As the WA DOT prepares to open the new HOT lanes on SR167 between Renton & Auburn, I am not convinced that this project will do anything significant to improve traffic flow. Further, I believe that those who now use the HOV lane will see both their commute times and frustration levels rise. Besides the Politically Correct and currently Politically Expedient views of tolling, there are technical & traffic flow issues that will cause this follied adventure much grief.

Consider the HOT entrance and exit points. The HOT lane will be separated from the general purpose lanes by a double white line that is illegal to cross. You can only enter and exit the lanes at specific points. Each of these points becomes a mini collector-distributor lane. Entering and exiting, whether you are an HOV or a toll user will become a major headache, and will potentially cause many accidents.

First consider how one currently merges into the HOV lane. When you enter the freeway, you merge toward the HOV lane, eventually entering the lane as soon as possible. Now, however, the entrance points are, in many cases, a very long distance from your on-ramp. If traffic is very slow, you are stuck for a long time. For example, if you enter northbound at 43rd, you cannot enter the lane at all. If you enter northbound from Hwy 18, you cannot enter the lane until you are north of 15th NW. So, you may be stuck in slow, stop & go traffic for a very long time before you are even allowed to use the new lanes.

Now consider how one currently merges out of the HOV lane. As one approaches their exit, they will look for an opening to merge into. This will no longer be allowed as you must merge only at the designated collector-distributor spot. This will cause you to slow down more than would be otherwise necessary, restricting the HOT lane's flow. You must also deal with traffic merging into the lane you are exiting (we all know how well that works), and you will now be placed into the slow-moving general lanes at a distance still far away from your exit.

I hereby predict that these new lanes will provide a marginal benefit to those lemmings willing to pay a toll on a road that they are already paying for. Current HOV commuters, however, will be very displeased and will see their commute times rise. I also predict more accidents due to the collector-distributor nature of the entrance & exit points.

For info about the project, see the WA DOT website at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes/Publications.htm