Kenmore mayor fears major congestion when I-405 tolls begin
Sep 23, 2015, 1:24 PM | Updated: 1:38 pm
When the new I-405 Express Toll Lanes go live next week, the City of Kenmore is expecting thousands of drivers to avoid the freeway and take SR 522. (MyNorthwest file)
(MyNorthwest file)
Your drive around “the top of the lake” secret isn’t a secret anymore. When the new I-405 Express Toll Lanes go live next week, the City of Kenmore is expecting thousands of drivers to avoid the freeway and take SR 522.
It’s a nice drive, but it’s also a very popular bike route along the Burke-Gilman Trail where riders cross the streets in Kenmore to hang out at parks (or let’s be honest, visit the outdoor patio at The Lake Trail Taproom).
More drivers means more traffic issues for Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forrest Park, and Lake City. So how do you fix the upcoming traffic on 522?
Mayor David Baker told KING 5 he wants a cut of the toll money to cover the costs of traffic congestion through his city.
“We have data that we can then go to the state Legislature and say the tolling revenue should be used to help communities that are suffering because of people avoiding tolls,” Baker said. “Right now, toll money can only be used on the road the toll is collected on and we think it should be used for mitigation to help communities out.”
Kenmore saw a 23 percent increase in cars each day when tolls on the 520 bridge began and the city is bracing for more on September 27 when tolls start on I-405.
