Metro urges bus riders to prepare for I-90 slowdowns
WSDOT and Metro teaming up to offer incentives to take your car out of the congestion
Starting Monday, May 4 the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close the HOV express lanes on the Interstate 90 bridge across Lake Washington around the clock for up to three weeks. This is likely to cause significant delays for all traffic – including buses and carpools.
Without the I-90 express lanes, WSDOT is warning that funneling what is normally five lanes of traffic into the three mainline lanes across the bridge could result in delays of up to 30-40 minutes. The state anticipates the delays will be most disruptive westbound in the mornings and eastbound in the afternoons. There could also be related slowdowns on State Route 520, Interstate 405 and Interstate 5 as drivers look for other ways across and around the lake.
Those delays are expected to double in July, when the second half of the project is underway and only two westbound lanes are open across I-90.
If you regularly use I-90 or SR-520 to cross the lake, start making plans now for dealing with the projected congestion.
Metro has teamed up with WSDOT to offer free vanpool fares and special carpool incentives, and the bus is always an option. Transit service, vanpools and carpools will be subject to the same delays as other vehicles, but at least you help get one more car off the road and can relax while someone else does the driving. Also, the bike and pedestrian path across the bridge will remain open throughout the project.
While customers should expect delays, Metro will make every effort to add buses to maintain departure schedules on east-west routes across I-90. Still, bus travel times are expected to take longer than normal due to anticipated traffic delays and backups. Most buses serving the Eastside make multiple trips across the lake in a single day, and congestion on one leg of the trip will create ongoing delays for individual buses.
There are more than 18 Metro and Sound Transit bus routes operating on I-90, including: 111, 114, 202, 205, 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 225, 229, 550, 554, 981 and 989. But, the congestion could also delay other routes and transit service throughout the entire I-90 corridor and the Eastside.
Bus riders are encouraged to travel early in the commute if possible. Use the existing schedules to plan your trip and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.
Four of the larger park-and-rides on I-90 currently have parking spaces available, so get your car off the interstate by riding the bus or ridesharing from the park-and-rides at South Sammamish, Issaquah Highlands, Issaquah Transit Center, or Eastgate.
Information about the park-and-rides and help in planning a bus trip can be found on Metro Online.
Vanpools and carpools may have more flexibility in their routing to avoid the delays and backups. WSDOT is funding rideshare incentives with a federal grant designed to ease commute congestion. The incentives are open to commuters starting a new Metro vanpool on routes that routinely cross the I-90 or SR-520 bridges in either direction or travel on I-405. Eligible vanpoolers in new groups that start between May 1 and July 1 will receive free vanpool fares for three months.
Five or more commuters who share the ride to a park-and-ride can get signed, reserved spaces at the lot or garage by forming a Metro vanshare group. WSDOT will pay the new vanshare group’s fees for three months.
Carpoolers also earn incentives. A $20 MasterCard gift card will be given to the first 3,000 new registrants on RideshareOnline.com or current registrants who go into the system and request an updated list of potential carpool partners. Check RideshareOnline for details about the incentives.
Remember, don’t shelve your May plan, because there’s more work to come on the bridge July 5-28 when WSDOT shuts down the westbound I-90 mainline. Details about the state’s bridge project and tips for traveling during the construction periods can be found online.
