Here we go again. The Legislature down in Olympia is considering HB 1382 and SB 5490, both which would create high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes along Interstate 405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue through the conversion of the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, in the hopes that HOT lanes would reduce traffic congestion.
However, do not be fooled. One of the prime supporters of the bill has even come out to say that the 405 HOT lanes would become a cash cow for the state, and that reducing congestion is not really the intent of this bill. Am I the only one who has an issue with this statement?
To add fuel to the fire, what the Legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) appear not to be fully disclosing is that they intend to change the designation so that carpoolers would have to pay a toll to use these lanes, the very vehicles that are helping reduce some of the congestion in the first place.
If the Legislature and the DOT truly care about reducing traffic congestion, they need to focus on reducing the number of vehicles driving on 405, not rewarding single-occupant vehicles to “pay their way” into this toll lane and giving the middle finger to carpoolers.
The money they intend to spend on this mega-project would be much better spent on investing on such things as utilizing the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail that parallels much of 405 for a commuter rail line between Everett/Snohomish and Renton, expanding and improving access to bus service, as well as providing employers the tools to offer incentives to employees to carpool, vanpool, bus or telecommute. 
The 405 HOT lane idea is nothing more than a flavor of the month, in my opinion. It is a band-aid approach to solving traffic congestion. We need more innovative solutions pursued or better representation down in Olympia. HOT lanes on 405 are a bad idea and a big waste of money.
Will Brandt, Lake Stevens