The closer the price of gas gets to $3 a gallon, the more people are contacting Metro about their commute options. Since May, transit ridership has increased every month when compared to the same time last year. The number of cars at Metro’s 123 park-and-ride lots has been steadily climbing since spring.

And during the month of August, there were more than 10,000 people in Metro’s Ridematch database - the highest it has ever been since RideshareOnline.com started service in 2001.

Find out about the “Way Cool Vanpool” and other commute options at: http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/transtoday/2005news/aug/tt082905_vanpool.htm.

Novelty Hill Road intersection improvements:

Work will begins this week to widen the intersection of Novelty Hill Road and West Snoqualmie Road southwest of Duvall. Private utility work will take place first, followed by crews working on signalizing the intersection and adding a southbound right-turn pocket. The roadway will remain open during construction, but there will be intermittent lane closures on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The project is expected to last six to eight weeks:http://www.metro kc.gov/kcdot/transtoday/2005news/aug/tt082905.htm#feature4.

Roadwork ahead: Check out the road closures and county road projects that may disrupt traffic this week at:

http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/transtoday/ttroadwatch.htm