Expert says Seattle drivers stuck in ‘perfect storm’

The number of downtown Seattle commuters driving alone to work continues to decrease and public transit use is up, according to a recent study by Commute Seattle. But the study does not reflect overall traffic in the Seattle area.

In fact, congestion is getting worse.

Preliminary data for 2014 shows drivers are spending an average of eight hours more in traffic compared to 2012, according to Jim Bak, spokesman and director at INRIX. INRIX is a Seattle-based transportation analytics company.

“Traffic in the Seattle metro area is getting worse,” Bak said.

Congestion is up 20 percent over 2013, he said.

There are three or four reasons for traffic congestion. An improving economy means more people are driving to work and spending money out on the town. There are also more trucks on the road, delivering ordered goods, Bak said.

The Seattle population, and surrounding areas, are also growing. The city is the fastest growing city, next to Austin, in the United States, according to Bak.

There are improvements being done to road infrastructure, which means more people willing to drive on the road.
Finally, lower fuel prices can also contribute to more congestion.

“What we have is a perfect storm,” Bak said.

The I-5 corridor is just one example of how bad congestion is, Bak said. A traffic collision on I-5 south from Everett to Seattle can turn into a two to 2.5 hour commute.

“I-5 is maxed out,” he said. “All you need is one accident and it just has this drastic – dramatic – affect that turns it into a highway to hell.”

The study done by Commute Seattle points out steps are being taken to help improve congestion, however. Thirty-one percent of downtown’s estimated 228,000 daily commuters drive to work alone, according to the study. That’s a downward trend from 34 percent in 2012.

Public transit is the top choice, with 45 percent of downtown commuters using it; 9 percent are ridesharing, 7 percent are walking; 4 percent are telecommuting; and 3 percent bicycling.

“These encouraging results show that Commute Seattle is approaching its goal of decreasing downtown’s drive-alone rate to 30 percent by 2016,” the study says.

The study means, that while many people continue to drive solo to work, people in the area are willing to use alternative methods of transportation, Bak said. It would be worse if those downtown commuters were also all driving alone.

“We are a progressive commuter base … which the study points out,” Bak said.