2023-2025 Transportation Budget Request
Appreciation for Move Ahead—but a major problem looming at 405/167
The Move Ahead Washington package enacted by the 2022 Legislature delivered critical funding for the Interstate 405 corridor through Renton and other communities. Renton appreciated the package, especially a $450 million infusion of funding and passage of a sales tax deferral bill for I-405. That enables 405 funding to stay on track and establishes a 2027–2029 construction schedule for an I-405/N 8th Direct Access Ramp, which Renton officials have awaited for decades.
However, the city has concerns over the lack of funding for one particular 405 interchange, where significant regional travel-time delays will occur if action is not taken. Specifically, Renton urges that steps be taken to improve the area between the I-405/SR 167 interchange and the South Renton Transit Center at Rainier Avenue and Grady Way. This is the lone remaining off-line station, where future Bus Rapid Transit buses must depart the 405 Express Toll Lanes to drop off and pick up passengers from a station that isn’t on the ETL system.
Delays that will occur once Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service begins
I-405 BRT service known as STRIDE will begin in 2026 and 2027 in two segments, Burien to Bellevue (STRIDE 1) and Bellevue to Lynnwood (STRIDE 2). Within the I-405 corridor, STRIDE will operate mainly in the Express Toll Lanes that connect with in-line stations or reach them via direct access ramps.
The one exception is the new South Renton Transit Center. Because this station is off the corridor and has no direct access ramps, the buses will need to weave out of the managed access lanes and use the existing Rainier Avenue South on and off ramps. This will result in significant travel time delays for BRT buses and all vehicles using this freeway interchange, impeding travel to the new South Renton Transit Center.
Possible options to fix problem
Renton has worked with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on several potential solutions to this problem. Further, WSDOT did preliminary work to cost out improvement options. One promising option is an overcrossing of Grady Way at the intersection with Rainier Avenue, which is estimated to reduce traffic delay and queuing and save transit nearly 2 minutes of AM and PM peak travel time (4 minutes total).
This project was a part of the I-405 Master Plan and needs additional planning work to confirm travel time savings, costs versus benefits, and overall feasibility.
The City of Renton’s request
The estimated funding needed to continue the planning work to improve travel times to and from the new transit center is $2 million. The city requests that the 2023 Legislature include the $2 million in the 2023–2025 Transportation Budget and direct it to either WSDOT or the city.
That would fund a multi-agency, collaborative process to update traffic data and modeling, further evaluate interim alternatives, conduct public outreach, and perform cost/benefit analyses of those alternatives.
Once an overcrossing of Grady Way at Rainier Avenue—or another bridge or crossing option—is chosen as the preferred alternative, the funding could further cover the cost to complete an engineering type, size and location (TS&L) study or some preliminary engineering for another alternative. This TS&L study will be used to determine acceptability of the basic design for WSDOT’s approval.
The intent of any additional study is to obtain concurrence from appropriate parties prior to the preliminary design of the agreed-upon option, thus expediting the process and minimizing delay in project development. The hope is that solutions can be identified and gain consensus before the 2026 opening of STRIDE 1 and in time to plug funding into the Legislature’s next major transportation investment package.