7/31/08

Business, civic leaders discuss traffic issues

by Beckye Randall

State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island), chair of the state’s transportation committee, joined Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall and representatives from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in a panel discussion of area transportation needs at the July 25 Business Before Breakfast event hosted by the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce.

Kendall, who also serves as chairman of the Community Transit Board of Directors, discussed the impact of rising fuel costs on transit services.

“Every 1 cent gasoline increase equals an additional $30,000 per day for Community Transit operating costs,” said Kendall. As a result of rising costs, fares for the service are planned to increase by 25 to 75 cents per trip, depending on length, in October.

Transit ridership is up, Kendall said, with routes between Marysville and Everett seeing an increase of 27 percent over the last year.

Lorena Eng, a WSDOT staffer responsible for the planning, design and maintenance of approximately 4,500 lane miles in the region, provided a summary of local projects funded by the statewide gas tax increases. The tax initiatives provided $1.2 billion for safety and congestion improvements in Snohomish County.

Transportation projects targeted for funding include SR9 improvements, replacement of the Ebey Slough Bridge on SR529 with a higher fixed-span structure, installation of concrete barriers on northbound I-5 between Marysville and Arlington while widening the freeway shoulder area, and improvements to the I-5 Smokey Point interchange.

WSDOT’s Richard Warren added that the agency is also working in partnership with local city governments on several projects. Already in progress is work to widen State Avenue/Smokey Point Boulevard to five lanes between 136th St. NE to 152nd St. NE, and the resurfacing and replacement of a water line on SR528 (4th Avenue) from I-5 to State Avenue. Additional pedestrian and driver safety improvements will be tackled on this much-used section of the roadway.

Other transportation plans include a future overpass from the Lakewood Crossing access road to 156th St. NE and work on intersections covering approximately 30 miles of SR9 from SR522 to Schloman Road.

Senator Haugen, who represents the 10th Legislative District, asked drivers to “be patient” with the ongoing construction work, and to be especially cautious of workers in those areas.

“There is no single answer to Washington’s transportation issues,” said Haugen. “We have to do it all – rail, transit, roads and ferries.”

Applauding the innovative transportation partnerships being forged between private investors, municipalities and government agencies, Haugen said, “The only way to make progress is to roll up your sleeves and sit down with partners to get things done.”

For detailed Snohomish County project information and timelines, visit the WSDOT Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/Snohomish/.

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