There’s less congestion on I-405 on weekends since the state limited tolling to 5 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, according to a six-month update on tolling from the Washington State Department of Transportation.
Meanwhile, the state continues to plan ways to improve the evening commute for north-end commuters, who still have a slower drive since tolling started in September.
Travel from Highway 522 to Highway 527 takes about three minutes longer during the evening rush for drivers in the general purpose lanes.
South of Highway 522 — where the highway was widened to add a lane — general purpose lane drivers have seen a six-minute improvement.
Things are slightly better in the morning, with a southbound trip in the general purpose lanes taking about two minutes less time than last year from Lynnwood to Bothell, and about four minutes faster from Bothell to Bellevue where another lane was added.
WSDOT is looking at adding a hard running shoulder for general purpose traffic between Highway 527 and the junction with I-5. The solution could cost as much as $50 million, and would take two years from the time that cash is secured.
Drivers in the toll lanes see a better trip, especially if they go the full 17 miles from Lynnwood to Bellevue. Toll lane drivers save 10 minutes southbound in the morning and 13 minutes northbound in the evening.
On an average weekday, there are 34,000 tolled trips in the toll lanes. Less than 30 percent travel free as registered carpools. More than 8 in 10 toll-paying customers continue to pay $4 or less to hop in the lanes.
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