Coal terminal could help Marysville build offramp

MARYSVILLE — A proposed coal terminal in Bellingham that could bring 18 more trains per day through Marysville could, in a backhanded way, work to the city’s advantage.

It could help Marysville get money for a major road project: an offramp from northbound I-5 to northbound Highway 529 at the new Ebey Slough Bridge.

Currently there’s no funding for the $50 million project. The ramp has been on Marysville’s wish list for years and would help the city’s traffic problems, with coal trains or without, officials said.

Still, the issue has magnified the need for road improvements in the area, said state Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett.

“The (coal train) issue has drawn attention to and exposed the need to fund critical projects like this to relieve congestion and improve flow,” Harper said.

The senator said it’s possible the offramp could get a small allocation for design in the budget currently being written. The project is a priority among Snohomish County legislators, he said.

If the offramp gets design money, it will help its chances of attracting money for construction, Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring said.

The offramp would allow many northbound I-5 drivers to exit and go over the tracks as opposed to having to get off at Fourth Street, 88th Street NE or 116th Street NE and sit at railroad crossings just east of the freeway.

Whether the ramp gets built or not, more trains would still spell more backups for city traffic. Marysville has 18 railroad crossings — 11 public and eight private, city administrator Gloria Hirashima said. That’s by far the most of any city in Snohomish County.

The proposed Gateway Pacific terminal would serve as a place to send coal, grain, potash and scrap wood for biofuels to Asia. Coal would be moved by train from Montana and Wyoming across Washington and up through Seattle and Snohomish County toward Bellingham.

The terminal, proposed by SSA Marine, Inc. of Seattle, would bring up to 18 more trains per day along the route — nine full and nine empty.

The company estimates construction work on the terminal would create up to 1,700 jobs and 4,400 temporary spin-off positions. The terminal itself is forecast to employ 450 people and generate 800 connected positions.

Opponents’ arguments against the plan include potential traffic congestion and pollution from coal dust.

Environmental studies on the terminal and trains are in the beginning stages and expected to take more than a year.

The off-ramp is also likely a couple of years away at best.

A $1.2 billion pot of federal money the state is in line to receive from the federal government has already been assigned to other projects, said Kris Olsen, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.

Another project that could help with railroad-crossing traffic is a $42 million expansion of the interchange at I-5 and 116th Street NE.

The interchange is only about a half mile west of the railroad tracks, so reducing congestion there would help at the crossing, officials have said. The interchange project is designed but still needs money for construction, according to Nehring.

“That’s definitely another project that’s on my list of requests,” Harper said.

Still, most of the improvements likely will require another tax increase of some kind, he 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.