SEPTEMBER 2017

Reinvesting in the corridor: peak-use Shoulder Lane

WSDOTs first toll-funded improvement to I-405, the peak-use shoulder
Drivers like having
a choice I-405 Express Toll Lanes: 21 MONTH UPDATE

T
lane, opened to the public on April 24, 2017. This new 1.8 mile general In June 2017 we surveyed

24.9 MILLION
purpose lane (between the SR 522 and I-5 interchanges) was retrofitted I-405 drivers to learn what he Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
from the existing shoulder. Overhead lane control signs display whether the people think about the express launched 15 miles of express toll lanes on Interstate 405
peak-use shoulder lane is open to drivers. The lane is generally open during
the afternoon commute, between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., but WSDOT can adjust
toll lanes. The survey
represented drivers who have
between the cities of Bellevue and Lynnwood on September 27,
2015. During the first 21 months of operations, drivers made more
TOTAL TRIPS
this period under special circumstances. used any part of I-405 than 24.8 million trips in the express toll lane. Despite increased vehicle
(including regular lanes). volumes on I-405, the express toll lanes are providing faster, more
WSDOT is studying how to use modifications similar to this to improve
reliable trips to transit, carpools and toll-paying vehicles.
traffic conditions on I-405. 17.2 MILLION 7.7 MILLION
June 2017 I-405 Driver Survey TOLLED TRIPS FREE HOV TRIPS
Improving Speed Performance Do you like having the option to Puget Sound population booming

52,000+
use the express toll lanes if you
The addition of the peak-use shoulder lane has improved speed performance The I-405 corridor was already one of the most congested in the state.
need a faster trip?
in the northbound single-lane section, especially for general purpose lanes. Since the express toll lanes opened in 2015, the Puget Sound region has
Additionally, toll rates for this section have decreased since the peak-use
shoulder lane opened to the public. Yes 60%
grown by more than 168,000 residents. In King and Snohomish counties
alone, the DOL has issued new drivers licenses to 148,000 previously DAILY TRIPS
out-of-state drivers. Peak period traffic volumes have grown between TOLL-EXEMPT
Peak-use Shoulder lane speeds improve general purpose and express toll lane speeds
January 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017 13-20 percent, yet the express toll lanes are still providing faster, more CARPOOLS TOLL PAYERS
No 40% reliable trips than the previous HOV lanes, which were often just as 15,000 37,000
miles per hour Express Toll Lanes General Purpose Lanes Peak-use shoulder lane opens congested as the general purpose lanes. vehicles per day vehicles per day
70
have a faster and
60
A valuable choice for drivers more reliable trip
50
Single-occupancy vehicles, carpools and transit now have a more
70% drivers
40
predictable option for faster speeds and shorter trips in the express toll
30

20
lanes compared to the general purpose lanes. CHOOSE to use
10 There are six King County Metro and four Community Transit bus express toll lanes
routes, as well as numerous vanpools, that rely on the express toll lanes
0
January February March April May June
to provide faster, more predictable trips. Since opening the express toll
1 to 5x a month
lanes, transit ridership on these routes have grown an average
Whats Next: 40 Mile Corridor 5 percent and riders have saved up to 10 minutes compared to
The express toll lanes are part of the planned 40-mile corridor which will
connect the SR 167 HOT lanes with the I-405 express toll lanes by extending
pre-express toll lane travel times. 11 MINUTES 14
southbound | northbound

the express toll lanes from Bellevue to Renton. Once completed, this corridor TRAVEL TIME SAVINGS
will provide drivers with an option for a faster, more reliable trip through the in EXPRESS TOLL LANE
compared to the GP lanes for the full corridor trip
Puget Sound region, from Pacific to Lynnwood.

FOR M O RE INFOR M ATION TRANSIT $25M GENER ATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS

$38.6 $13.6
www.GoodToGo405.com/library.htm SAVES UP
TO
MILLION MILLION
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing the Office of Equal Opportunity at
wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov or by calling toll free, 855-362-4ADA(4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711.
5% GROSS REVENUE OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE COSTS
Title VI Notice to Public: It is the Washington State Department of Transportations (WSDOT) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or
sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally
funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOTs Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO).
For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEOs Title VI Coordinator at
TRANSIT
RIDERSHIP
10 TOLL-FUNDED PEAK-USE SHOULDER
(360) 705-7082. INCREASE MINUTES OPENED TO PUBLIC SPRING 2017
17-08-0345
 within each speed range
30-44
62%

9
30-44

45
0- 2
36% MPH SEPTEMBER 2017

+
9

45
0- 2
MPH Goal

+
2%
Percent of peak time periods
when the lanes move vehicles Speeds greater than
Percent of peak time periods
when the lanes move vehicles
HOVeach
within Pre-Tolling
speed range ETL45Tolling
mph Generating revenue for more corridor improvements
(Jan. 2015- June 2015) 90% of peak
(Jan. 2017- periods
June 2017)
within each speed range The Legislature directed I-405 express toll lane revenue to cover Operations costs
30-44 facility operation and maintenance costs, and any additional revenue
30-44 Dual-lane section $13.6M
to be reinvested back in to the corridor. During the first 21 months

45
0- 2
9

45

of operations, the I-405 express toll lanes generated $38.6 million in

0- 2

MPH

+
MPH 62%
+

81% revenue with $13.6 million needed to cover all of the facilitys operations
36%
Goal Goal 15% 93% and maintenance costs.
Speeds greater than
Speeds greater than
45 mph 2% 45 mph 4%
6% After operating costs, $25 million is available for improvements to the
90% of peak periods
90% of peak periods I-405 corridor. $11.5 million has already been reinvested in the corridor
>1%
Dual-lane section ETL Tolling for the peak-use shoulder lane, which added general purpose capacity to
Dual-lane
(Jan. section
2017- June 2017) Single-lane section the northbound direction between SR 522 and the
5 1 express toll lane
(single lane)
I-5 interchange. Funds for
Lynnwood 93% 2 express toll lanes
(dual lanes)
improvements
6% peak-use shoulder lane
93%
Most drivers pay less than $4 $25M
>1% 81% 72%
527 18% In March 2015, the Transportation Commission approved a minimum toll
Single-lane section 15%
6% 10% rate of 75 cents and a maximum of $10. Toll rates are adjusted by a congestion-based tolling algorithm
>1% designed to keep the express toll lane flowing by adapting the toll rate to match the demand.
4%
405
Single-lane section Tolls collected on I-405 Toll rates increase and decrease to maximize efficient traffic
Speed performance improving
522
72% movement in the express toll lanes.
18% Bothell
10% The Legislature requires WSDOT to report on whether the express
Woodinville
$8 -$10 $0.75-$4 In the most recent quarter (April-June 2017), the average toll paid
toll lanes are moving 45 mph or more for 90 percent of peak periods.
for all tolled trips was $2.04. Seventy-one percent of toll transac-
72% section of the express toll lanes is reaching this
Currently, the dual-lane Spring tions during peak periods were for amounts below $4, while tolls of
18%
target but the single-lane section falls short. Slower speeds in the single- 2017 $8 or more only accounted for 11 percent. During the same
10% have driven down the overall average so the express toll
lane section Toll Rates timeframe, the average toll paid for peak period, peak direction
lanes are only hitting the target 81 percent of the time, however this is a
$4 -$8 trips was $2.96.
substantial improvement to the previous HOV lanes which only reached
Kirkland
405 the target 62 percent of peak periods.

However, the peak-use shoulder lane added has already had noticeable
effects on performance for the northbound single-lane section, including
520
improved general purpose speeds. In the time since then, express toll The more drivers pay, the more time they save
Bellevue
lane performance has exceeded the 90 percent target for the entire
When congestion is severe in Travel Tme Savings in Minutes
northbound direction, however, the southbound single lane section
the general purpose lanes, more 25
continues to not meet the standard.
drivers opt to use the express
20
toll lanes. As the lanes fill, the
tolling algorithm increases the

Keeping
15
EXPRESS TOLL LANES MOVE AN AVERAGE toll to keep the lanes moving.
Drivers that use the lanes for 10

19 mph faster 23 mph faster

Traffic
AND higher tolls not only save time
5
over general purpose lanes, they
SOUTHBOUND NORTHBOUND save more time than cars that

Moving
0
THAN GENERAL PURPOSE LANES enter the lanes during lower toll Toll Rates $0 $2.00 $4.00 $6.00 $8.00 $10.00
periods. This is because express
during peak periods toll lanes move vehicles faster than general purpose lanes during periods of congestion,
thereby offering considerable time savings.