I was disappointed in a Reporter article regarding the recent changes to the unpopular HOV lanes on 405 opening both lanes to everyone on evenings, weekends, and holidays – as the majority of drivers made it very clear that it is what we wanted to have happen.

The response from Community Transit was disappointing in their stating how the changes would cause their commuters to lose a couple of minutes on their commute on weekends.

CT’s response made it sound like there were thousands of CT buses using the lanes on weekends, holidays, and after 7 p.m. on weekdays. I refute their stance and call it blatantly inaccurate and misleading – there are tens of thousands of cars, using the lanes during the new open times and the lanes are actually now being used – since they were largely empty outside of commute hours.

I would like to see real figures presented when bus services are quoted so that readers can get a realistic view of what CT is griping about because I clearly see a misrepresentation by CT for omitting factual data to back-up their claims.

I highly doubt there are more than a combined 100 CT buses using the lanes on weekends or M-F after 7 p.m. This is what I found on Wikipedia: Community Transit, officially the Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (SCPTBA), operates a fleet of 225 accessible buses, 54 paratransit vehicles, and 412 vanpool vans [adding these up it comes to 691 total vehicles of which only 225 are buses].

I rarely see Metro or CT buses on 405 so in my mind CT does not have a valid complaint about the new open times. When I used to drive 405 on weekends the gen purp lanes would be backed up while the HOV lanes were empty. Now on weekends there are no longer back-ups on 405 and traffic is flowing great, which I truly appreciate. Let me also remind CT that car drivers are paying to allow the privilege of bus riders to use the HOV lanes free at all times. I am glad the WSTC finally made changes to 405 that make sense for everyone.

Jerri Galvin, Kenmore