Freeway traffic on Lake Washington Boulevard is terrible. It is getting so bad in the morning that when I drive to LA Fitness, the entire street of Lake Washington Boulevard is completely stopped.

The reason for this is that the state has done nothing to address the capacity on Interstate 405. As you know we have only two general purpose lanes in each direction, which is why traffic is so bad that cars decide to cut through Kennydale and Lake Washington Boulevard.

There was a solution that would have fixed this mess: the Renton to Bellevue project. I remember when the WSDOT came to the Kennydale center and promised us that we were going to get two general-purpose lanes added in each direction. My question is: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RENTON TO BELLEVUE PROJECT?

The people of this great state should have had an input, especially on something that is going to affect our quality of life. That would have make a huge difference to our transportation mess. Now I found out that the state wants to add only a toll lane instead of the much-needed general purpose lanes. The toll-lane concept is to create congestion in the general purpose lanes to work, only problem is that traffic is already terrible on this stretch and adding a toll lane will make it a traffic catastrophe.

Can you imagine how bad it would be if WSDOT puts a toll lane on this stretch? Traffic would be so bad that we would be trapped in our neighborhood as more freeway traffic will avoid the freeway just as they are doing now.

One has to look up north and see how neighborhoods are filling with cars to avoid these tolls. Cars do not belong in neighborhoods, they belong on the freeway!

My neighbors and I are furious at this decision as we watch the complete failure up north and the huge public backlash to one on the dumbest projects in transportation history: The toll lane on I-405.

I was at the meeting in Kirkland where everyone who attended voiced their opposition and the WSDOT and the Washington State Transportation Commission did not listen nor do they care. That is why the city of Renton, the mayor and City Council needs to stand up against this toll lane and demand that it be a general-purpose lane.

Our representatives also need to stand up against this injustice as well. Renton is in dire need of general-purpose lanes and if this toll-lane project goes through and is not stopped, then Renton will be behind the curve in regard to traffic for decades to come!

We also need to vote out anyone who is in support of these tolls! “Real lanes for real people!”

Jeff Lykken,
Kennydale