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?
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Proposed Ohio Budget Preserves Housing Trust Fund
The Senate-approved budget also creates two new programs aimed at encouraging housing construction.
DOJ Says Trump Has Power to Roll Back National Monuments
The opinion sheds light on how the administration may justify its effort to eliminate protected public lands.
Maryland Awards $1.25M in TOD-Related Grants
The state’s DOT is funding projects that prepare sites around transit stations for future mixed-use development and housing.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)