It’s easy to view Seattle’s mind-numbing traffic problem as insurmountable obstacle. The rapid influx of new residents, combined with the region’s geographic limitations, make commuter woes a lost cause. We should all just throw up our hands and move to Portland, right?
Not quite. The GIF above, created from an International Sustainable Solutions poster, illustrates the major impact public transportation projects could have on Seattle traffic. Despite mounting budget and logistical issues, the city continues to push forward with Link Light Rail construction. Seattle also has plans to expand bus routes and encourage biking and walking as an alternative to driving.
Using streets more efficiently and reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles on the road is crucial to the city’s transportation strategy. As the Sustainable Solutions images show, these improvements could have a significant impact on downtown congestion. But they’re contingent on getting Seattleites to change their commuting habits.
“We’re geographically constrained in terms of auto capacity we can add to the network,” Seattle Transportation Director Scott Kubly told Next City. “If we’re going to continue to grow, we need to use our streets more efficiently.”
