The long-awaited tolling of the new Highway 99 tunnel, which replaced the Alaskan Way Viaduct earlier this year, starts today.
"Whether you drive Highway 99 or not, the tunnel tolls starting Nov. 9 will disrupt your travel in downtown Seattle through higher costs, slower trips or more aggravation," reports Mike Lindblom.
As documented by Irvin Dawid for Planetizen in October, the tunnel tolls are a long-time coming after the tunnel opened to the public in February, and the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and its former 100,000 daily car trips closed.
According to Lindblom, local commuters and residents are anticipating traffic flooding local streets to avoid the tolls. So far, the demise of the Alaskan Way Viaduct has been cited as an example of the ability of commuters to reroute without inducing gridlock.
Seattle Emerges From Tolled Tunnel Unscathed
Promises of congestion and thousands of cars spilling on to quiet residential streets proved unfounded after the first week with tolls on the Highway 91 tunnel in Seattle.
Seattle's Most Dramatic Traffic Reduction Will Occur Next Month
There will be no road closures, no traffic bans, no loss of parking, and no new transit lines opening. Call it the "tolling effect" on Nov. 9 when motorists have to pay to drive through the two-mile State Route 99 tunnel that opened last February.
New Marketing Campaign: Pushing People to Drive More in Seattle
Now that Seattle has proven they don't need the new Highway 99 tunnel that will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, will enough people use it in the future to cover the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance?
Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.
The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.
Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?
Kaua’i County Uses Long-Range Models to Mandate Resiliency Standards
The county requires builders to assess potential flood risks using models that account for sea level rise projected as far out as 2100.
California Governor Vetoes Autonomous Truck Ban
Gov. Newsom called the new law unnecessary, citing existing efforts by state regulators to develop new rules around autonomous trucking.
Low-Barrier Motel Shelter Is a Success—But Not an Easy One
Many guests at Motels4Now are on their second or third stays—but staff say that's doesn't equal failure, and the numbers bear that out.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
