State grant targets traffic improvements
Published on Wed, Jun 27, 2012 by Christopher AnderssonRead More Local News
Marysville will be receiving more than $1.7 million while Arlington will get more than $44,000 as part of a state grant to improve traffic safety.
Most of the Marysville and Arlington funds are ?? to improve intersections on State Street, said John Tatum, a Marysville traffic engineer and leader of Marysville's projects for the grant.
State Street/Smokey Point Boulevard currently has high traffic volume and safety concerns. This grant money allows for improvements for citizens and pass-through motorists, said Jim Kelly, Public Works director for Arlington.
The intersection of 88th Street and State Avenue will receive the most money and improvements. It is one of Marysville's heaviest volume intersections with traffic approaching from all directions, said Tatum.
Tatum hopes these improvements will improve traffic flow and reduce accidents in the area as well.
"Congestion all by itself is a safety issue, because you end up with a lot of rear-end accidents with too much congestion, so there will be improvements all the way around 88th and State," he said.
Improvements are also planned for the Fourth Street and State Avenue intersection and some intersections by railroads.
Improvements across State Avenue will include adding countdown timers to pedestrian crossings, changing some sequences of the traffic lights, changing some solid green left turn lights to flashing yellow for clarity and programming railroad intersections to not waste green lights when the traffic is blocked by a train, according to Tatum.
Arlington will be improving three intersections along Smoky Point Boulevard, according to Kelly.
These improvements will help make traffic lights more visible and add countdown timers for pedestrians. The intersection of 174th Street and Smoky Point Boulevard will get a left turn arrow light in addition to its solid green light.
The grant money comes from a Washington state competition. Following an analysis of their accident database from 2002 to 2008, the state identified cities that needed help and invited them to compete for the grant money, Tatum explained.
"We're really fortunate to have done this well in the competition. I think on a statewide basis we got more than our fair share of funds," he said.
Most of the Marysville and Arlington funds are ?? to improve intersections on State Street, said John Tatum, a Marysville traffic engineer and leader of Marysville's projects for the grant.
State Street/Smokey Point Boulevard currently has high traffic volume and safety concerns. This grant money allows for improvements for citizens and pass-through motorists, said Jim Kelly, Public Works director for Arlington.
The intersection of 88th Street and State Avenue will receive the most money and improvements. It is one of Marysville's heaviest volume intersections with traffic approaching from all directions, said Tatum.
Tatum hopes these improvements will improve traffic flow and reduce accidents in the area as well.
"Congestion all by itself is a safety issue, because you end up with a lot of rear-end accidents with too much congestion, so there will be improvements all the way around 88th and State," he said.
Improvements are also planned for the Fourth Street and State Avenue intersection and some intersections by railroads.
Improvements across State Avenue will include adding countdown timers to pedestrian crossings, changing some sequences of the traffic lights, changing some solid green left turn lights to flashing yellow for clarity and programming railroad intersections to not waste green lights when the traffic is blocked by a train, according to Tatum.
Arlington will be improving three intersections along Smoky Point Boulevard, according to Kelly.
These improvements will help make traffic lights more visible and add countdown timers for pedestrians. The intersection of 174th Street and Smoky Point Boulevard will get a left turn arrow light in addition to its solid green light.
The grant money comes from a Washington state competition. Following an analysis of their accident database from 2002 to 2008, the state identified cities that needed help and invited them to compete for the grant money, Tatum explained.
"We're really fortunate to have done this well in the competition. I think on a statewide basis we got more than our fair share of funds," he said.
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