Central Puget Sound State Route 167 - Severe congestion
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Measures of severe congestion on SR 167 in the central Puget Sound region
Severe congestion
Severe congestion occurs when highway travel speeds are slower than 60% of the posted speed (about 36 mph for a 60 mph speed limit) leading to reduced highway efficiency. Refer to WSDOT's Handbook for Corridor Capacity Evaluation (PDF 5.9MB).
Sources: WSDOT Transportation Safety and Systems Analysis Division and WSDOT TRACFLOW (https://tracflow.wsdot.wa.gov/)
Performance highlights
Severe congestion increased in 2023 compared to 2022 due to the ongoing recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19 and was close to reaching pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, commuters traveling from Auburn to Renton on SR 167 did so in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) more often than in 2021. For example:
- At 7:40 a.m., travelers experienced severe congestion on 77.4% of weekdays in 2023 an increase from 73.6% in 2022
During the peak evening commute from Renton to Auburn:
- At 3:45 p.m., travelers experienced severe congestion on 89.6% of weekdays compared to 87.3% in 2022
In 2022, severe congestion increased compared to 2021 due to the ongoing recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19. Severe congestion in 2022 was close to the pre-pandemic level. Commuters driving from Auburn to Renton on SR 167 drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) more often than in 2021. For example, at 6:35 a.m. speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 65.5% of weekdays in 2022—up from 36.5% of weekdays in 2021.
In 2021, commute severe congestion increased compared to 2020, due to the recovery of traffic volume in the wake of COVID-19. Commuters driving from Auburn to Renton on SR 167 drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) more often than in 2020. For example, at 6:35 a.m. speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 36.5% of weekdays in 2021—up from 24.3% of weekdays in 2020.
In 2020, due to the statewide response to COVID-19 there was significant decrease in severe congestion compared to the previous year. Commuters driving from Auburn to Renton on SR 167 drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) less often than in 2019. For example, at 6:35 a.m. speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 24.3% of weekdays in 2020—down from 79.0% of weekdays in 2019. This severe congestion is lower and ends about 60 minutes earlier in 2020.
In 2019, commuters driving from Auburn to Renton on SR 167 drove in severely congested conditions (speeds of 36 mph or less) less often than in 2018. For example, at 6:35 a.m. speeds on this commute were below 36 mph on 79.0% of weekdays in 2019—down from 84.8% of weekdays in 2018. This severe congestion started about 30 minutes earlier in 2018 as well, at 6:05 a.m