成人X站

CHOKEPOINTS

Stagger government employees to improve Seattle traffic

Nov 13, 2018, 6:24 AM | Updated: 10:22 am

seattle traffic, congestion pricing...

(成人X站 7 TV)

(成人X站 7 TV)

If we want to help solve the congestion problem in Seattle, the city’s Department of Transportation should learn from the low Veteran’s Day traffic and change the working hours of government employees who deal with the public.

One suggestion: change from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Doing so would not only ease congestion, it would make it easier to do business with the city.

It’s something that I think makes sense. If we’re going to be honest about trying to do everything we can to make congestion better, I think everything like this should be on the table.

I was talking to Mayor Jenny Durkan recently about the , which as we all know is coming up when the viaduct goes down and the tunnel comes in and all the construction starts for the next couple of years. She kept saying “private employers, you’ve got to off-shift.”

“Go to telecommuting, wherein people can still do their job and not come into downtown Seattle to do it,” Durkan said in a recent press conference. “You can still have a very vibrant, efficient work force, and sometimes have them work different shifts, or from home.”

“For some employers, that doesn’t work. We heard that loud and clear, so they’re going to know what works for their workforce and how they get people out of those single-occupancy vehicles and either into car pools, onto transit, walking or biking.”

But why not public employees? Durkan did say that she is open to public employees shifting schedules, and spoke with King County Executive Dow Constantine, who also may be amenable to that.

The focus should be on those workers who don’t need to have face-to-face contact with the public, and why they don’t need to work the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. For someone who does work face-to-face, why not make it 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.? That way, other people who are off work at 5 p.m. would actually be able to get work done.

Every time I raise this, the public employees respond with, “Oh sure, blame the public employees.” But if we’re honest about public employees doing this, why shouldn’t everyone try to contribute?

One of the hurdles is that a lot of government employees are union employees, and this is something that would have to be bargained. I’m not sure how you get over that particular part of it, but it’s something that needs to be honestly discussed if we’re all going to make this better.

I mean, look at the roads on Veteran’s Day. Granted, school isn’t in so it’s not all public employees, certainly. But I can guarantee probably 20 percent of our commute would go away if we off-shifted public and government employees.

If private employees are being asked to do this, I think public employees should as well.

搁贰尝础罢贰顿:听With more people moving to Seattle, fewer miles traveled on area roads

Chokepoints

I-90 fatal crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

WB I-90 reopens near SR 18 after driver allegedly runs down pedestrian

Washington State Patrol (WSP) has arrested a 42-year-old man after troopers say he hit and killed a 66-year-old while driving impaired near SR 18 on I-90.

23 hours ago

Ship Canal Bridge...

Chris Sullivan

Ship Canal Bridge construction could mess with your weekend plans

Prepare for lane closures on the Ship Canal Bridge this weekend.

1 day ago

HOV lane violator...

Julia Dallas

Nice try: WSP busts driver using Halloween decoration in HOV lane

Washington State Patrol catches HOV lane violator using a spooky dummy for a fake passenger in a creative enforcement tactic.

1 day ago

when to renew Washington boat decals...

Nate Connors

Ahoy, matey! Time to renew those Washington boat decals

Discover when to renew Washington boat decals and ensure your vessel remains compliant with state regulations.

2 days ago

snohomish county bridge...

Chris Sullivan

Two Snohomish County bridges to close for four months

A popular shortcut between Bothell and Lynnwood is going to be shut down for several months as Snohomish County replaces an old wooden bridge.

3 days ago

toll rates sr 99 tunnel...

Frank Sumrall

SR 99 tunnel tolls increasing July 1: Here鈥檚 how much more you鈥檒l pay

The Washington State Transportation Commission is increasing the toll rates on the State Route 99 tunnel in Seattle by 3%.

4 days ago

Stagger government employees to improve Seattle traffic