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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Projects on the list About $42 million in county projects near Lynnwood would kick off a proposed $130 million, six-year effort to tackle county traffic jams. Projects in that area would include widening and building sidewalks on North Road from 164th Street SW to Highway 524 and building walkways along Cas­cadian Way, Meadow Road and Larch Way.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 County has its own plans to fix roads Council could raise $130 million through loans and property sales By Jeff Switzer Herald Writer EVERETT -- The Snohomish County Council wants to spend $130 million to tackle traffic jams across the county. There's no long list of projects yet. The only idea so far is to spend about $42 million to help traffic along 164th Street between Highway 99 and Mill Creek. Drivers traveling that road need help, said County Council chairman Dave Gossett, since 164th Street recently became the poster child for the glut of traffic caused by the swift pace of housing development in the county. "Everyone knows that traffic is horrid," Gossett said. "We've got major problems with congestion. I can't fix the state roads, but if we can find the means to make a solid additional effort on local roads, that's what we're trying to do." A vote on the plan is scheduled Monday as part of the county's 2008 budget. The move is intended to get roadwork started sooner while interest rates for borrowing are still cheaper than rising construction and land costs. Taxes don't have to increase to pay for the plan, Gossett said. Instead, the county would borrow money. Over time, the debt would be repaid with about $50 million in existing road taxes collected each year on unincorporated properties when new housing and commercial projects are added to the tax rolls. Also, council members estimate another $80 million might be collected by selling part of the county's property at the Cathcart landfill. The county has 205 acres of valuable residential land available near Highway 9 on Cathcart Way. The county already had planned to spend $355 million on road projects from 2008 to 2013. The additional spending brings the figure to $485 million. The $130 million boost puts a dent in a nearly half-billion dollars in needed roadwork between now and 2025, Gossett said. The county's plan so far was only to list the possible ways to raise funds for road projects, Gossett said. "We need to move beyond having a list of strategies that someday might happen and actually start filling (the gap)," Gossett said. "This is a first step." The additional projects might pose a challenge, said Steve Thomsen, county public works director. His staff is analyzing the council's plan, including the jump in workload. It takes years to get a road built, he said, including analyzing environmental impacts, design work, land purchases and construction. And the county has a hard time hiring engineers, driven in part by a large number of state gas tax projects, Thomsen said. The county, too, has a full plate, he added. "We have a pretty ambitious program," Thomsen said. "We welcome additional funding and additional projects, but need to scale it to the ability of the region to design, construct and deliver projects." More talks are planned between the council and public works. The spending proposal has support from council members, Gossett said. "To figure out a way for $130 million in road improvements without increasing taxes, it's hard to say no to that," Gossett said. Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.

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