Turn change generates complaints of new traffic
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, September 9, 2001
Q Since the revision of 41st Street and Rucker Avenue in Everett, it has been allowed that cars traveling east on 41st Street are able to turn left on High Street. The traffic that occurs between the hours of 3:30 and 6 p.m. has increased significantly. Cars traveling through this residential neighborhood are speeding, attempting to avoid the light at Rucker and 41st Street. Previously, it was not allowed to turn left onto High Street. Why was this change allowed?
The change has turned High Street into a thoroughfare to cross the city. I have contacted the police and asked them to increase patrols, to no avail, as well as the city traffic department.
High Street is a residential street that endures end-of-day commuters speeding through without regard for children, parked cars or pedestrian traffic. It is a dangerous situation. Why is it now allowed that cars are able to turn left on High Street, left on 40th, then right onto Grand Avenue to make their way across the city? Something needs to change.
Bill Quinlan, Everett
A Wayne Wentz, Everett city traffic engineer, said the reconstruction of 41st Street significantly lowered the roadway and eliminated the sight distance restriction that had existed.
"The eastbound to northbound left turn is no longer unsafe, so we eliminated the turn prohibition," Wentz said. "We received many complaints of excessive volumes and speeds on High Street before the changes to the roadway, and the patterns have not significantly changed.
"We continue to work with the police to address these concerns," he said. Allowing the turn permits responsible drivers who live in the Port Gardner neighborhood a reasonable choice of routes into and out of their neighborhood without unnecessary delays.
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