Search
 

Traffic in Issaquah Builds, Threatening Appeal of Quality of Life

ISSAQUAH, WA-Following several years of rampant growth, this city is choking on traffic congestion. The city council has admitted the area is fighting a losing battle, and any prospects of relief appear distant.

By Janet Parker | Updated on May 31, 2001

ISSAQUAH, WA-Over the course of the past decade, Issaquah, the fastest growing area in King County, has been bitten by more growth than it can swallow. One result has been extensive congestion on a failing road system. And, for the city council, resolution has been the old routine of two steps forward, three steps back.

The council, which has long admitted to a state of crisis, recently acknowledged that the patient’s condition is worsening, with no relief in site. At this month’s meeting, council president Fred Kempe said he did not think Issaquah “will ever be able to reach concurrency” because of the city’s bottlenecked position between the heavily-populated Sammamish plateau to the north and State Route 18 and 900 to the south, which are packed by commuters looking for north-south alternatives to jammed Interstate 405.

Two years ago, the city identified seven failure points in its roadways. This year, even when taking into account plans for tens of millions of dollars in proposed road projects, the failure rate is up 28%. At the end of the workday, the city’s two exits off of Interstate 90 are often backed up nearly a mile with frustrated residents attempting to get home. A trip on Front Street through the small downtown has been known to take close to an hour. A recent update of Issaquah’s traffic modeling program identified nine failure points–including three roadways that have yet to break ground.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.