Dear neighbors,
Transportation affects all of us—and I’ve spent years fighting for our district and region. We have to keep thinking creatively, and finding solutions, after so many people moved here for jobs.
I serve on the House Transportation Committee and worked on these issues before that as a member of the Bothell City Council. Fixing transportation is a passion of mine, so I’m happy to give you a quick look at what’s happening.
New budget, new projects
The new two-year transportation budget is $15.4 billion. It’s been challenging because of inflation, tariffs, and other factors driving up the cost of projects. Bids are coming in much higher than expected—sometimes 50 percent higher.
For us here in the 1st District, work on this corridor (see map below) is a top priority. The north-south connection of I-405 and State Route 167 is our lifeline.
The goals of construction projects along this corridor: build a multimodal system that reduces congestion, improves mobility, and helps quality of life. We all want to spend less time in traffic and more time at our destinations.
While improvements to the highways are important, interchanges matter. They’re often sources of gridlock when overloaded.
A major project is the intersection of I-405 and State Route 522, which is already under construction and slated for completion in 2028. The project is more than an interchange, with an additional express toll lane that will make bus rapid transit more, well, rapid.
The project also includes connections to mass transit nodes along with trail, pedestrian, and bike access.
Good news on State Route 167
Further south, the old toll system is going away on State Route 167 for a new, easier system.
The upgraded toll system allows drivers without a Good to Go account to use toll lanes. An HOV lane will also get converted into an express toll lane, opening things up to more drivers.
It’s important for us to work on the entire corridor, and system, as a whole. Our transportation network functions as one connected machine.
Local progress
There’s more money in the transportation budget for local and regional projects like Sound Transit Rapid Bus Transit stations, extending the Swift Bus Rapid Transit Green Line, and work on State Route 202, along with trestle widening.
I hear a lot from people about transportation issues. That makes sense—we all have to get to work, to school, to the store. Thank you to everyone who’s spoken out on behalf of challenges facing the 1st District and our region. Your words, and your stories, help us advocate for projects here.
Keep in touch!
If you have a story to share, an idea, or a comment, please contact me!
