King County Executive Ron Sims today transmitted a request to the King County Council calling for approval of an agreement that will bring significant signal and technology improvements along busy Auburn Way South and South 277^th Street in South King County.

"I am pleased to recommend approval of this partnership creating an "Intelligent Transportation System" that will help motorists shorten their commute and reduce delay on these two congested arterials," Sims said. "Not only will this system improve traffic flow in these two corridors, it will also provide motorists with new technology tools to help them better plan their trips."

The proposed agreement calls for a $500,000 investment by King County to support a City of Auburn project to synchronize traffic signals on Auburn Way South and South 277^th Street. The project is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce back-ups at busy intersections. The city will also install traffic cameras at selected intersections within the two corridors. Those cameras will allow motorists to monitor congestion on King County’s "My Commute" Web site maintained by the county’s transportation department. Those images will help motorists better manage their trips and take alternate routes when back-ups do occur. The My Commute Web site is located, at http://www.metrokc.gov/mycommute/.

The partnership will benefit commuters in both Auburn and unincorporated areas of King County. In addition to the purchase of cameras and signal software, the funding will allow the two agencies to tie-in to each other’s traffic control centers, which should help them better coordinate traffic flow.