High gas prices are taking more and more drivers off Washington highways this year, a trend that could reduce the money available to the state for road projects.
Average daily traffic on state highways has declined since March in comparison to the same period last year. In July, about 1.66 million vehicles drove on state highways on average daily, according to the state Department of Transportation. That’s about 70,000 fewer, compared to the same time a year ago.
Commuters seem to be switching from driving to other options, such as trains and buses, said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island.
“People are getting very creative about van-pooling, car-pooling and telecommuting,” said Clibborn, the chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee.
The DOT counts traffic volume at roughly 150 locations along highways, said Dave Bushnell, a state traffic engineer.
In Snohomish County, daily traffic volume on I-5 and Highway 9 declined in July compared to the same month in 2007.
Fewer drivers could bring relief to clogged roads, Clibborn said, but the state expects to see a drop in gas tax revenue.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” she said.
The state relies largely on gas taxes to fund road projects.
“We won’t have the revenue to do safety measures,” Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, said. “We will probably have to cut back.”
Sells expects gas prices to stay high for a while. State lawmakers need to come up with other ways to raise revenue such as tolls on roads and bridges, Sells said. Washingtonians may not accept those kinds of fees.
“People are tired of taxes in any shape or form,” he said. “I don’t blame them.”
Meanwhile, transit agencies are drawing more riders. Sounder trains have seen a boost in ridership since a new platform opened in Mukilteo on May 31. In June, about 29,000 people took the trains that run between Everett and Seattle, according to Sound Transit. That was up 22 percent from May.
In the morning, David Lumbert, 49, of Everett takes a bus to downtown Seattle, where he works as a bus driver for King County Metro. After work he takes a Sounder train back to Everett.
Lumbert switched from driving himself in January when he was transferred from Bellevue to Seattle.
“If I work in downtown, I should take a bus,” he said. “It’s very convenient.”
That state roads are seeing a decline in traffic volume surprises Lumbert, who drives buses on busy roads in King County.
High gas prices are making people try a bus for now, Lumbert said.
“Maybe that’s having a more sudden effect,” he said. “But I doubt it’s going to last. Americans are so used to driving.”
The pain at the pump played a role in David Pearson’s decision to start commuting by bus earlier this year. The Microsoft network engineer commutes between Everett and Redmond.
Pearson said he also wanted to set an example for his son Brian, 7. By not driving his car, Pearson said he is doing his part to reduce the air pollution.
“You can’t just talk,” he said. “You have to do it, and they will watch.”
Lumbert said he supports a $17.9 billion measure Sound Transit plans to put on the Nov. 4 ballot. The proposal aims to tackle bus, train and light-rail projects in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties during the next 15 years, including bringing light rail to Lynnwood.
The measure is similar to a proposal, which failed in 2007, partly because it was tied to road projects.
The price tag is gigantic, Clibborn said. People are scrambling to deal with the slow economy.
“I’m skeptical whether this is a good time for this,” she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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