WSDOT Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Mr. WSDOT — the man who’s helped make road alerts interesting and ‘artistic’ — is heading to a new job

By Lauren Gallup February 21, 2024

Mr. WSDOT's goodbye cartoon. (Credit: WSDOT on Facebook)

When Mike Allende started managing social media for the Washington State Department of Transportation, he was told “don’t be boring.” “Boring” is probably the last word any one would use to describe Allende’s approach to the job, which massively grew engagement while he worked there. Known by some fans as Mr. WSDOT, he’s the man behind the most followed state department Read More

Some freeways may be useable following ‘the Big One’ per new modeling by UW

By Tom Banse December 5, 2022

WSDOT contractors seismically retrofitted a bridge at the I-405/I-5 interchange in Tukwila, Washington, in 2019.

New modeling by the University of Washington of the impacts of a major Cascadia earthquake offers a less dire picture of the aftermath of the so-called "Big One" — specifically when it comes to highway bridges.Read More

Animal Crossings Over And Under Highways Can Save Big Dollars — Not Just Lives — Says New Study

By Tom Banse September 1, 2022

This landscaped overpass allows wildlife to safely cross newly widened Interstate 90 near Keechelus Lake in the Washington Cascades.

Collisions between vehicles and large animals, like deer, are not only scary. The medical, car repair and cleanup costs really add up. That is according to a new study out of Washington State University that supports the case for building more wildlife crossings on highways.Read More

Highway Traffic Has Almost Returned To Pre-Pandemic Levels, But Transit Still Way Down

By Tom Banse December 2, 2021

Traffic on Oregon and Washington highways is nearly back to pre-pandemic volumes.

You're not imagining things if driving in Pacific Northwest traffic feels as busy these days as it was before the pandemic. Traffic data from the Oregon and Washington transportation departments show highway volumes are nearly back to 2019 levels.Read More

Will The Passes Get Plowed? Impact Of Vaccine Mandate Firings On State Services Not Yet Clear

By Austin Jenkins October 25, 2021

The Washington State Patrol and Department of Transportation closed I-5 near Tukwila and re-routed traffic off the freeway after a semi crash on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. Combined, the two agencies lost more than 550 workers as a result of Gov. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Roughly nine in 10 employees of the state of Washington are now vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. Jay Inslee considers that a huge success and a win for public health. But his vaccine mandate has also led to the departure of hundreds of state employees. Now there are questions about the implications for some state services.Read More

‘The Deer … Just Get Whacked’: Private Funds Help Reduce Wildlife Hits On Bad Stretch Near Tonasket

By Courtney Flatt August 27, 2020

Three bucks pass under the Janis Bridge underpass near Tonasket, Washington. The underpass is part of the first mile of a project to help deer travel safely and not run into cars on U.S. Highway 97, which sees more than 350 deer collisions each year in the short stretch between Tonasket and Riverside. Courtesy of Conservation Northwest

The first part of a project that covers the most dangerous section of Highway 97 near Tonasket, Washington, is finished. It’s expected to prevent more than 100 collisions each year in just one mile in the Okanogan Valley. The 13-miles stretch from Tonasket to Riverside sees nearly 350 deer-car collisions per year.Read More

Take Your Horse (And Bike) To The Old Moscow-Pullman Town Road To See The Changes

By Nicholas Deshais July 10, 2020

Pullman's downtown one-way traffic was previously three lanes. A recent test added angle parking and a protected bike lane to study traffic flow and pedestrian use. CREDIT: WSDOT

The coronavirus pandemic has brought many changes to how our lives are lived, from working at home to the now-ubiquitous masks. Now roads are changing, too.Read More

Want To Own A Big Ol’ Boat? A Former Washington State Ferry Is Up For Sale — Again

By Tom Banse January 24, 2020

Are better times ahead for the former Washington state ferry Evergreen State now that the Port of Olympia has seized it for nonpayment of bills? CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Do you want to own an old ferryboat? A retired Washington car ferry is for sale again after the current owner's many ideas for the boat did not work out.Read More

Seattle And King County Will Sue To Block Initiative 976, The $30 Car Tab Measure

By NWPB News November 8, 2019

Sound Transit light rail train and tunnel in Seattle

If fully implemented, Initiative 976 would force the city to cut more than 100,000 bus hours and would hamper her program to provide free bus access for high school students and low-income residents, Seattle's mayor said in a news conference. She also emphasized that voters in King County, which is home to Seattle, firmly voted against the measure sponsored by Tim Eyman.Read More

I-976, Washington’s $30 Car Tabs Measure From Tim Eyman, Passing As Of Tuesday Night

By NWPB News November 5, 2019

Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman, right, holds a photo from his first successful $30 car tabs initiative in 1999. Eyman says he has collected almost enough signatures to qualify a 2019 car tabs rollback initiative to the 2019 Legislature. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

Sponsored by Tim Eyman, the measure would cap most taxes paid through annual vehicle registration at $30 and largely revoke the authority of state and local governments to add new taxes and fees without voter approval.Read More

Oh, Deer! Washington Wildlife Officials Warn Of Increased Vehicle Collisions During Mating Season

By Courtney Flatt November 4, 2019

A mule deer uses a wildlife crossing below Highway 97 in Oregon, the same major north-south route in north-central Washington's Okanogan County looking at similar measures. CREDIT: ODOT

Washington state wildlife officials are asking that you slow down, don’t drive distracted, use your high beams when you can, and brake a little longer if you see just one deer, since often more deer will follow.Read More

WSDOT To Close Highway 20 Twisp-Okanogan Section For 2nd Washout Repair Since 2017

By Scott Leadingham May 24, 2019

Small section of Highway 20 east of Loup Loup washed out in April 2019, and will cause a complete closure beginning Tuesday, May 28.

Drivers and cyclists have this Memorial Day weekend to get in a full trip over Washington’s Highway 20 before a temporary closure on the east side. The state Transportation Dept. will close the full 30-mile stretch connecting Twisp and Okanogan for nine days beginning Tuesday, May 28.Read More

Washington State Ferries Unveils Plan For Younger, Greener (And A Bit Larger) Fleet By 2040

By Tom Banse January 7, 2019

File photo. MV Puyallup approaches Pier 52 in Seattle. CREDIT: TOM BANSE/N3

Washington State Ferries has come up with a plan to replace more than half of its fleet with new, electric-powered ferries. But the new plan faces hurdles from a cost standpoint and limited shipyard capacity.Read More

Professional Initiative Sponsor Tim Eyman Is Back With Another Proposed $30 Car Tabs Measure

By Austin Jenkins November 14, 2018

Nearly 20 years after Washington voters passed Initiative 695, which repealed Washington's motor vehicle excise tax, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman says he's close to qualifying a new initiative to repeal taxes to support Sound Transit and restrict car tabs to $30. Read More

From I-90 To North-Central Washington, Bridges And Tunnels Save Animals And Prevent Wrecks

By Courtney Flatt November 12, 2018

A 12-mile stretch of Highway 97 in north-central Washington outside Omak is one of the state’s most dangerous corridors for wildlife collisions. More than 350 deer are hit each year. New wildlife crossings like those seen over Interstate 90 and Snoqualmie Pass may help.Read More

New (But Unfinished) I-90 Animal Crossings Already Getting Use From Furry Travelers

By Tom Banse September 25, 2018

View from ground level Monday of the new wildlife-only overcrossing on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass. CREDIT: WSDOT

Deer have already begun using an unfinished wildlife bridge over Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass. The Washington State Department of Transportation on Monday celebrated the opening of a section of widened freeway there. The new overcrossing is expected to reduce frightening animal-vehicle collisions.Read More

Closing Hwy 97 At Blewett Pass: Inconvenient For Drivers, Possibly Critical For Salmon

By Eilís O'Neill September 10, 2018

This is a culvert, or narrow passage for water to pass, in this case, under a highway. This culvert on the south side of the summit is a barrier to salmon and trout.

On Sunday, Sept. 9 at 9 p.m., the Washington State Department of Transportation closed Blewett Pass for five days to replace fish-blocking pipes with a fish-friendly concrete box. The construction will cost taxpayers $1.2 million, although that’s nowhere near the full cost of the project.Read More

UPDATES: I-5 Amtrak Train Derailment Brings Investigation, Lawsuits And Many Questions

By Scott Leadingham January 2, 2018

Amtrak train derails onto Interstate 5, December 18, 2017

An Amtrak train on its inaugural run from Seattle to Portland derailed Monday morning, Dec. 18, 2017, sending at least one train car off an overpass and onto a busy Interstate 5 below. The derailment happened in DuPont, about 40 miles south of Seattle near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, before 8 a.m. during morning rush hour.Read More