Bothell-area transportation and I-405 expansion is focus of meetings next week

Transportation challenges and priorities for Bothell and other communities along the King and Snohomish county border are the focus of a meeting being held by the Washington State Transportation Commission next week in Bothell. Officials from the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Woodinville, as well as King and Snohomish counties, will participate in the commission’s meeting, which is part of its public outreach program

By Reporter Staff • November 12, 2013 1:08 pm
Transportation challenges and priorities for Bothell and other communities along the King and Snohomish county border are the focus of a meeting being held by the Washington State Transportation Commission next week in Bothell.
Transportation challenges and priorities for Bothell and other communities along the King and Snohomish county border are the focus of a meeting being held by the Washington State Transportation Commission next week in Bothell.

Transportation challenges and priorities for Bothell and other communities along the King and Snohomish County border are the focus of a meeting being held by the Washington State Transportation Commission next week in Bothell. Officials from the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Woodinville, as well as King and Snohomish counties, will participate in the commission’s meeting, which is part of its public outreach program.

The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn, 22600 Bothell Everett Highway, Bothell. The meeting is open to the public and persons wishing to speak to the commission may do so during the public comment period scheduled for 2:15 p.m.

The meeting features a series of short presentations on successes and challenges, future plans and needs for transportation in the Bothell area, and King and Snohomish Counties. Topics include roads, public transportation and trails. The meeting will include an overview of transportation and economic development in the Puget Sound region and a presentation on Bothell’s downtown revitalization, which commissioners will see first-hand in a tour immediately following the meeting.

Starting 9 a.m. on Nov. 20, the commission will hold a kickoff meeting for the Interstate 405 express toll lanes rate-setting process at Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland. Local official representing the I-405 and State Route 167 corridor have been participating on the I-405 Executive Advisory Group for several years. Members of that group will submit their toll-rate recommendations to the commission for consideration.

The commission will be working on the toll rates and policies for the I-405 express toll lanes that are currently under construction on the north end of I-405, between I-5 in Lynnwood and Bellevue. This is the first phase of a planned 40-mile-long express toll lane system that will ultimately run from Lynnwood to Renton on I-405 and connect to the existing SR 167 HOT lanes. The commission plans to hold a public process to gather input as they work to set the toll rates and policies for the express toll lanes by spring 2014.

The Washington State Transportation Commission holds several meetings throughout the state each year to gain insight from local government, industry and citizens about transportation issues that affect their communities and region. This information helps the commission to develop and implement transportation policies and recommendations that reflect the priorities of the people and local governments of the State of Washington.