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stop405tolls presentation: What WSDOT isn't telling you about the #405ETL

David Hablewitz
David Hablewitz

際際滷s used in the presentation given by stop405tolls.org exposing the facts about the I-405 Express Toll Lanes. Watch the video at:

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Stop405tolls.org accomplishments 4 - Bills presented in the House and Senate - Tolls eliminated at night and weekends - Entry/exit points expanded - Will be restoring GPL from SR 520 to 70th St - Some consistency between I-405 and SR 167
8 Representing 31,000+ frustrated constituents
Topics 1. Toll Goals 2. Performance 3. The Selfish Lanes 4. At What Cost? 5. Perception is Reality 6. Solutions 9
Congestion Relief? Congestion Management? Social Engineering? Revenue Source? 10 What is the purpose of the ETL?
Reduce: Make congestion shorter and/or less severe. Methods: 1. Increase Capacity 2. Decrease Demand 3. Improve Efficiency 4. Change your definition of Congestion 11 Reduce vs Manage Congestion
Management: Isolates or displaces the congestion from one lane into other lanes or roads. 12 Reduce vs Manage Congestion
13
1. HOT lane >45mph 2. Operate without a deficit 14 In the 405ETL legislation, What are the criteria for success?
1. GPL performance 2. Reduction in VMT 3. Customer Satisfaction (VMT- vehicle miles traveled) 15 What are NOT criteria for success?
For ETL to be successful, GPL MUST fail. Bonds will guarantee no more improvements to GPL. WSDOT is responsible for the entire highway, not just chosen lanes. (GPL General purpose lanes ETL Express toll lanes) 16 WSDOT Secret: GPL Must Fail
NO. Compare the highway - Toll only, no increased capacity (north of 522): Worse - Capacity added (south of 522): Better Compare the highway - before ETL - with ETL - after ETL (nights & weekends) WSDOT is responsible for the entire highway, not just select lanes. 17 Does charging a toll improve performance?
18 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/Meetings/AgendasMinutes/agendas/2016/May17/docu ments/2016_0517_BP7_I405_SixMthUpdate.pdf Tolls increased congestion More capacity, decreased congestion Exacerbated by increased inflow from Kirkland Undeniable Proof Tolling Increases Congestion (No capacity added before 70th)
Net loss in overall efficiency across all lanes Increased pollution frustration Social Inequity Needs of the FEW outweigh the Needs of the MANY Creates winners and losers. Reema Griffith, Executive Director WSTC 19 Problems
Chamber of Commerce members report employees arrive late more often Trucking Operating costs >$100/hr, but they cant use the ETL Realtors and homecare givers not permitted to carpool Deliveries to Bothell area include transportation surcharge Some businesses stopped doing business in the area Some people have stopped shopping in the area 20 More Problems
And More Problems Dealing with Customer service Over 1 Million Billing Errors since 2010 Litigation against WSDOT Complexity Rental Cars surcharge up to $25/day 21 http://bit.ly/tollbillingerrors
Yes, more Motorcycle stickers often dont work Passes dont work on 100s of models of cars Tolling company finally provided proof of PCI compliance $64,000 Credit card theft of GtG customers 22 http://www.kiro7.com/news/good-to-go-customers-credit-cards-stolen-in-64000- scam/92835044
Customers lost millions of hours dealing with billing errors: 6.5 Million communications with Customer Service last year alone. (Avg 10 per GTG pass holder) 23 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/meetings/agendasminutes/agendas/2016/May17/documents/2016_0517_BP8_ AnnualTollReport.pdf WSDOT Secret:
WSDOT Lies: HOT Lanes FHWA Purpose: Sell Surplus Capacity of HOV Lane Problems: 1. No Surplus Capacity (artificially induced)* 2. 3 lane section treated same as 5 lane section 3. Texas A&M study confirms ETL Decrease Carpooling 4. WA motorists paying twice for these lanes 5. Expensive to operate 6. Unpopular 24http://bit.ly/etlsandcarpools
WSDOT Secret: Value Pricing Value Pricing makes the ETL too expensive for most so remaining SOVs go faster. Selfish Lanes 25
Reality of Value Pricing $ Creates Price uncertainty $ Stratifies traffic by economic status $ Doesnt reduce congestion No Increase Capacity No Decrease Demand No Improved Efficiency 26
Social Inequity 28 $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $19,000 $35,000 $56,000 $93,000 $190,000 $471,000 $1,000,000 20th 40th 60th 80th 95th 99th 100th Tax WA Tax US Tax ORTaxes Income WA already has the most regressive tax structure in the nation US Census
Truths of Value Pricing See presentation from Nov 2015 WSTC meeting and watch the replay on tvw.org 29 Social inequity http://www.wstc.wa.gov/meetings/agendasminutes/agendas/2015/November17/default.htm
WSDOT Secret: Unauthorized Removal of 1 GPL Northbound, North of SR 520 Interchange to NE 70th Street: No changes are proposed for this section of freeway. This roadway will continue to have four general-purpose lanes and one HOV lane. -Kirkland Nickel Project Environmental Assessment February 2005, Ch 4 p3 http://wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/9073AD38-8183-4EAB-8480- 2B63529BDF82/0/Chapter4.pdf 30
Safety The ETL are so complicated, it takes: 6 youtube videos a small book worth of webpages interactive map just to operate. Mobile app to see prices (WSDOT promoting distracted driving?!) 32 http://bit.ly/etltraining
Safety WSDOT Youtube channel 33 http://bit.ly/etltraining
Too Complex 34
Safety Many more Accidents 2,416 Citations in 90 days Dangerous for Motorcycles When there is an accident, it has a bigger impact 35
Trip Reduction 2+ 36
45mph Myth: FHWA Guide on HOV Lanes The purpose of this document is to provide information useful to States as they plan, design, operate, and manage HOV and HOT facilities. It is intended to be non-binding and should not be construed as a rule of general applicability. This document provides examples for States to follow in evaluating proposed significant changes to the operation of an HOV lane, to include conversion of an HOV lane to a High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane. --Federal-Aid Highway Program Guidance on High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes 37 http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/hovguidance/chapter1.htm
New Barriers to Carpooling 38
New Barriers to Carpooling FlexPass Required ($45) 3+ Required Limited entry/exit points Confusing/complex HOT system Can use the lane as an SOV 39
BEFORE ETL 90% of HOVs = 2 person carpools 40 10% other HOVs
After ETL 85% of HOTs = solo drivers 41 15% HOVs The Selfish Lanes
WSDOT Secret: ETL = Lower Capacity 42 Before: 100% HOV2+ 1,000 cars/hr = 2,000 people After: 85% SOV 1,000 cars/hr = 1,150 people Difference = 850 fewer people/hr
http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/i-405-express-toll-lanes-part-1-what-is.html 43 WSDOT Lie: The main goal of HOV lanes was (and still is) to maximize the movement of PEOPLE rather than vehicles -- WSDOT blog
WSP: ETL are Unenforceable http://archive.heraldnet.com/article/20150918/OPINION03/150919056 44 " if you want to expedite your morning commute on I-405, tint your windows, set your flex pass to HOV and you will truly be Good-To-Go. --Jeff Merrill is president of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association. (Everett Herald) WSTC is asking if can they get sophisticated surveillance equipment to detect number of passengers and then match with license plates to catch cheaters? WRONG FOCUS
46 $8M 0.5% 405ETL $0.75 toll WA Gas Tax Cost $0.21 28.0% $0.54 72.0% $1,013M 99.5% $10,6B 0.3% $3.13T 99.7% IRS $0.54 1.1% $49.46 98.9% 405ETL $50.00 toll
$0.15 Roadway Toll Operations and Maintenance $0.20 Customer Service Center $0.19 WSDOT overhead and Credit Card Processing $0.21 Available for Highway Maintenance & Improvements Drivers pay 75 cents to get 21 cents of road maintenance 28% ROI This doesnt include the $2 pay-by-mail or the $25 service charge rental car companies charge. 47 Cost
Gas Tax vs Congestion Tax 200 invoices sent to refineries to collect $2 Billion for gas tax. 5,139,609 tolls processed to collect $7.6 Million for toll tax. 48
Transportation Futures Survey 49 Indexing the gas tax, a vehicle emissions fee and increases in gas tax or tabs are all preferred to tolling and Pay-Per-Mile (PPM). Key Findings, Washington Voters Poll http://www.thefuturestaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Transportation- Futures-2015-Survey.pdf
WSTC opinion on Gas tax vs Tolling Few revenue collection systems can match the efficiency of fuel taxes, which are collected at less than 1 percent of gross revenues. -- WSTC report Washington State Road Usage Charge Assessment Phase 4; Jan 5,2016; p.18 50 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/StudiesSurveys/RoadUsage/RUC2013/documents/2016_011 2_RUCReport.pdf
The toll on Tolling Class action lawsuits regarding excessive fees & fines have been raised in Texas, California, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Washington. Win or lose, Lawsuits cost taxpayers Why are we putting our citizens through this?! 51 Cost www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article41835621.html
10 years of toll profits lost Cost to build toll system: $111,000,000 Annual Revenue: $20,000,000 Annual operating cost: $10,000,000 Annual Profit: $10,000,000 It will take 10 years to earn back the money we spent building the toll system. That money could have been spent on Real Improvements. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160211/BLOG17/160219937 53
54 SR522 to I-5 = $0.75 NE 8th St to SR522 = $0.75 NE 8th St to I-5 = $4.50 Pricing map taken April 4, 2016, 2:54PM Inconsistent pricing
Variable Pricing = Unpredictable WSDOT claims ETL provide a more predictable commute. FALSE Petition Comments: I used the new rate tool just as I was leaving work last night in Bellevue. I access I-405 at the NE 6th Street on-ramp. The tool said the rate was $2.00 from Bellevue to Hwy 522. When I reached the on-ramp 10 minutes later, it was $4.00. My desire is to go to I-5, but that was $5.25, so I get off at early and take back-roads home. Note: I have 3 carpoolers at times, but schedules are not consistent, so many times instead of 4 of us, there are two, which still means we need to pay to use the HOV lane. The obvious alternative is to slog through traffic adding an extra hour or more to the commute each way, every day. --Dale 55
#FAIL: FlexPass doesnt work for 100s of vehicles due to metallic windshield See complete list posted at: http://www.king5.com/story/traffic/news/2015/09/15/405carpoolerstolls/72345394/ 56 Sample of the list:
Infrastructure changes resulting in traffic improvements 5 contiguous lanes (southern half) Moving buses to shoulder lane 160th St braid ramp 57 Working
Tolling changes resulting in traffic improvements 58 Working (none)
Miamis ETL problems today will be our ETL problems tomorrow Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-95-express-barriades- reaction-20150508-story.html 59 This was taken from a news article in the Sun Sentinel: The toll for the express lanes fluctuates depending on the volume of traffic. The state relies on this form of congestion pricing to keep the traffic in the express lanes moving. But in recent years, higher tolls haven't been enough to dissuade drivers from using the lanes, especially on northbound I-95. For eight consecutive months up to March, the northbound express lanes failed to meet the state's goal of moving traffic faster than 45 mph 90 percent of the time. Officials saw a slight improvement in travel speeds in March, with travel speeds 45 mph or faster 48 percent of the time. In February, speeds exceeded 45 mph only 38 percent of the time. Last year, the state raised the maximum toll on the express lanes to $1.50 per mile or $10.50, with the idea it would discourage some drivers from entering. Too many cars mean slower speeds. But $10.50 has not been a big enough deterrent.
WSDOT Lie Didnt widen the road for 10mi of 17mi WSP reports accidents way up WSDOT admits slower on weekends True cost over $450,000,000 60
Even a solution that works is a failure if it isnt what they want. 64 Perception is Reality
Perception is Reality 65 Public frustration is exacerbated by seeing others benefit from their pain. When solo drivers can buy their way into the HOT lane, we are not in this together. For the HOT lane system to work, the majority must lose.
WSDOT Lie: Customer Dissatisfaction 66 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/Meetings/AgendasMinutes/agendas/2016/May17/documents/2016_051 7_BP7_I405_SixMthUpdate.pdf WSDOT Misleading with statistics
Customer Dissatisfaction 67 What they didnt say 42% of paying users are NOT satisfied. People who only use the GPL (majority of users) were not included in the survey http://www.wstc.wa.gov/Meetings/AgendasMinutes/agendas/2016/May17/documents/2016_051 7_BP7_I405_SixMthUpdate.pdf
Listen to the public outcry Stakeholder approval must be a primary measure of success 68
What is coming 69
What is coming 70 Bellevue south to SR 167 Today: 2 GPL + 1 Carpool GPL GPL GPLGPL HOT $ HOV HOT $ Future: 2 GPL and 2 ETL (no new capacity for GPL and making HOV 3+)
71 Truth: Why the HOV Lane was Congested Under 1300 vph. (Capacity was not the issue) Causes: - Friction between carpool lane and GPLs - Buses entering/exiting - Buses driving slower than cars - Vehicles exiting - Uneven pavement, odd markings, kinks - Ongoing construction, multiple lane markings http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/cell-phone-users-slow-traffic/?_r=0
72 Solutions 1. Eliminate tolling 2. Allow 2 person carpools at all times 3. Eliminate the need for a FlexPass 4. Add capacity north of SR522 as promised 5. 1 HOV lane with double white lines 6. Run a 1 year pilot WITHOUT tolls for comparison before building any more ETLs Short Term
73 Solutions 1. Complete the Master Plan 2. Direct Access ramps (also supports BRT) 3. Improve alternatives to driving a car* 4. Create incentives to reduce demand 5. Take advantage of new technologies* 6. Leverage Eastside Rail Corridor (ERC) Long Term Uber Growth https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/18/uber-has-completed-2-billion-rides/
74 Call To Action 1. Continue to learn about the ETL from more sources than just WSDOT 2. Work with other legislators and candidates to stop this madness 3. Volunteer to help spread the word
Toll booth near Costco in Woodinville expresses public opinion well 75 Not a partisan issue
76 Questions Website: http://stop405tolls.org Twitter: stop405tollsnow Hashtag: #405ETL Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stop405tolls/ Emails stop405tolls@gmail.com

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stop405tolls presentation: What WSDOT isn't telling you about the #405ETL

  • 1. 1
  • 2. Stop405tolls.org accomplishments 4 - Bills presented in the House and Senate - Tolls eliminated at night and weekends - Entry/exit points expanded - Will be restoring GPL from SR 520 to 70th St - Some consistency between I-405 and SR 167
  • 4. Topics 1. Toll Goals 2. Performance 3. The Selfish Lanes 4. At What Cost? 5. Perception is Reality 6. Solutions 9
  • 5. Congestion Relief? Congestion Management? Social Engineering? Revenue Source? 10 What is the purpose of the ETL?
  • 6. Reduce: Make congestion shorter and/or less severe. Methods: 1. Increase Capacity 2. Decrease Demand 3. Improve Efficiency 4. Change your definition of Congestion 11 Reduce vs Manage Congestion
  • 7. Management: Isolates or displaces the congestion from one lane into other lanes or roads. 12 Reduce vs Manage Congestion
  • 8. 13
  • 9. 1. HOT lane >45mph 2. Operate without a deficit 14 In the 405ETL legislation, What are the criteria for success?
  • 10. 1. GPL performance 2. Reduction in VMT 3. Customer Satisfaction (VMT- vehicle miles traveled) 15 What are NOT criteria for success?
  • 11. For ETL to be successful, GPL MUST fail. Bonds will guarantee no more improvements to GPL. WSDOT is responsible for the entire highway, not just chosen lanes. (GPL General purpose lanes ETL Express toll lanes) 16 WSDOT Secret: GPL Must Fail
  • 12. NO. Compare the highway - Toll only, no increased capacity (north of 522): Worse - Capacity added (south of 522): Better Compare the highway - before ETL - with ETL - after ETL (nights & weekends) WSDOT is responsible for the entire highway, not just select lanes. 17 Does charging a toll improve performance?
  • 14. Net loss in overall efficiency across all lanes Increased pollution frustration Social Inequity Needs of the FEW outweigh the Needs of the MANY Creates winners and losers. Reema Griffith, Executive Director WSTC 19 Problems
  • 15. Chamber of Commerce members report employees arrive late more often Trucking Operating costs >$100/hr, but they cant use the ETL Realtors and homecare givers not permitted to carpool Deliveries to Bothell area include transportation surcharge Some businesses stopped doing business in the area Some people have stopped shopping in the area 20 More Problems
  • 16. And More Problems Dealing with Customer service Over 1 Million Billing Errors since 2010 Litigation against WSDOT Complexity Rental Cars surcharge up to $25/day 21 http://bit.ly/tollbillingerrors
  • 17. Yes, more Motorcycle stickers often dont work Passes dont work on 100s of models of cars Tolling company finally provided proof of PCI compliance $64,000 Credit card theft of GtG customers 22 http://www.kiro7.com/news/good-to-go-customers-credit-cards-stolen-in-64000- scam/92835044
  • 18. Customers lost millions of hours dealing with billing errors: 6.5 Million communications with Customer Service last year alone. (Avg 10 per GTG pass holder) 23 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/meetings/agendasminutes/agendas/2016/May17/documents/2016_0517_BP8_ AnnualTollReport.pdf WSDOT Secret:
  • 19. WSDOT Lies: HOT Lanes FHWA Purpose: Sell Surplus Capacity of HOV Lane Problems: 1. No Surplus Capacity (artificially induced)* 2. 3 lane section treated same as 5 lane section 3. Texas A&M study confirms ETL Decrease Carpooling 4. WA motorists paying twice for these lanes 5. Expensive to operate 6. Unpopular 24http://bit.ly/etlsandcarpools
  • 20. WSDOT Secret: Value Pricing Value Pricing makes the ETL too expensive for most so remaining SOVs go faster. Selfish Lanes 25
  • 21. Reality of Value Pricing $ Creates Price uncertainty $ Stratifies traffic by economic status $ Doesnt reduce congestion No Increase Capacity No Decrease Demand No Improved Efficiency 26
  • 22. Social Inequity 28 $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $19,000 $35,000 $56,000 $93,000 $190,000 $471,000 $1,000,000 20th 40th 60th 80th 95th 99th 100th Tax WA Tax US Tax ORTaxes Income WA already has the most regressive tax structure in the nation US Census
  • 23. Truths of Value Pricing See presentation from Nov 2015 WSTC meeting and watch the replay on tvw.org 29 Social inequity http://www.wstc.wa.gov/meetings/agendasminutes/agendas/2015/November17/default.htm
  • 24. WSDOT Secret: Unauthorized Removal of 1 GPL Northbound, North of SR 520 Interchange to NE 70th Street: No changes are proposed for this section of freeway. This roadway will continue to have four general-purpose lanes and one HOV lane. -Kirkland Nickel Project Environmental Assessment February 2005, Ch 4 p3 http://wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/9073AD38-8183-4EAB-8480- 2B63529BDF82/0/Chapter4.pdf 30
  • 25. Safety The ETL are so complicated, it takes: 6 youtube videos a small book worth of webpages interactive map just to operate. Mobile app to see prices (WSDOT promoting distracted driving?!) 32 http://bit.ly/etltraining
  • 28. Safety Many more Accidents 2,416 Citations in 90 days Dangerous for Motorcycles When there is an accident, it has a bigger impact 35
  • 30. 45mph Myth: FHWA Guide on HOV Lanes The purpose of this document is to provide information useful to States as they plan, design, operate, and manage HOV and HOT facilities. It is intended to be non-binding and should not be construed as a rule of general applicability. This document provides examples for States to follow in evaluating proposed significant changes to the operation of an HOV lane, to include conversion of an HOV lane to a High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane. --Federal-Aid Highway Program Guidance on High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes 37 http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freewaymgmt/hovguidance/chapter1.htm
  • 31. New Barriers to Carpooling 38
  • 32. New Barriers to Carpooling FlexPass Required ($45) 3+ Required Limited entry/exit points Confusing/complex HOT system Can use the lane as an SOV 39
  • 33. BEFORE ETL 90% of HOVs = 2 person carpools 40 10% other HOVs
  • 34. After ETL 85% of HOTs = solo drivers 41 15% HOVs The Selfish Lanes
  • 35. WSDOT Secret: ETL = Lower Capacity 42 Before: 100% HOV2+ 1,000 cars/hr = 2,000 people After: 85% SOV 1,000 cars/hr = 1,150 people Difference = 850 fewer people/hr
  • 36. http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/i-405-express-toll-lanes-part-1-what-is.html 43 WSDOT Lie: The main goal of HOV lanes was (and still is) to maximize the movement of PEOPLE rather than vehicles -- WSDOT blog
  • 37. WSP: ETL are Unenforceable http://archive.heraldnet.com/article/20150918/OPINION03/150919056 44 " if you want to expedite your morning commute on I-405, tint your windows, set your flex pass to HOV and you will truly be Good-To-Go. --Jeff Merrill is president of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association. (Everett Herald) WSTC is asking if can they get sophisticated surveillance equipment to detect number of passengers and then match with license plates to catch cheaters? WRONG FOCUS
  • 38. 46 $8M 0.5% 405ETL $0.75 toll WA Gas Tax Cost $0.21 28.0% $0.54 72.0% $1,013M 99.5% $10,6B 0.3% $3.13T 99.7% IRS $0.54 1.1% $49.46 98.9% 405ETL $50.00 toll
  • 39. $0.15 Roadway Toll Operations and Maintenance $0.20 Customer Service Center $0.19 WSDOT overhead and Credit Card Processing $0.21 Available for Highway Maintenance & Improvements Drivers pay 75 cents to get 21 cents of road maintenance 28% ROI This doesnt include the $2 pay-by-mail or the $25 service charge rental car companies charge. 47 Cost
  • 40. Gas Tax vs Congestion Tax 200 invoices sent to refineries to collect $2 Billion for gas tax. 5,139,609 tolls processed to collect $7.6 Million for toll tax. 48
  • 41. Transportation Futures Survey 49 Indexing the gas tax, a vehicle emissions fee and increases in gas tax or tabs are all preferred to tolling and Pay-Per-Mile (PPM). Key Findings, Washington Voters Poll http://www.thefuturestaskforce.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Transportation- Futures-2015-Survey.pdf
  • 42. WSTC opinion on Gas tax vs Tolling Few revenue collection systems can match the efficiency of fuel taxes, which are collected at less than 1 percent of gross revenues. -- WSTC report Washington State Road Usage Charge Assessment Phase 4; Jan 5,2016; p.18 50 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/StudiesSurveys/RoadUsage/RUC2013/documents/2016_011 2_RUCReport.pdf
  • 43. The toll on Tolling Class action lawsuits regarding excessive fees & fines have been raised in Texas, California, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Washington. Win or lose, Lawsuits cost taxpayers Why are we putting our citizens through this?! 51 Cost www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article41835621.html
  • 44. 10 years of toll profits lost Cost to build toll system: $111,000,000 Annual Revenue: $20,000,000 Annual operating cost: $10,000,000 Annual Profit: $10,000,000 It will take 10 years to earn back the money we spent building the toll system. That money could have been spent on Real Improvements. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160211/BLOG17/160219937 53
  • 45. 54 SR522 to I-5 = $0.75 NE 8th St to SR522 = $0.75 NE 8th St to I-5 = $4.50 Pricing map taken April 4, 2016, 2:54PM Inconsistent pricing
  • 46. Variable Pricing = Unpredictable WSDOT claims ETL provide a more predictable commute. FALSE Petition Comments: I used the new rate tool just as I was leaving work last night in Bellevue. I access I-405 at the NE 6th Street on-ramp. The tool said the rate was $2.00 from Bellevue to Hwy 522. When I reached the on-ramp 10 minutes later, it was $4.00. My desire is to go to I-5, but that was $5.25, so I get off at early and take back-roads home. Note: I have 3 carpoolers at times, but schedules are not consistent, so many times instead of 4 of us, there are two, which still means we need to pay to use the HOV lane. The obvious alternative is to slog through traffic adding an extra hour or more to the commute each way, every day. --Dale 55
  • 47. #FAIL: FlexPass doesnt work for 100s of vehicles due to metallic windshield See complete list posted at: http://www.king5.com/story/traffic/news/2015/09/15/405carpoolerstolls/72345394/ 56 Sample of the list:
  • 48. Infrastructure changes resulting in traffic improvements 5 contiguous lanes (southern half) Moving buses to shoulder lane 160th St braid ramp 57 Working
  • 49. Tolling changes resulting in traffic improvements 58 Working (none)
  • 50. Miamis ETL problems today will be our ETL problems tomorrow Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-95-express-barriades- reaction-20150508-story.html 59 This was taken from a news article in the Sun Sentinel: The toll for the express lanes fluctuates depending on the volume of traffic. The state relies on this form of congestion pricing to keep the traffic in the express lanes moving. But in recent years, higher tolls haven't been enough to dissuade drivers from using the lanes, especially on northbound I-95. For eight consecutive months up to March, the northbound express lanes failed to meet the state's goal of moving traffic faster than 45 mph 90 percent of the time. Officials saw a slight improvement in travel speeds in March, with travel speeds 45 mph or faster 48 percent of the time. In February, speeds exceeded 45 mph only 38 percent of the time. Last year, the state raised the maximum toll on the express lanes to $1.50 per mile or $10.50, with the idea it would discourage some drivers from entering. Too many cars mean slower speeds. But $10.50 has not been a big enough deterrent.
  • 51. WSDOT Lie Didnt widen the road for 10mi of 17mi WSP reports accidents way up WSDOT admits slower on weekends True cost over $450,000,000 60
  • 52. Even a solution that works is a failure if it isnt what they want. 64 Perception is Reality
  • 53. Perception is Reality 65 Public frustration is exacerbated by seeing others benefit from their pain. When solo drivers can buy their way into the HOT lane, we are not in this together. For the HOT lane system to work, the majority must lose.
  • 54. WSDOT Lie: Customer Dissatisfaction 66 http://www.wstc.wa.gov/Meetings/AgendasMinutes/agendas/2016/May17/documents/2016_051 7_BP7_I405_SixMthUpdate.pdf WSDOT Misleading with statistics
  • 55. Customer Dissatisfaction 67 What they didnt say 42% of paying users are NOT satisfied. People who only use the GPL (majority of users) were not included in the survey http://www.wstc.wa.gov/Meetings/AgendasMinutes/agendas/2016/May17/documents/2016_051 7_BP7_I405_SixMthUpdate.pdf
  • 56. Listen to the public outcry Stakeholder approval must be a primary measure of success 68
  • 58. What is coming 70 Bellevue south to SR 167 Today: 2 GPL + 1 Carpool GPL GPL GPLGPL HOT $ HOV HOT $ Future: 2 GPL and 2 ETL (no new capacity for GPL and making HOV 3+)
  • 59. 71 Truth: Why the HOV Lane was Congested Under 1300 vph. (Capacity was not the issue) Causes: - Friction between carpool lane and GPLs - Buses entering/exiting - Buses driving slower than cars - Vehicles exiting - Uneven pavement, odd markings, kinks - Ongoing construction, multiple lane markings http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/cell-phone-users-slow-traffic/?_r=0
  • 60. 72 Solutions 1. Eliminate tolling 2. Allow 2 person carpools at all times 3. Eliminate the need for a FlexPass 4. Add capacity north of SR522 as promised 5. 1 HOV lane with double white lines 6. Run a 1 year pilot WITHOUT tolls for comparison before building any more ETLs Short Term
  • 61. 73 Solutions 1. Complete the Master Plan 2. Direct Access ramps (also supports BRT) 3. Improve alternatives to driving a car* 4. Create incentives to reduce demand 5. Take advantage of new technologies* 6. Leverage Eastside Rail Corridor (ERC) Long Term Uber Growth https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/18/uber-has-completed-2-billion-rides/
  • 62. 74 Call To Action 1. Continue to learn about the ETL from more sources than just WSDOT 2. Work with other legislators and candidates to stop this madness 3. Volunteer to help spread the word
  • 63. Toll booth near Costco in Woodinville expresses public opinion well 75 Not a partisan issue
  • 64. 76 Questions Website: http://stop405tolls.org Twitter: stop405tollsnow Hashtag: #405ETL Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stop405tolls/ Emails stop405tolls@gmail.com