Chris Sullivan

Avatar photo

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. He cares deeply about the amount of time you spend sitting in Seattle traffic. Email Chris at csullivan@kiroradio.com

WA eyes pay-by-mile system as gas tax revenue declines

The legislature is finally going to take up the Road Usage Charge. The plan to have us pay-by-mile will have its first hearing on Thursday.
1 day ago

Speed cameras coming to WA freeway work zones soon

Speed cameras are on their way to a freeway work zone near you. WSDOT is about to debut mobile cameras to improve safety.
2 days ago

Bellevue considering getting rid of free street parking

Free street parking could be going away in Downtown Bellevue, as the city struggles to meet the growing demand for spaces.
6 days ago

Flying after May? You’ll need more than a WA driver’s license

Flying after May? Your Washington driver's license isn't going to get you through TSA after May 7 -- the day the Real ID Act goes into effect.
9 days ago

Should speed cameras add microphones to nab street racers?

The latest potential expansion of automated traffic speed cameras would be to crack down on souped-up cars inside designated vehicle racing enforcement zones.
14 days ago

Sullivan: What lurks beneath I-90 fish passage project?

It's been a year and a half since WSDOT started tearing up I-90 in Factoria for a massive fish passage project. How's the work going?
16 days ago

New bill targets unsecured loads: Will big rigs finally be required to cover their cargo?

If it's illegal for a cooler to fly out of your pickup truck, why isn't it illegal when big rigs fail to cover or secure their loads?
21 days ago

Chokepoints: Spanaway Loop Road closure to continue due to sewer project challenges

Spanaway Loop Road, a popular route for people trying to avoid congestion, has been closed since the middle of October.
23 days ago

WSF year in review: Soft pretzel boom and fewer canceled sailings

Ridership on the Washington State Ferries isn't expected to reach its pre-pandemic numbers for another decade, but has improved in 2024.
28 days ago

Facing budget cuts, will Olympia finally fund our roads like it should?

Lawmakers in Olympia simply do not fund our roads, bridges and ferries anywhere close to adequately, and this isn't likely to change.
30 days ago

Driving in Dallas: A Seattleite’s perspective on merging, tolls and overall chaos

I just returned from Dallas, and I have some thoughts on driving in Texas. Seattle-area drivers would not do well around Dallas.
1 month ago

Chokepoints Resolutions: Sully’s 2025 wish list for all WA drivers

Most of us end up breaking our New Year's resolutions within a few days. I hope that's not the case for my Chokepoints resolutions.
1 month ago

520 Montlake Bridge Project just about finished

The 520 Montlake Project is just about finished after five years of construction. What's left to wrap up?
2 months ago

Chokepoints: Sully’s top traffic and transportation stories of 2024

Sound Transit. Graffiti. Construction. It has been a busy year. Chris Sullivan shares some of his top stories for 2024.
2 months ago

Edgewater Bridge: ‘Road Closed’ really means the road is closed

Locals are struggling with what "Road Closed" signs mean around a year-long construction project between Everett and Mukilteo.
2 months ago

Are anti-graffiti drones the future of keeping WA’s roads clear of the vandalism?

WSDOT believes the state should allocate more money to program more drones to combat graffiti and train more pilots for said drones.
2 months ago

Road Usage Charges and winter driving: What WA drivers should be prepared for

As cars continue to get better gas mileage and a larger number of EVs enter service, the state gas tax just doesn't go as far as it used to.
2 months ago

Will 2025 be the year of pay-by-mile?

The state has been testing and researching a pay-by-mile system to fund road maintenance and preservation for years.
2 months ago

WSDOT begins work to finish SR 520 Montlake Project

Just as the SR 520 Montlake Project is about to wrap up, work is already underway on the final piece of the plan, getting across Portage Bay to I-5.
2 months ago

Fines for license plate covers start in 2025

These are usually clear, plastic covers that go over your license plates to protect the plates from damage. They are also illegal in WA.
3 months ago

WSDOT to address State Route 7’s growth spurt

State Route 7 just can't handle all that traffic -- 28,000 vehicles working their way up and down the corridor daily.
3 months ago

Successful construction season ends on I-90

One less thing to worry about, I-90 construction on the freeway east of the mountains is finished for the year.
3 months ago

Sullivan: WA State Patrol is ready for any political violence

WA State Patrol is preparing for what happens if political violence gets worse on election day or the days after the results?
3 months ago

WSDOT is prepared for winter. Are you and your tires ready?

WSDOT said it's ready for winter. Now it's up to all of us to do the same with our cars and tires this time of year.
4 months ago