I-5 Traffic following construction on the Ship Canal Bridge. Photo Courtesy of KING5
As many residents have experienced firsthand, recent changes to Interstate 5 tied to construction on the Ship Canal Bridge have dramatically worsened commute times, especially for southbound commuters. These delays have disrupted access to jobs, medical appointments, Sea-Tac Airport, and the reliable movement of freight that our regional economy depends on. As pointed out in a recent Seattle Times article, the decision to operate the express lanes exclusively northbound during this phase of construction has led to severe congestion, with some southbound trips from Lynnwood to Seattle exceeding 90 minutes.
I am hesitant to believe that this is an acceptable long-term reality for our region for many months ahead. In order to productively work to solve these extreme congestion challenges, I sent a letter to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Secretary Julie Meredith urging the department to reconsider the current express-lane configuration and explore near-term solutions to ease the burden on southbound commuters. Specifically, I asked the department to explore the option of reopening the express lanes to southbound traffic for a portion of the morning commute.
The letter stated, “I am requesting that your department explore the option of reopening the express lanes to southbound traffic for a portion of the morning commute, as outlined in today’s Seattle Times article. Even if express lanes were opened to southbound only in early morning hours, there remains a real possibility that commuters may be able to more realistically change behavior and help the flow of traffic throughout the region while this critical work is completed.”
These impacts to southbound I-5 traffic have created debilitating conditions for commuters as they attempt to move around the county. The current reality is simply an untenable new norm for commuters.
I remain committed to working collaboratively with WSDOT to identify practical solutions that reduce extreme delays and restore predictability for I-5 commuters.
 Are you a photographer or artist interested in adding beauty to a King County Metro bus shelter? Metro is teaming up with Photographic Center Northwest (PCNW) in a call for images to be installed as public art in our bus shelters.
The theme, “Show Us Your World – Cultural Heritage”, is intended to explore personal, cultural identity, and connection, or anything meaningful and important in your life. While all submissions will be considered, artists who want to submit images that represent their interpretation of “Show Us Your World” can present photos that express:
- Culture, values, and traditions that have been passed down from previous generations,
- Contributions of women and gender-diverse people,
- Shared bonds within a community,
- One’s history, identity, and bond to the past, present and future.
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of jurors from King County Metro and PCNW.
Entries can be submitted January 12 through February 8, 2026, through the Online Competition Application Form link: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=16591
All photos must be submitted through this online application form which includes submittal instructions as well as detailed information about the competition.
This call for submissions is open to all ages and the website provides information on project guidelines and submission specifications.
Many photographers don’t shoot in a panoramic format, and you can crop your work to fit the required 4:1 ratio. Artists are encouraged to take a slice out of your image or stitch together, tile or create a collage using several images. This is a great opportunity to be creative and do something unique with your work!
- Up to 50 photos will be selected for printing at a size of 28.5 inches wide by 23.5 inches high, a ratio of about 5:4, for horizontal end panels in some shelters:
- Up to 50 photos will be selected for printing at a size of 12.5 inches wide by 23.5 inches high, a ratio of about 1:2, for the vertical end panels in some shelters.
Read more details here!
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