Marathon's impact on traffic overlooked

Editor, The Times:

During the past week, there were a number of articles in The Times about the Rock'n' Roll Marathon and its sponsorships and subsidies. Having found it necessary to travel from southeast Seattle to the north end during the marathon, I think one item was missed.

The traffic, which a police spokesman mentioned as a minor item ["A jampacked race," page one, June 28], was horrendous, affecting the entire city. Roadways from Interstate 5 to Fourth Avenue through downtown were crawling.

When tabulating the cost of such an event, shouldn't the organizers and the responsible jurisdictions include the lost hours (and fuel) expended by the tens of thousands who waited in traffic? After all, this was a profit-making event, grossing well over $1 million, with all profits leaving the region. I recognize The Times was a media sponsor, but the impacts to our communities from what will likely be an annual event ought to get coverage, too.

-- Bill Cranston, Seattle

Rock 'n' Roll route maximized traffic congestion

The traffic disruptions for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon were almost too horrible to describe. The marathon started at 7 a.m., but the streets were still blocked about six hours later.

I found it nearly impossible to get from Fremont to my home in north Seattle. The people who planned this marathon route get the all-time booby prize for inflicting the maximum possible amount of misery on the maximum possible number of people. This nightmare was light-years beyond outrageous.

-- Larry Lewin, Seattle