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July 25, 2008 3:37 PM

Open houses scheduled on 520 tolls

Posted by Benjamin J. Romano

On my way back to Seattle from Redmond Thursday evening, I watched as Microsoft Connector shuttles streamed by in the carpool lane. Saving time, and, if Highway 520 gets tolls in two years, saving money. In any case, those who want to share their two cents on the tolls will have five opportunities in the coming weeks.

The 520 Tolling Implementation Committee announced this afternoon "a series of five public open houses to gather public feedback on these tolling scenarios, which could impact I-90, SR 522, and other major roadways in the area. All open houses run from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. with a presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m."

The dates and locations:

Tuesday, July 29 -- Bothell
UW Bothell North Creek Events Center
18325 Campus Way N.E.
http://www.cascadia.ctc.edu/CampusInformation/mapsdirections.asp

Thursday, July 31 -- Renton
Spirit of Washington Events Center
233 Burnett Avenue S.
http://www.spiritofwashingtoneventcenter.com/

Tuesday, Aug. 5 -- Seattle
Naval Reserve Building at South Lake Union
860 Terry Avenue N.
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/reservations/lakeunionpark.htm

Wednesday, Aug. 6 -- Bellevue
Bellevue City Hall
450 110th Avenue N.E.
http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/

Thursday, Aug.7 -- Kirkland
Kirkland Performance Center
350 Kirkland Ave.
http://www.kpcenter.org/

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Submit a comment

Posted by Greg Weld

8:05 AM, Jul 28, 2008

It really doesn't matter if there are 50 lanes going each way across Lake Washington... until you FIX the mess at I-5 and I-405 you're going nowhere fast. What possible difference could more lanes make... when you can't merge properly... and go north or south on the freeways at either end?

My FIX would be to spend far less -- and identify the traffic disasters this states marvelous engineers have designed. Lets look at the HOV lanes that cause those drivers to have to stall to cross three lanes of traffic to go from one freeway to the other... Or how about the many CHICANE lanes that have us trying to cross over each other as the same lane is trying to get on with one trying to get off.... How about doing a flyover from 520 at I-5 so you don't have people trying to cross 4 lanes of traffic to get off at Mercer... And lets not forget the HOV lane that is SOUTHBOUND on I-405 that suddenly goes NORTHBOUND to I-5.... Yeah that one works for me....

Posted by John Bailo

5:43 PM, Jul 29, 2008

I think there wouldn't be so much traffic is people weren't so blind about how cool the exurbs really are. You don't need to "live in Seattle" to have a cool lifestyle. I live on Kent East Hill and I think it's as fascinating as any neighborhood in the Puget Sound. There is a nice urbanesque core, a state of the art mall, music, parks, bike routes...and the same can be said of Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond. People need to have the mindset to see just how fun these exurbian centers are and move closer to their work. Or even, as I do, try to make them even more fun by bringing that Seattle spirit around town!