Under Transportation
To alleviate standstill traffic around key arterial bottlenecks like Mercer Street and the I-5 collector-distributors, local authorities will introduce peak-hour tolling zones for single-occupancy commercial and personal vehicles entering core business districts.
Given the persistent bottleneck on I-5 northbound, regional transportation planners will designate at least one full lane exclusively for high-occupancy autonomous shuttles and express buses. Commuter friction will force local transit authorities to adopt driverless express lanes to meet climate and throughput targets by 2030.
The heavy surface construction along major corridors over the next few years will temporarily squeeze small storefronts and pedestrian traffic in central Ballard. However, long-term property values within a 5-minute walk of the completed station will spike by over 30% once light rail service opens.