Bus stops in transit-only lane on Aurora Avenue.

Last week, the Texas Transportation Institute released its annual report on Urban Mobility. The greater Seattle metropolitan area's improved ranking in the list of most congested cities was widely reported. But what you may not have heard is that our extensive regional transit network is one of our best tools when it comes to taming traffic.

The report, for the first time, confirms public transportation doesn't just help transit riders; it saves each commute-time traveler in this region 22 hours per year. That's 22 extra hours for bus riders, carpoolers, and even those who choose to drive alone during rush hours.

"This year's study reports that without transit, local traffic delays would have increased by 30 percent, costing residents an additional half a billion dollars in lost time and fuel," said Harold Taniguchi, the director of the King County Department of Transportation. "That amounts to a savings of approximately $700 per household, based on the number of households in King County according to the 2000 U.S. census."

For the category of "large population" cities in the study, Seattle and Atlanta received the most benefit from their public transportation agencies. How does public transportation make such a difference in our lives?

Regular-route transportation service on buses and trains provides a significant amount of peak-period travel in our most congested corridors. If that service did not exist, even more single-occupant vehicles would be on the road adding to the congestion. Community Transit has estimated that if it did not provide direct service between Snohomish County and Seattle, we would have to build two more lanes on Interstate 5 to handle all the increased traffic in peak hours.

This year's Urban Mobility report also includes the impact synchronized traffic signals that allow buses to move more efficiently through busy corridors have on commute times, as well as improved arterial access management programs that smooth traffic flows and reduce collision and conflict points.

The study concludes that nationwide, large urban areas would experience a total of about 180 million additional hours of delay per year if public transportation service were not available.

In King County, Metro Transit is playing a major role in saving residents time and money. On a daily basis, King County Metro Transit carries 300,000 daily riders, with Pierce Transit serving 44,000, Sound Transit commuter rail and express bus service carrying 35,000 and Community Transit serving 30,000 daily riders.

The study also tallies up "congestion costs" - the cost of wasted fuel, lost productivity, and freight service delays - associated with being stuck in traffic. Authors of the study estimate that our area saved $585 million in time and fuel in 2002, ranking us eighth in the nation in congestion savings related directly to public use of bus and rail systems;

And, according to studies by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), public transportation not only reduces commute times, but also promotes cleaner air, local economic development, more livable communities, and greater access and freedom for people from every walk of life.

"Public transportation plays a critical role in our fight against congestion," said Taniguchi. "Still, public transportation cannot be the only way we reduce congestion. As pointed out in the report, and as promoted by County Executive Sims, a balanced approach of increased transit service, more road improvements, and investment in transportation technology is needed." 

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Check out Metro Online for all the details.

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Here is a list of King County Department of Transportation projects that may disrupt traffic and travel in the coming weeks:

Mt. Si Bridge, near North Bend – The Mt. Si Bridge will be closed intermittently for three days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Monday, Sept. 13. It affects bridge traffic between Southeast 128th Place to 434th Avenue Southeast. During the closure, crews from the state and the county will be doing bridge inspections. Traffic will be allowed across the bridge at hourly intervals.

Elliott Bridge, east of Renton – The Elliott Bridge will be closed for an under-bridge inspection on Monday, Sept. 13 between 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should detour via the Cedar Mountain Bridge on Jones Road.

186th Place Northeast, south of Cottage Lake - 186th Place Northeast will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20 to 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1 between Northeast 146th Way and Northeast 145th Street while crews install a new culvert. Motorists can detour via Northeast 146th Way, Avondale Road, and Northeast 143rd Street.

West Snoqualmie Valley Road, west of Carnation - West Snoqualmie Valley Road will be closed from Northeast 80th Street to its southern terminus at Ames Lake-Carnation Road through Friday, Sept. 17. During the closure, crews will be installing a new culvert under the roadway. Motorists should detour via Ames Lake-Carnation Road and Northeast 80th Street.

Maxwell Road Southeast, near Maple Valley – Maxwell Road Southeast will be closed in the 18800 block through Friday, Sept. 24 while crews replace a culvert under the roadway. There will be local access only during the closure.

Northeast 124th Street, north of Redmond – Work continues through October 2004 on Northeast 124th Street between Willows Road and State Route 202. The final asphalt paving is dependent on the weather, but is expected to be completed this week. Expect periodic traffic delays.

Upper Tokul Bridge, near Snoqualmie – Traffic will be limited to one lane across the Upper Tokul Bridge on Tokul Road Southeast through mid September, while crews complete a seismic upgrade of the bridge.  Motorcyclists should use extreme care in crossing the bridge and its approaches.

Duvall Bridge – Crews will be working on a seismic upgrade of the Duvall Bridge on the Woodinville-Duvall Road through September. Most of the work will occur underneath the bridge. Full road or bridge closures are not expected, but flaggers will be controlling truck and equipment traffic.

Wynaco Bridge, east of Auburn – The Wynaco Bridge on 168th Way Southeast is closed through September for repairs and upgrades. Motorists should detour to Auburn-Black Diamond Road and Kent-Black Diamond Road.

Edgewick Bridge, east of North Bend - The Edgewick Bridge on 468th Avenue Southeast remains closed, and traffic has been diverted to a temporary one-lane bridge. The project is expected to last through mid-October.

South 277th Street, between Auburn and Kent – There will be no lane closures, but motorists may experience periodic traffic disruptions on South 277th Street between the West Valley Highway and 72nd Avenue South through October 2005 as a result of this major reconstruction project.

124th Avenue Northeast, in Kingsgate – Work is ongoing for street improvements along 124th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 132nd Street and Northeast 146th Place.  A road closure is planned for three weeks in October. There will be a public meeting for the project on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at Kamiakin Junior High, 14111 132nd Avenue NE, Kirkland.

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