Published: Monday, August 30, 2010
Mill Creek road's speed lowered after study
Holly Hanson of Everett writes: How does one go about getting the speed limit through Mill Creek put back to 35 mph from its current 25 mph?
I'm talking about Mill Creek Road and Seattle Hill Road between the Bothell-Everett Highway (Highway 527) and 35th Avenue SE. It is one of very few east-west roads that lead to I-5, and it has been very frustrating that a major traffic path has been crippled and commuters are forced to crawl along at excruciatingly slow speeds. Why do a few residents who are concerned about noise get to decide to reduce the speed limit? Do the people who live along I-5 have the right to lower the freeway speed to 35 mph? No.
Scott Smith, Mill Creek city engineer, responds: The speed limit reduction to 25 mph was one of several recommendations that came out of a year-long study in 2007 and 2008 that looked at noise, speeding and safety along the 164th Street SE-Seattle Hill Road corridor.
Other changes that came from the study include restriping a merge lane east of Highway 527; painting the new speed limit on the roadway; painting the median curbs; two radar speed signs; a guardrail and a new traffic signal. The study was done at the request of a citizen advisory group and involved participation from groups along both sides of the roadway. Several group meetings and open houses were held in 2007, and the City Council discussed the matter during at least three meetings with a final decision in March 2008.
State law (RCW 46.61.400) sets the default speed limit to 25 mph on city streets, but also allows the local authorities to raise or lower the speed limit based on an engineering study. As a result of the corridor study, the City Council simply returned the speed limit to its state default value. It can always be reconsidered by the City Council, and citizens should submit their questions or concerns to the Mill Creek city manager.
Worn striping
Jay Nordquist of Lake Stevens writes: The striping on 20th Street SE from the U.S. 2 trestle to just past 83rd Avenue SE is so worn you can not even see it in places. This includes the fog line on both sides, the turn lane from eastbound 20th to northbound 83rd, as well as the centerline. As we approach winter and darker days, this situation is an accident waiting to happen!
Mick Monken, city of Lake Stevens public works director, and Krista Stewart, city engineering technician, respond: The area was recently annexed into the city of Lake Stevens and we have asked Snohomish County to do the striping. County crews were planning to try to start the work this past weekend and it was expected to take about 25 hours, depending on weather.
E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.
I'm talking about Mill Creek Road and Seattle Hill Road between the Bothell-Everett Highway (Highway 527) and 35th Avenue SE. It is one of very few east-west roads that lead to I-5, and it has been very frustrating that a major traffic path has been crippled and commuters are forced to crawl along at excruciatingly slow speeds. Why do a few residents who are concerned about noise get to decide to reduce the speed limit? Do the people who live along I-5 have the right to lower the freeway speed to 35 mph? No.
Scott Smith, Mill Creek city engineer, responds: The speed limit reduction to 25 mph was one of several recommendations that came out of a year-long study in 2007 and 2008 that looked at noise, speeding and safety along the 164th Street SE-Seattle Hill Road corridor.
Other changes that came from the study include restriping a merge lane east of Highway 527; painting the new speed limit on the roadway; painting the median curbs; two radar speed signs; a guardrail and a new traffic signal. The study was done at the request of a citizen advisory group and involved participation from groups along both sides of the roadway. Several group meetings and open houses were held in 2007, and the City Council discussed the matter during at least three meetings with a final decision in March 2008.
State law (RCW 46.61.400) sets the default speed limit to 25 mph on city streets, but also allows the local authorities to raise or lower the speed limit based on an engineering study. As a result of the corridor study, the City Council simply returned the speed limit to its state default value. It can always be reconsidered by the City Council, and citizens should submit their questions or concerns to the Mill Creek city manager.
Worn striping
Jay Nordquist of Lake Stevens writes: The striping on 20th Street SE from the U.S. 2 trestle to just past 83rd Avenue SE is so worn you can not even see it in places. This includes the fog line on both sides, the turn lane from eastbound 20th to northbound 83rd, as well as the centerline. As we approach winter and darker days, this situation is an accident waiting to happen!
Mick Monken, city of Lake Stevens public works director, and Krista Stewart, city engineering technician, respond: The area was recently annexed into the city of Lake Stevens and we have asked Snohomish County to do the striping. County crews were planning to try to start the work this past weekend and it was expected to take about 25 hours, depending on weather.
E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.
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