Typically, a driver stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic along the seven-mile stretch of Interstate-5 through Joint Base Lewis-McChord has a simple solution to the gridlock - build more lanes.

But the remedy isn't that simple.

That was part of the message at the Washington State Department of Transportation's public presentation Wednesday at Eagles Pride Golf Course south of DuPont.

"Look at Los Angeles," said Claudia Bingham Baker, the regional communication manager for WSDOT. "Adding more lanes didn't solve the problem there."

Adding lanes is seen as only part of the solution.

For three hours, the WSDOT presented its options for curbing the traffic backups along I-5 through JBLM. They also listened to suggestions from the people who came to read and hear about the regional WSDOT study that's taken a year and a half to put together.

"We've looked at some 170 ideas," Baker said. "Brainstorming by talking to cities, counties, JBLM."

Other remedies include car pools, vanpools and buses. Then there's managed lanes such as HOV lanes, or an express lane designated only for through traffic. Another option is a designated truck lane.

To assist in the flow, but not reducing that flow, other suggestions include ramp meters, traffic cameras and message signs.

Another solution includes improving roads on JBLM, giving alternate options to I-5 to on-base travel and keeping on-base drivers off the interstate.

"I-5 carries a lot of what we call short trips," said Bill Elliott, the WSDOT project manager. "We're looking at whether some enhancements on the local system, either on base or off base, could help keep traffic off I-5."

Increasing capacity on I-5 is likely part of the solution. To do that, that's going to require some reconstruction on some of the interchanges. Bridges over I-5 at Thorne Road, Berkley Avenue, Steilacoom and DuPont all must be replaced because each one is too narrow to allow for another lane on I-5.

By September, the goal is to have all the options whittled down and project costs can then be estimated and environmental studies can begin. It's expected to be in the $350 million range. 

But the challenge in finding the appropriate solution isn't aimed at solving only today's traffic. It's also targeted for 20, 30 years from now.

"We have a problem today," Elliott said. "But if we're going to make an investment of this magnitude we need to be looking at things that are going to be lasting over time."

Figured into that ultimate solution is accounting for the advancement in technology for cars. What will tomorrow's cars be like? All ready there's the smart-car, the computer driven car that can cruise at 70 mph with only a three-foot buffer with the car in front of it.

"Maybe by 2040, 90 percent of cars are smart cars," Elliott said. "Do we provide a facility that allows for evolution? So that we can take advantage of that increased efficiency?"

While there are currently no HOV lanes on I-5 through JBLM, a HOV lane could be added. Adding a HOV lane is controversial. About 85 percent of all commuters drive alone, restricting them from using the HOV lane and creating a bottleneck and backing up traffic. However, the WSDOT argues that mass transit takes about 15 to 25 percent of the traffic off the road.

"There's no question that the HOV lane provides benefit to the single occupant driver," Elliott said. "Without the HOV lane, what's the incentive to get people out of their single occupancy vehicle to get into a van, a car pool or a bus? Not much."

Another managed lane option the WSDOT is considering is an express lane that would be designated for through traffic, for drivers who weren't going to take an exit through the seven-mile stretch through JBLM. There'd be two express lanes headed north and another two lanes for southbound traffic.

"You get in these express lanes and you're not subject to the turbulence and interference of traffic getting on and off I-5," Elliott said. "We think that's got a lot of benefit to it."

In 2012, there were 115,000 cars in the northbound lane of I-5 that went under the Mounts Road bridge in a 24-hour period. There were 134,000 that went under the Berkley Bridge headed southbound.

"Something needs to be done," Elliott said.