Traffic Lab | The Seattle Times

Commuters head north in heavy traffic on Interstate 405 near Northeast 44th Street in Renton in 2019. State lawmakers renewed construction money for one new lane each direction of clogged I-405 between Bellevue and Renton. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)

Washington state lawmakers keep new highways on cruise control

Despite the hype, state lawmakers in 2021 merely kept transportation megaprojects on cruise control, plus a larger budget to preserve crumbling road lanes.

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Paul Tabayoyon, a board member of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Yakima County, walks up hill with his walking stick to a nearby bus stop Wednesday, April 21, 2021, on Burning Tree Drive in Yakima, Wash.

Advocates push Washington state lawmakers to spend more on transit, pedestrian projects

A cyclist is seen on the Burke-Gilman Trail, about to pass under the Fremont Bridge, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 in Seattle. Some want to repeal the King County helmet law, which also applies to Seattle, because of its inequitable enforcement. 216416

Racial disparities prompt calls to repeal King County’s bicycle helmet law

A single scull heads west as they passes underneath the University Bridge in Seattle Monday, March 15, 2021.
Drawspan equipment, such as lift motors, needs replacing at University, Fremont, Ballard and lower West Seattle bridges, for about $8 million. 216607

How Seattle might turn a $20 car-tab fee into $100 million, largely to fix bridges

The West Seattle Bridge, far left, connecting West Seattle to Seattle, was closed in March 2020 after cracks were discovered underneath and along the sides of the high-rise making travel across the structure unsafe. The bridge is 36-years-old. The low bridge at right is reserved for transit, freight, emergency response, Harbor Island access and bicycles.

Photographed on April 29, 2020. 213802

Camera enforcement starts Jan. 11 on lower West Seattle Bridge

About Traffic Lab

Traffic Lab is a Seattle Times project that digs into the region’s thorny transportation issues, spotlights promising approaches to easing gridlock, and helps readers find the best ways to get around.

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Transit

Cars at Colman Dock Wednesday afternoon, May 12, 2021 in Seattle, board the ferry MV/Walla Walla enroute to Bainbridge Island. 217128

Expect travel delays this summer after ferry fire sends ripples through Puget Sound fleet

Roads

Commuters head northbound in heavy traffic on I-405 near NE 44th St. in Renton on Tuesday, midmorning, January 15, 2019. Traffic was heavy in part due to the permanent closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Many drivers were trying to avoid the heavy traffic on I-5 in Seattle. 209021

Washington state lawmakers keep new highways on cruise control

Getting Around

Advocates push Washington state lawmakers to spend more on transit, pedestrian projects

Technology

Kroger joins drone delivery race with pilot from Ohio store

Technology in the pilot program by Kroger and Drone Express allows for deliveries of up to five pounds to customers’ homes or wherever they may be, enabling cookout items to be sent directly to a park in as little as 15 minutes, the companies said.