olympia. It is time for change in the Gov.'s mansion for once.

So is the other party running on a platform of investing money in infrastructure? If not then I don't see what benefit they will be.

[jm31828]

Originally Posted by Transmition

So is the other party running on a platform of investing money in infrastructure? If not then I don't see what benefit they will be.

No, in fact if they had their way I'm sure all lanes on 167 (and all other freeways in the area) would be privatized and tolled so none of us could afford to drive on them.