Smart Trek will encourage people to use transit more and drive less. More efficient use of existing road networks reduces the need to build new roads. Advance warning of traffic delays and congestion choke points offers travelers the choice to delay or accelerate their trips or take a different route or mode of travel, saving fuel and reducing vehicle emissions. Mayday devices and faster emergency response also reduce vehicle emissions that occur when accidents cause traffic back-ups. Advance parking lot capacity information will help prevent Seattle Center event goers from driving around lower Queen Anne trying to find a parking place.
Ramp meters improve highway traffic flow, which reduces overall vehicle emissions.
As a result, Smart Trek will improve the quality of life in the Puget Sound region. Smart Trek will encourage transit use in a number of ways. Real-time bus information makes transit more attractive and easier to use. Signal pre-emption for transit improves schedule reliability and the relative time savings in using transit. Traffic flow maps that display the relatively faster speeds of area HOV lanes demonstrate the benefit of using transit or carpooling, and serve as an incentive to sharing a ride.