Sightline Series
Dude, Where Are My Cars?
Throughout the Northwest, transportation planners predict traffic volumes will grow and grow. And they think we need to build massive, multi-billion dollar road projects–including Portland’s Columbia River Crossing, Vancouver’s Gateway Program, and Seattle’s deep-bore tunnel and 520 bridge–to deal with the inexorably rising tide of traffic.
But over the past decade, actual traffic trends have bucked predictions. In some places, traffic volumes have held steady; in others, they’re falling. This conundrum has got Sightline blogger Clark Williams-Derry asking, “Dude, where are my cars?” (Photo credit: danielle scott, flickr, modified)
Series Posts
14. Washington’s 700 Million Gallon Diet
State forecasts say we've already hit peak gasoline use.
13. Washington’s 20 Billion Mile Diet
State traffic forecasts have changed radically in just three years.
12. WSDOT vs. Reality
Puget Sound traffic forecasts don't even pass the laugh test.
10. Dude Where Are My Cars: Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Tolls on the Tacoma Narrows bridge are falling short.
9. Where Are My Cars: King County
A 9 percent decline in driving over a decade.
8. Where Are My Cars: Seattle Traffic
Measured per person, vehicle travel is down 6 percent in five years.
7. Where Are My Cars: SR-520 and I-90 Across Lake Washington
Traffic volumes on the 520 bridge haven't budged in two decades.
6. Where Are My Cars: Columbia River Crossing
Traffic growth between Portland and Vancouver, WA has stalled out.
5. Where Are My Cars: I-5 Through Seattle
Traffic volumes on I-5 through Seattle started to fall in 2003.
