Sullivan: The wins of 2025 — where WA transportation got it right

As we close the books on 2025, it’s time to take a look back at the year in transportation. We’re calling it the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Today, we look at the good.

It’s my job to be critical of the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the legislature, and agencies like Sound Transit. They get a lot of our money, and my goal is to hold them accountable for using it wisely. But I also think it’s important to celebrate these agencies when they do something good.

WSDOT’s 2025 accomplishments

WSDOT opened up three important projects this year, and I think drivers are finally seeing the benefits of years of construction.

The new SR 529 on- and off-ramps in Marysville opened this year, providing an option into the city that is free of railroad crossings.

The new diverging diamond interchange at SR 18 and I-90 opened. So did the new lanes south of that interchange to Tiger Mountain. Adding capacity to that spot is a game-changer, though it’s too soon to say whether this will really help eliminate the westbound I-90 backups on weekends. Next spring and summer will provide the answer.

Whether you like tolling or toll roads or not, WSDOT did open a mile of the three-mile SR 509 expressway from I-5 to Burien. Approximately 7,800 vehicles a day are using that new facility and paying the toll.

Speaking of tolling, the state opened the new tolling system on SR 167 to match the existing system on I-405. And shockingly, I have not seen it hit the $15 max now that there is segmented tolling. That’s definitely good news.

Sound Transit’s 2025 accomplishments

Sound Transit did not have a good year when it came to financing. We’ll get to that in the bad or ugly column.

But it did open up more light-rail line, expanding the system along I-5 and on the Eastside. Sound Transit opened service into downtown Redmond and into Federal Way. That’s a win.

Washington State Ferries’ 2025 accomplishments

It was a positive year for the Washington State Ferries (WSF). The system returned to full service levels for the first time since the pandemic. The Wenatchee is back in service after years in dry dock to be converted to electric power. It’s had its struggles in its return, but it’s good to have it back in service.

The state also awarded a contract to build three new hybrid electric ferries.

SEA’s 2025 accomplishments

Now to the airport. The new checkpoint 1 opened earlier this year. So did the refurbished checkpoint 5, which is now checkpoint 6. That opened a lot of new TSA gates to help speed up your visits. The new Concourse C is on schedule to open next year, and construction on the expressway continues to make progress.

And my final “good” story for the year is Real ID. It turned out to be a nothing burger at the airport. We didn’t experience huge lines or people being turned away and missing their flights.

The TSA will start charging you $45 if you don’t have one in February. But that’s for next year travelers to worry about.

Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.

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