{{Short description|Government agency in Washington (state), United States}} {{Cleanup rewrite|date=December 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox government agency | agency_name = Washington State Department of Transportation | type = Department | logo = WSDOT Logo.svg | formed = {{Start date|1977|09|21}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Oldham |first=Kit |date=March 15, 2005 |title=Legislature creates Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) effective September 21, 1977. |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7274 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref> | preceding1 = Washington State Department of Highways | preceding2 = Washington State Aeronautics Commission | preceding3 = Washington State Toll Bridge Authority | preceding4 = Washington State Canal Commission | jurisdiction = [[Washington (state)|State of Washington]] | headquarters = 310 Maple Park Avenue SE<br />[[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], U.S. | coordinates = {{coord|47.034700|-122.897661|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=inline,title}} | motto = | employees = 6,900 (2024)<ref name="audit24">{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Pat |date=June 23, 2025 |title=Accountability Audit Report, Department of Transportation, For the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024 |url=https://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?arn=1037566&isFinding=false&sp=false |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=Office of the Washington State Auditor}}</ref> | budget = $11.505 billion (2023–2025)<ref>{{cite report |date=September 2014 |title=2015-2017 Biennial Budget Request |chapter=Executive Summary |chapter-url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/24EnactedSuppSummary-2.pdf}}</ref> | chief1_name = Julie Meredith | chief1_position = Secretary of Transportation | child1_agency = [[Washington State Ferries]] | website = {{URL|https://wsdot.wa.gov/}} | agency_type = [[Department of Transportation|Department of transportation]] }}
The '''Washington State Department of Transportation''' ('''WSDOT''') is a governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of transportation infrastructure in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Established in 1905, it is led by a secretary and overseen by the [[Governor of Washington|governor]]. WSDOT is responsible for more than 20,000 lane-miles of roadway,<ref>{{WSDOT State Highway Log |year=2023 |page=v64 |accessdate=March 25, 2024}}</ref> nearly 3,000 vehicular bridges and 524 other structures. This infrastructure includes rail lines, [[List of state highways in Washington|state highways]], [[Washington State Ferries|state ferries]] (considered part of the highway system) and [[List of Washington state-owned airports|state airports]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ |title=WSDOT Homepage |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref>
==History==
===Department of Highways===
WSDOT was founded as the Washington State Highway Board and the Washington State Highways Department on March 13, 1905, when then-governor [[Albert Mead]] signed a bill that allocated $110,000 to fund new roads that linked the state. The State Highway Board was managed by State Treasurer, State Auditor, and Highway Commissioner Joseph M. Snow and the Board first met on April 17, 1905, to plan the 12 original state roads. The first state highway districts, each managed by a District Engineer, were established in 1918. During this period, the construction of highways began.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1905-1920.htm |title=WSDOT History (1905-1920) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828140203/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1905-1920.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In 1921, the State Highway Board was replaced by the Washington Highway Committee and the Washington State Highways Department became a division of the Washington State Department of Public Works. The first gas tax (1[[Cent (United States coin)|¢]] per gallon) was levied and Homer Hadley started planning a [[pontoon bridge]] across [[Lake Washington]], which would later become the [[Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge]], which opened on July 2, 1940. In 1923, the State Highways Department separated from the Public Works Department and organized the first official system of highways, Washington's state road system. In 1926, the U.S. government approved the U.S. route system, which connected the country by road. [[List of U.S. Routes in Washington|11 U.S. Routes entered Washington at the time]]. Later in 1929, the Highway Committee was merged with the State Highways Department. The [[Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge|Lake Washington Floating Bridge]] and the original [[Galloping Gertie|Tacoma Narrows Bridge]] opened in 1940. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed because of winds on November 7 that year, earning it the name ''Galloping Gertie''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1921-1940.htm |title=WSDOT History (1921-1940) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011065447/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1921-1940.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
The Washington State Highway Commission was formed in 1951.<ref name="WSTC70th">{{cite press release |date=July 2021 |title=Washington State Transportation Commission 70th Anniversary |url=https://wstc.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/washington-state-transportation-commission-70th-anniversary.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Transportation Commission]] |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref> On June 29, 1956, [[President of the United States|President]] [[Dwight Eisenhower]] signed the [[Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956]], which started the [[Interstate Highway System]]. [[List of Interstate Highways in Washington|Originally, two Interstates entered Washington]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1941-1960.htm |title=WSDOT History (1941-1960) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011065741/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1941-1960.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> most work was not completed until the 1970s. In 1964, the [[1964 state highway renumbering (Washington)|state highways were renumbered]] to the [[State highways in Washington|current system]]. [[King County Metro|Metro Transit]] was created in 1972 and work on highways rapidly continued. [[Washington State Route 20|The North Cascades Highway (SR 20)]] was completed in 1972, and the first [[High-occupancy vehicle lane|HOV lanes]] in Washington were installed on [[Washington State Route 520|SR 520]] that same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1961-1977.htm |title=WSDOT History (1961-1977) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005014300/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1961-1977.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
===Department of Transportation===
A combined state department of transportation was proposed in the mid-1960s and gained the support of Governor [[Daniel J. Evans|Dan Evans]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Cummings |first=Robert |date=December 8, 1966 |title=State Department of Transportation |page=4 |work=[[Tri-City Herald]]}}</ref> Charles Prahl, who resigned as head of the Department of Highways, criticized the Evans administration's proposal to create a transportation "superagency" and the prioritization of [[rapid transit]] in plans for the urban transportation system of Seattle.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mertena |first=Bill |date=September 11, 1969 |title=Superagency concept hit by Charles Prahl in talk |page=2 |work=[[The Columbian]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102565903/superagency-concept-hit-by-charles/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 11, 2022}}</ref> The Washington State Department of Transportation was authorized by the state legislature and assumed the responsibilities of several agencies on September 21, 1977. William A. Bulley, the existing Director of Highways, was appointed as the state's first Secretary of Transportation to lead the new agency, which had absorbed state departments that had overseen highways, toll bridges, aeronautics, canals, and community development.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burrows |first=Alyssa |date=March 24, 2005 |title=William A. Bulley becomes Director of Highways on November 1, 1975. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/7288 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=December 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mertena |first=Bill |date=September 19, 1977 |title=Check those new state laws |page=1 |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114494059/check-those-new-state-laws/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 11, 2022}}</ref> The State Highway Commission was renamed to the Washington State Transportation Commission, with its first meeting taking place on September 21, 1977.<ref name="WSTC70th"/>
On February 13, 1979, the western pontoons of the [[Hood Canal Bridge]] were swept away by a wind storm. In 1980, [[Mount St. Helens]] [[1980 Mount St. Helens eruption|erupted]] and caused damage to many state highways, mainly [[Washington State Route 504|SR 504]]. The [[Hood Canal Bridge|Hood Canal Replacement Bridge]] opened on October 3, 1982, and the [[Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge]] collapsed on November 25, 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1978-1990.htm |title=WSDOT History (1978-1990) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830073045/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1978-1990.htm |archive-date=August 30, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In 1991, a smaller renumbering of state highways occurred. The renumbering produced some new highways and either realigned or removed highways from the system. In 1996, [[Sound Transit]] was formed and in the same year, the Washington State Transportation Commission adopted its first 20-year transportation plan. Throughout the 1990s, WSDOT and ODOT partnered with [[Amtrak]] to create a train service that went from Canada to Oregon, which later became the [[Amtrak Cascades]]. The [[2001 Nisqually earthquake]] damaged most state highways around the [[Seattle metropolitan area]] and most of the budget was turned over to the [[Puget Sound]] region to help rebuild and repair roads and bridges.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1991-2004.htm |title=WSDOT History (1991-2004) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005014316/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/1991-2004.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/2005_Beyond.htm |title=WSDOT History (2005 and beyond) |author=WSDOT |access-date=June 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006071815/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Centennial/2005_Beyond.htm |archive-date=October 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Since the beginning of the 21st century, WSDOT has been tasked with rebuilding and renovating aging portions of the highway system across the state. Several sections with poor conditions required emergency repairs in early 2023, including a large hole in an offramp to SR 99 in Seattle and broken concrete panels on I-5 in Everett and I-90 near Issaquah.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=May 27, 2023 |title=West Seattle road-ramp breakdown is worse than just one hole |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/west-seattle-road-ramp-breakdown-is-worse-than-just-one-hole/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 1, 2023}}</ref> WSDOT has also been tasked with replacement of 437 [[fish barrier]]s, mainly outdated [[culvert]] designs, in Western Washington to comply with a federal court order to restore [[salmon]] runs that are protected by Native American treaty rights. {{As of|2024}}, 146 of the barriers had been replaced or rehabilitated; the program is expected to cost $7.8 billion by 2030.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reicher |first=Mike |date=March 10, 2024 |title=Removing WA salmon barriers surges to $1M a day, but results are murky |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/removing-wa-salmon-barriers-surges-to-1m-a-day-but-results-are-murky/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 10, 2024}}</ref> As of 2025, a budget shortfall is leading transportation officials to become scared of what they may mean for future repaving, repairs, or emergency issues.<ref>{{Cite web|title=‘Early stages of critical failure’: Funding outlook is grim for WA road upkeep • Washington State Standard|url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/10/16/early-stages-of-critical-failure-funding-outlook-is-grim-for-wa-road-upkeep/|website=Washington State Standard|date=2025-10-16|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-US|first=Jerry|last=Cornfield}}</ref>
==Administration== [[Image:Map of Washington State Department of Transportation regions - 20101109.svg|right|thumb|WSDOT region map]]
WSDOT divides the state into six regions: the [[Olympic Peninsula|Olympic]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Olympic/ |title=WSDOT Regions-Olympic |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> [[Puget Sound|Northwest]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Northwest/ |title=WSDOT Regions-Northwest |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126071936/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Northwest/ |archive-date=January 26, 2007 }}</ref> Southwest,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Southwest/ |title=WSDOT Regions-Southwest |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> North Central,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/NorthCentral/ |title=WSDOT Regions-North Central |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> South Central,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/SouthCentral/ |title=WSDOT Regions-South Central |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> and [[Eastern Washington|Eastern]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Eastern/ |title=WSDOT Regions-Eastern |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> The Northwest Region is subdivided into three more regions, which are [[King County, Washington|King County]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Northwest/King/ |title=WSDOT Regions-King County |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028012948/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/northwest/King/ |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Northwest/Snohomish/ |title=WSDOT Regions-Snohomish County |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230113116/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/northwest/Snohomish/ |archive-date=December 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and Baker ([[Whatcom County, Washington|Whatcom]], [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit]], [[Island County, Washington|Island]], and [[San Juan County, Washington|San Juan]] counties).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Northwest/Baker/ |title=WSDOT Regions-Baker |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
WSDOT is overseen by the [[Governor of Washington]]. The governor appoints a Secretary of Transportation who is confirmed by the [[Washington State Legislature|state legislature]]. The last Secretary of Transportation was [[Lynn Peterson (American politician)|Lynn Peterson]], who served until February 5, 2016, when her appointment under Governor [[Jay Inslee]] was rejected by the Washington State Senate during the confirmation process.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lindblom |first1=Mike |last2=O'Sullivan |first2=Joseph |date=February 5, 2016 |title=State Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson ousted by Senate Republicans |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/transportation-secretary-lynn-peterson-ousted-by-state-senate/ |newspaper=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> January of 2025 marked Gov. Ferguson's appointment of Julie Meredith<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introduction to Julie Meredith {{!}} WSDOT|url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/secretary-transportation/introduction-julie-meredith|website=wsdot.wa.gov|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en}}</ref> as Washington's next Transportation Secretary. She has worked for the Department for 36 years, previously serving as the assistant secretary for urban mobility, access and megaprograms. Meredith will be tasked to navigate the extensive financial gap.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ferguson taps Washington transportation department insider to lead agency • Washington State Standard|url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/ferguson-taps-washington-transportation-department-insider-to-lead-agency/|website=Washington State Standard|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-US}}</ref> Deputy Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar was appointed as Acting Secretary of Transportation by Governor Inslee on February 10, 2016.<ref name="ActingSecretary-Feb2016">{{cite press release |date=February 10, 2016 |title=Inslee appoints Roger Millar as Acting Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation |url=http://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-appoints-roger-millar-acting-secretary-washington-state-department-transportation |publisher=Office of the Governor of Washington |access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Sullivan |first=Joseph |date=February 10, 2016 |title=Inslee appoints acting transportation chief |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/inslee-appoints-acting-transportation-chief/ |newspaper=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref>
===Operations===
WSDOT has approximately 1,500 positions for winter operations, which includes [[snow plow]] crews for the major mountain passes crossed by state highways.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zhou |first=Amanda |date=November 8, 2021 |title=Washington state roads and passes may stay closed longer, get fewer repairs this winter |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/why-washington-state-roads-and-passes-may-be-closed-for-longer-and-in-worse-conditions-this-winter/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> In the Snoqualmie Pass area, the agency has [[avalanche]] control crews that use remote sensors and triggers to clear snow buildup before it encroaches on the highway. The crews previously used an [[M60 tank]] and [[howitzer]]s—both loaned from the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]—along with a mechanical tram carrying explosives to trigger avalanches;<ref>{{cite news |last=Bush |first=Evan |date=January 23, 2017 |title=How avalanche forecasters use bombs, a howitzer and an M60 tank to keep us safe |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/eastside/avalanche-man-forecaster-keeps-us-safe-skis-bombs-howitzer-snoqualmie-pass/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> the tank was decommissioned in 2018 and the howitzer was replaced by the remote system in 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roland |first=Mitchell |date=November 17, 2025 |title=Getting there: This year, state workers won't have to use a Howitzer to control avalanches at Snoqualmie Pass avalanche control |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/nov/17/getting-there-this-year-state-workers-wont-have-to/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |accessdate=January 5, 2026}}</ref>
==Ferries== {{main|Washington State Ferries}}
WSDOT manages the official state level ferry service in Washington. WSDOT's ferry service for the [[Salish Sea]], called Washington State Ferries, is the largest in the [[United States]] and third largest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Introduction To The Largest Ferry System In The Nation |publisher=Washington State Ferries, Customer and Community Relations |pages=2 |date=May 2006 |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/WSFLargest.pdf |access-date=April 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414020110/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/pdf/WSFLargest.pdf |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Ferries had been in the [[Puget Sound]] since the 1950s.<ref name="History">[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/your_wsf/index.cfm?fuseaction=our_history History of Washington State Ferry system] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012062424/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/yourwsf/ |date=October 12, 2012 }}, WSDOT, Retrieved March 15, 2008</ref> There are 10 routes and 22 ferries currently operating.<ref>[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/vesselwatch/vessels.aspx Washington State Ferries - Ferries - Vessels], WSDOT, Retrieved May 6, 2013</ref><ref>[http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=47.17&full=true 2004-2005 Official State Highway Map], Washington State Department of Transportation, Retrieved March 15, 2008</ref>
==Buses== {{main|Travel Washington}}
WSDOT began operating the [[Travel Washington]] intercity Bus program in 2007. There are currently four lines: *Grape Line, from [[Pasco (Amtrak station)|Pasco]] to [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]], operated by Bellair Charters and Airporter. *Dungeness Line, from [[Port Angeles, Washington|Port Angeles]] to [[Seattle]], operated by [[Greyhound Lines]]. *Apple Line, from [[Omak, Washington|Omak]] to [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]] via [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]], operated by [[Trailways Transportation System|Northwestern Stage Lines]]. *Gold Line, from [[Kettle Falls, Washington|Kettle Falls]] to [[Spokane (Amtrak station)|Spokane]], operated by Bellair Charters and Airporter.
==Current projects== {{Update|part=the current and recent list of projects|inaccurate=yes|date=June 2025}}
[[File:Alaskan Way Viaduct Seattle Twilight.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Alaskan Way Viaduct]] pictured in 2013]]
As of 2008, there were about 250 projects that were being planned or constructed by WSDOT.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects |title=WSDOT Projects |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> Some of the most notable projects that were recently finished include the [[Tacoma Narrows Bridge]] project, which built a second bridge adjacent to the original bridge,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/ |title=Tacoma Narrows Bridge Project |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714074634/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/ |archive-date=July 14, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> the [[Washington State Route 167|SR 167]] [[High-occupancy toll|HOT lanes]] project, which added HOT lanes over SR 167's existing [[High-occupancy vehicle lane|HOV lanes]] from the [[Washington State Route 18|SR 18]] area to 180th Street,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes/ |title=SR 167 HOT Lanes Project |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080714132745/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes/ |archive-date = July 14, 2008}}</ref> and the [[Interstate 5 in Washington|I-5]] [[High-occupancy vehicle lane|HOV]] extensions project, which extended the HOV lanes in [[Everett, Washington|Everett]] from the I-5/[[Washington State Route 99|SR 99]]/[[Washington State Route 526|SR 526]]/[[Washington State Route 527|SR 527]] interchange to the I-5/[[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|US 2]]/[[Washington State Route 529 Spur|SR 529 Spur]] interchange.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/ |title=I-5 HOV Project |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080715110632/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/HOVSR526toUS2/ |archive-date=July 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
As of 2025, the department has been testing out new [[telematics]]. Anonymized GPS and sensor data collect data from cars and phones that have been revealing real-time driver behavior.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Washington deploys new tools hoping to prevent summer traffic deaths • Washington State Standard|url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/06/19/washington-deploys-new-tools-hoping-to-prevent-summer-traffic-deaths/|website=Washington State Standard|date=2025-06-19|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-US|first=Paul W.|last=Taylor}}</ref> In the short amount of time these have been in use, the trends have exposed that phone use is closer to 30% than what was previously believed to be 10%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Washington deploys new tools hoping to prevent summer traffic deaths • Washington State Standard|url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/06/19/washington-deploys-new-tools-hoping-to-prevent-summer-traffic-deaths/|website=Washington State Standard|date=2025-06-19|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-US|first=Paul W.|last=Taylor}}</ref>
There are plans to have new tolls open to truckers on the [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] corridor as it remains congested. This new development is hoping to make travel more efficient to the [[Port of Seattle|Seattle and Tacoma ports]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Washington Launches Toll Route to Ease Freight Near Ports - TT|url=https://www.ttnews.com/articles/washington-toll-port-freight|website=Transport Topics|date=2025-09-12|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en|first=Noël|last=Fletcher}}</ref>
Some of the main projects in the future include the [[Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/ |title=Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> the replacement of the [[Washington State Route 520|SR 520]] [[Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge—Evergreen Point|Evergreen Point floating bridge]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/ |title=SR 520 Bridge Replacement |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721151336/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520Bridge/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Washington State Ferries|ferry terminals]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ |title=Washington State Ferries |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> the [[Interstate 5 in Washington|I-5]] [[Crash barrier]] project<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/MarysvilleMedianBarrier/ |title=I-5 Marysville Median Barrier |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708213444/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/MarysvilleMedianBarrier/ |archive-date=July 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and [[Washington State Route 704|SR 704]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR704/CrossBase/default.htm |title=SR 704- The Crossbase Highway |author=WSDOT |access-date=July 15, 2008}}</ref>
==Accidents and deaths== Based on numbers between 2020 and late-2023, approximately 1,340 accidents or crashes annually occur in WSDOT construction zones. The number of WSDOT employees that have died in construction zone accidents since 1950 is recorded at 61.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sexton |first1=Owen |title=Family of road worker killed on U.S. Highway 12 in 2000 renews calls for safe driving |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/family-of-road-worker-killed-on-us-highway-12-in-2000-renews-calls-for-safe-driving,375841 |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=[[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)|The Chronicle]] |date=February 21, 2025}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|U.S. roads|United States}} *[[United States Department of Transportation]] *[[State highways in Washington]]
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==Further reading== * {{Cite report |date=June 2012 |title=A Citizen's Guide to Washington State: 2012 Transportation Budget |url=http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/citizensguidetranspo2012.pdf |publisher=Washington State Senate Transportation Committee |access-date=August 30, 2012 }}
==External links== *{{official website}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080412221521/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/keyfacts/ WSDOT Key Facts]
{{Washington}} {{U.S. State Departments of Transportation}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State agencies of Washington (state)|Transportation]] [[Category:Transportation in Washington (state)|Department of Transportation]] [[Category:State departments of transportation of the United States]] [[Category:Government agencies established in 1964]] [[Category:1964 establishments in Washington (state)]]