Contact: Mike Westbay, WSDOT Communications, 509-577-1617 (Yakima)
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4472 (Seattle)
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While Memorial Day weekend is never the best time to travel, it appears drivers are finding that it pays to plan ahead and travel during the off-peak commute times.
The newest numbers from WSDOT break down the busy I-90 travel weekend:
- 187,000 vehicles traveled both directions of Snoqualmie Pass between Friday and Monday, an increase of 5,000 vehicles during the same period last year.
- 56,000 traveled Friday, but travel was spread throughout the day with the majority of drivers heading east after noon.
- 2,000 more vehicles traveled over the pass Saturday.
- 2,300 more vehicles traveled over the pass Sunday.
- 900 fewer vehicles traveled the pass Monday.
“Overall we had a small decrease in typical peak times and a small increase in typical non-peak times,” said Jim Mahugh, WSDOT traffic engineer. “We had 4,000 more people traveling on Saturday and Sunday than in 2006. We think this means more drivers are planning ahead so they can beat or avoid the rush.”
The newest numbers also break down US 2 travel during the long weekend:
- 35,000 vehicles traveled over Stevens Pass between Friday and Monday, an increase of 5,000 more vehicles during the same period last year.
- 900 more vehicles used the pass Friday, and 300 of those went east before the noon.
- 1,500 more vehicles traveled Saturday, and 600 of those went east before 11 a.m.
- 1,300 more vehicles traveled the pass Sunday, and 700 of those went west after 4 p.m.
- 900 more vehicles traveled the pass Monday, and half of those went west after 6 p.m.
"There was a small increase in typical peak times and a bigger increase in non-peak times,” said Ruth Decker, WSDOT traffic engineer. "More than 2,800 more people traveled on Saturday and Sunday than in 2006. Overall, those going eastbound started earlier and those westbound stayed later.” This is good news because it means less congestion during the peak commute times.
New Internet trend numbers also show many drivers accessed WSDOT’s Memorial Day Traveler Tips in advance of their trip at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ . The Web page carried graphs to show the best times to travel to avoid the worst congestion.
WSDOT traffic engineers are curious to see if these trends play out for the next big travel day of the year – the Fourth of July. “We will continue to provide information to drivers because they continue to use it,” said Mike Westbay, WSDOT communications.
