In this conference presentation, the author discusses the transportation problems in the Seattle area and what is being done to solve them. The region has seen an increase in the number of drivers and the number of cars per capita over the last decade, resulting in increased traffic congestion and decreased mobility. Also, air quality has become an issue in the region. Approaches that have been taken to address these issues include growth management legislation, travel demand management, and making highways more efficient. The HOV system is the key to the third approach. Seattle currently has some 50 miles in operation and another 50 miles under construction. The new bus tunnel is a major component of this system. It appears that the tunnel has led to increased ridership on many of the routes currently using it. This conference was conducted by the Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle and Washington State Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.
Abstract