A roundup of news and announcements we don’t want to get lost in the fast-churning news cycle!

by Vee Hua 華婷婷

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Increased Express Lane Tolls on I-405 and SR-167 Between Renton and Auburn

Toll rates for the express lanes on Interstate 405 and State Route 167 between Renton and Auburn will change starting March 1. The new dynamic toll rate will vary based on the time of day and corresponding traffic flow. In times of lightest traffic, the toll will be $1. At times of highest traffic — such as during morning and afternoon commutes — it will rise to $15.

The higher toll rates will be in effect 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday on I-405, with the same hours every day on SR-167. Individuals in carpools with two or more people will be exempt from paying tolls in express lanes except during peak periods of 5–9 a.m. and 3–8 p.m. On I-405, carpools with three or more people will be completely exempt, as will motorcycles, transit vehicles, and vanpools.

The change in rates was approved by the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) on Monday. Additional funds collected from the tolls will go toward roadway repairs.

Increasing toll rates help keep express lanes operating with fewer vehicles, thus increasing the possibility that the lanes will attain a consistent flow of 45 miles per hour. State law requires the lanes remain at that speed for 90% of commute hours, though they have tended to fall below that percentage.

The adjusted toll rates are part of Phase 1 of WSTC’s toll rate adjustment plan. They mark an increase from the current maximum toll rates of $10 on I-405 and $9 on SR-167 — rates that WSTC says have not changed since they were set on I-405 more than eight years ago, and on SR-167 more than 15 years ago.

During Phase 2, which takes place between mid-2024 and early 2025, WSTC will review the newly increased toll rates and policies and consider adjustments in advance of another express toll lane that is set to open between Bellevue and Renton in the summer of 2025. At that time, WSTC will also upgrade toll equipment on SR-167.

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Sound Transit’s South Downtown Hub Seeks Community Input

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Sound Transit will be partnering with the City of Seattle and King County to present the first in a series of community workshops that will invite the public to help inform its upcoming South Downtown Hub. Building on past community planning efforts, the meeting is one of a number that will occur throughout 2025 and will focus on developing “overall concepts for community and transit hub connections around the South Downtown neighborhoods of Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square.”

The initial meeting will take place at Union Station (401 S. Jackson St.) as part of a visioning and prioritization process that connects decision-making around the stations and station locations to local streets, public spaces, neighborhoods, businesses, and community uses. Outcomes from the workshops will be compiled into a final plan that will help influence the final South Downtown Hub.

In March 2023, two potential station alternatives were identified by the Sound Transit Board in the Chinatown-International District (CID). One is located north of the CID, and one south of it. Both were subject to fierce community debates where various community groups spoke out about which option they felt would be least harmful for the CID. Participation in the workshops could help further past conversations and draw increased connections between the proposed station and local communities. 

According to Sound Transit, “The idea of a South Downtown Hub plan emerged from Sound Transit’s Further Studies work for the Ballard Link Extension Project in late 2022 into early 2023, during which the Chinatown-International District (CID) and Pioneer Square communities shared ideas and opportunities to improve the South Downtown area.” Eventually, the Sound Transit Board suggested Sound Transit work with other partners, such as the City of Seattle and King County, to develop improvement ideas or explore additional funding opportunities and partnerships.

Learn more or participate via SouthDowntownHub.Participate.online.

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Northwest Film Forum’s ACTION! Narrative Apprenticeship Program Is Open for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Disabled Individuals

Now in its third year, Northwest Film Forum’s ACTION! Narrative Apprenticeship Program is a paid workforce development opportunity geared toward individuals who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or disabled, for whom on-set experience on narrative film sets has historically been difficult to access at intermediate and professional levels. The program is modeled after NWFF’s Remove the Gap Productions Apprenticeship Program, which pays mentors and apprentices to create productions together on feminist film sets, with the apprentices leading the creative vision.

Working together, a cohort of mentors and apprentices will take a script from concept through production and post-production, to create a finished professional-quality film. The entire program spans over a four-month period, and selected participants are expected to participate for their applicable part of that duration.

APPRENTICES

Eight apprentice roles will be available during the pre-production and production stages and will be compensated at a rate of $25 per hour. The roles include:

• Producer (estimated 35 hours)
• 1st Assistant Director (estimated 35 hours)
• Writer/Director* (estimated 55 hours)
• Cinematographer (estimated 35 hours)
• 1st Assistant Camera (estimated 35 hours)
• Gaffer/Grip (estimated 30 hours)
• Production Sound (estimated 30 hours)
• Production Designer (estimated 30 hours)

Three apprentice roles will be available for post-production stages, and will be compensated at a rate of $25 per hour. Must be available between July 12 and Aug. 30.

• Editor (estimated 40 hours)
• Sound Editor (estimated 20 hours)
• Color (estimated 20 hours)

MENTORS

Ten mentor roles will mirror apprentice roles for pre-production, production, and post-production, with similar hours. Mentors will be compensated at a rate of $50 per hour. 

*Note: Writer/Director mentor role has been filled.

• Producer (estimated 35 hours)
• 1st Assistant Director (estimated 35 hours)
• Cinematographer (estimated 35 hours)
• 1st Assistant Camera (estimated 35 hours)
• Gaffer/Grip (estimated 30 hours)
• Production Sound (estimated 30 hours)
• Production Designer (estimated 30 hours)
• Editor (estimated 40 hours)
• Sound Editor (estimated 20 hours)
• Color (estimated 20 hours)

Applications for mentors and the writer-director apprentice will be open until March 18; applications for the remaining apprentices will open Feb. 15 through April 15.

Artists, mentors, and apprentices who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color), disabled, femme, gender nonconforming, LGBTQ+, undocumented, or who live in unincorporated King County are strongly encouraged to apply.

Learn more or apply at Northwest Film Forum’s website.

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📸 Featured Image: Crews preparing subgrade and installing drainage in the median work zone on Interstate 405 as part of the I-405/SR-167 Interchange Direct Connector Project in Renton in 2018. Photo is attributed to WADOT (under a Creative Commons, BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED license.)

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