Street Smarts: Can more be done about speeding drivers on U.S. 2?

Published 11:21 pm Sunday, August 9, 2009

Dona Ferro of Lake Stevens says: On a recent drive over Stevens Pass (Highway 2) I felt the need to allow other vehicles to pass me. It was a busy holiday weekend. I try hard to be aware of speed limits and drive accordingly as much as possible. Using pullouts and wide shoulders numerous times, I was able to keep them off my bumper, but it is no wonder that Highway 2 has such a bad reputation. If only somehow the speed limits could be enforced.

Trooper Keith Leary of the Washington State Patrol responds: I thank you for being a courteous driver. We have troopers on patrol from the top of the pass to the Highway 2 trestle. We stop a lot of cars for a variety of violations, speed being one of the most common. In 2008, troopers assigned just to our Monroe office stopped 14,611 drivers for speeding, wrote 9,942 infractions and gave 4,660 verbal warnings.

More than 5,200 of these stops took place on Highway 2 from the trestle to Stevens Pass. From Jan. 1 through July 15 of this year, troopers stopped 7,674 drivers for speed violations, wrote 4,992 infractions and gave 2,676 verbal warnings on state routes in east Snohomish County, including Highway 2.

To put it into perspective, in 2008 troopers stopped an average of 40 cars a day for speed alone. This does not count calls for service, collision investigations, routine calls and traffic stops for other violations as well as assisting other law enforcement agencies and assisting motorists. Last year, troopers recorded more than 33,750 violations of all types, or an average of 92 violations a day, for east Snohomish County alone.

Marguerite Witten of Everett asks: Why don’t we have a turn lane on Oakes Avenue between Wall Street and Pacific Avenue for people entering or exiting the Snohomish County parking garage? There is always a backup during commute times and during a performance at Comcast Arena it is a disaster.

Dongho Chang, traffic engineer for the city of Everett, responds: The county’s parking garage is very active during commute times and special events at the Comcast Arena. We will review parking garage and Oakes Avenue operation to see if we can improve them. A turn lane was omitted to improve safety and street environment for walkers in this heavily traveled pedestrian area.

Paulette Capiello of Mill Creek asks: Eastbound on Maltby Road from Highway 9 the road ends at Yew Way. There are railroad tracks that cross Maltby just before Yew Way, with the stop sign on the other side of the tracks and a sign that cautions: “No stopping on tracks.” Is the driver supposed to stop at the stop sign on the other side of the tracks or before crossing the tracks?

Trooper Leary responds: There is enough room for a medium- to large-size car to fit on the other side of the tracks and stop at the stop sign. My concern would be a backup of cars stopping on the tracks waiting for their turn to turn.

Technically you can cross the tracks without stopping first. If a vehicle is pulling a trailer this could present some issues if stopped for a long period. I know those tracks are not used that much but I have seen trains on those tracks in the past. Err on the side of safety and stop at the tracks first, look both ways, then proceed to the stop sign.

E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.