‘Suicide’ email sent to WSDOT not very suicidal

Last week, on the Todd Herman Show, Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson indicated that a driver emailed WSDOT to say the I-405 toll lanes saved him/her from suicide.

“But I am also getting stories about people who — literally one person was ready to commit suicide because of their life and how it was being impacted by I-405,” Peterson told Herman on Dec. 10. “They wrote us and said, ‘you saved my life.'”

After I heard that comment, I filed a public disclosure request seeking the email and any correspondence with the driver. Now, Secretary Peterson is acknowledging that she mischaracterized the email in error.

Tonight, Secretary Peterson will join the Jason Rantz Show (7pm-10pm) to discuss this issue. Here is the email, sent to me by WSDOT, so that you can get a better understanding of the tone and message. Please note that they have redacted the name of the emailer:

I wanted to take a moment to provide my PRAISE for the I-405 toll lanes!! This is a truly impactful change that significantly improves my life!

I drive from Arlington to Redmond (Microsoft) and back every day- for the past 6 years. We had no choice to “move” to get closer to my work- the housing market fell apart, our home under water. There are no high tech work options for me locally. So for years, there I have sat.. in the parking lot of 405. The stress and anxiety that I’ve endured over the years can’t even be measured. I remember times of leaving work 2 hours before having to pick up my son from childcare, only to have my commute take 2 1/2 hours that day. I’ve missed countless meetings, appointments and spent so many days feeling helpless– the grind of it all day after day has resulted in years of depression, anger.. you name it..

I’ve even considered crazy things, like walking away from my mortgage, or quitting my job and just letting the bank take everything. The mind comes up with wild ideas and options when you feel helpless!

Yesterday- and again this morning- I made the drive from Arlington to Redmond in exactly 1 hour by using the Express Toll Lanes. My colleagues have all commented on my exuberant and cheerful mood upon arrival, and for the first time in years I feel really REALLY GREAT about this part of my life! I don’t approach each morning with dread, and have to run out the door by 2:00 in the afternoon to make sure I don’t get trapped on 405 so that I can be home for my son after school! The best part? With an extra 3-4 hours of my time actually spent IN the office and not in traffic each day, I get all of my work done, and I don’t have to spend my evenings telecommuting from home just to keep up! This equals more time spent with my family, who are also really enjoying my cheerful attitude! So I wanted to say… THANK YOU!

I know you are receiving lots of negative comments and feedback from all of those folks who refuse to take advantage of this opportunity on principle alone– I know who they are, because I breezed past them all at 60 mph this morning, as they sat parked on 405, enjoying the luxury of their $40-$60K automobiles, pretending that their time isn’t worth $2 to save an hour?

This is absolutely a life altering change that DOT has made here, and I wanted to share with you my story, because there are many others like me. (We just can’t carpool or use busses because that doesn’t really work for folks who live THAT FAR north- and some of us go to the East side, some to the West).
THANK YOU!!!!!

Please join me tonight to hear Secretary Peterson out.