Lack of funding obstacle to improving train crossings

EDMONDS — Earlier this week, a Sounder commuter train smashed into a truck in front of the Edmonds ferry dock, tearing off the front of the semi.

While no one was injured, the collision Tuesday morning snarled early-morning traffic for hours. The crash illustrates what local officials have long said is a need for improved rail crossings — both in Edmonds and elsewhere — not only for safety but to keep traffic moving.

The roadblock is the same as it is with many other issues.

“The big obstacle still is money and always will be,” Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring said. Train crossings are an issue in that city as well.

Edmonds is the only city in the state with a ferry terminal where drivers have to cross railroad tracks to reach the boats. Trains run through Mukilteo as well but a bridge on Highway 525 carries drivers over the tracks.

Ferry loading and unloading is often delayed by trains. Between 36 and 42 trains move through Edmonds every day, Mayor Dave Earling said. There are freight trains, Amtrak passenger trains and Sounder commuter trains.

A proposed shipping terminal in Bellingham for coal and grain could double the amount of trains. Environmental studies for that project began last month.

The total number could reach 104 by 2030, according to the environmental study for the Edmonds Crossing project, a now-dormant plan to build a new ferry terminal at the south end of the city. That study was done before the shipping terminal was proposed.

Also at issue is the ability of fire, police and aid crews to reach incidents on the west side of the tracks when trains are going by, Earling said.

“If train traffic is going to more than double over time, there are going to be more incidents,” he said.

Edmonds Crossing was designed to address the problem by building a bridge for cars and trucks across the tracks. The project would have combined a ferry terminal, bus bays and a train station at the south end of the city on the former Unocal tank farm property.

Now, a chain reaction of events has put the plan on life support.

The price tag for putting all these amenities in one place was not cheap — $237 million. Still, plans were sketched and environmental studies were completed. Arrangements were made for Unocal to sell the property to the state once the environmental cleanup was finished.

These developments helped attract $80 million in state and federal funds.

The cleanup, however, was complicated, proceeded slowly and still isn’t done. The poor economy isn’t helping.

Because Edmonds Crossing was not shovel ready, the federal government withdrew more than $6 million it had budgeted for the project, said Stephen Clifton, economic development director for Edmonds.

The big blow, though, came at the state level — nearly $62 million set aside for Edmonds Crossing was reallocated to building new ferry boats because of funding shortages.

Earlier, in 2007, another potential large source for Edmonds Crossing failed to materialize. Voters rejected a tax measure — known as the regional transportation improvement district, or RTID — that would have raised another $167 million.

It’s uncertain whether Edmonds Crossing can be revived in some scaled-down form, city officials said.

Now, they’re discussing an $80 million plan for an underpass at the railroad tracks by the ferry dock. The City Council, however, recently voted against including the idea in the city’s long-term plans.

Earling said this move hinders the project’s chances to get outside funding. City Councilwoman Lora Petso, who voted with the majority not to include the plan, said in an email that the underpass conflicts with two other plans on the city’s books, Edmonds Crossing and improvements to Brackett’s Landing Park, next to the current ferry dock.

Bruce Agnew, director for the Cascadia Center, a Seattle rail advocacy group, said he plans to lobby the 2013 Legislature for train crossing improvement money. He specifically mentioned the underpass project and possible improvements in Marysville as Snohomish County projects the group would support.

In 2009 and 2010, the state received nearly $800 million in federal funds for rail improvements. This money, however, was not targeted for crossing improvements but rather for track upgrades to speed the way for passenger and freight trains, said Melanie Coon, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

In Marysville, people driving across town often have to sit and wait for trains at Fourth Street, 88th Street NE and 116th Street NE. Building overpasses at these locations would not only be expensive but is essentially prevented by the fact the tracks are squeezed between State Avenue and I-5, according to Nehring. A lot of businesses would have to be bought out to make it happen, he said.

The city’s approach, the mayor said, will be to push the state to build an off-ramp from northbound I-5 to Highway 529 south of the Fourth Street exit, which would keep many drivers off the other streets.

There’s currently no funding for such a ramp, state officials have said.

Still, “that is the easiest and least expensive way for Marysville to solve the problem,” Nehring said.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.