I have been a resident of north Juanita since 1996. Since then, I’ve commuted on I-405 to work in Eastgate, downtown Bellevue and downtown Seattle via SR 520 and I-90. I have used the HOV and HOT lanes whenever it was legal and safe to do so.

Back in the day, the HOV lane was on the outside lane (far right) to facilitate express bus stops along the outside of the highway. Those were exciting times as the merger of a non-HOV vehicle required slamming on the brakes in the high-speed lane in order to merge into the crowded and slow regular lanes.

I used the two-plus lane when I was carrying a passenger and noted when the lane was open to all traffic between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day. I am grateful this lane continues to function between Bellevue and Tukwila, as that facilitates a trip to the airport.

Since the introduction of the HOT lanes between Bellevue and Lynnwood I’ve used them at every opportunity, flipping my flex pass from green (pay to drive) or red (toll-free). Ordering the flex pass was the most difficult part of this experience, since the Washington State Department of Transportation (WASDOT) web site is kind of clunky. Now that I’m used to the system I love it and encourage everyone to give it a try. Time is money, as they say, and the new HOT lanes certainly save me time as I travel between Seattle, Bellevue and north Kirkland.

The current configuration, which provides two HOT lanes and formally designated merge areas, is a little tricky to figure out but it’s worth the effort. You will need to look out for people who wish to enter the HOT lanes by crossing the double white line, which is an illegal maneuver. The speed differential between HOT and regular lanes can be significant, so it’s important to keep an eye out and use the left-most lane, when possible.

If the two lanes are reduced to one, as currently suggested by Sen. Hill, the ability to avoid an illegal merger will become more difficult, but the speed of the remaining lane will also go down, so perhaps that’s not a big concern. I agree with the current WASDOT proposal to enhance entry/exit merge areas of the existing two-lane system.

Let’s all keep our eyes on the road and a hand upon the wheel while looking out for distracted folks.

Ira Worden, Kirkland