State to give Edmonds $500K for waterfront traffic study

OLYMPIA — State lawmakers are ready to help the city of Edmonds curb the frequent traffic back-ups on the waterfront caused by all the trains traveling through town.

On Wednesday, the state House approved a new two-year transportation budget that gives the city $500,000 to conduct a study on ways of solving the problem.

The budget passed on a 74-20 vote and was sent to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved on Thursday, the final day of a special session of the Legislature.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“We know we have a problem and there are a lot of ideas out there for a solution,” said Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, a former Edmonds City Council member. “We don’t know what’s feasible. This study will give us an idea of what we’ll be able to do on this significant transportation corridor.”

While Edmonds sought $1.2 million, Peterson said, the $500,000 will be enough to produce a report about options.

The broader measure the House adopted Wednesday is not the much-discussed multibillion-dollar package of new statewide transportation projects to be paid for with a gas tax increase. Rather, it is the budget which directs spending in the next biennium of money already being collected from gas taxes and assorted fees, such as vehicle registration.

Those dollars pay for operations of the Washington State Patrol, Washington State Ferries and the departments of Licensing and Transportation, including the salaries of most of their employees.

For the most part, the budget only continues existing operations of those agencies and assures there are no hiccups with ongoing projects.

There are a few new items, including roughly $470,000 for Island Transit to restart a popular route from Camano Island to Stanwood and downtown Everett. Island Transit will only receive the money if it makes riders pay a fare, which it does not currently do.

The budget also lays the groundwork for a 2.5 percent increase in ferry fares this fall and again next fall. The Washington State Transportation Commission will hold hearings to decide the amount and timing.

Securing money for the Edmonds study culminates more than two years of effort by city officials and state representatives.

The state dollars will be combined with $100,000 from the city and $25,000 from the Port of Edmonds to pay for an analysis of alternatives to improve traffic flow to and from the waterfront, which includes the busy Edmonds-Kingston ferry dock. A preliminary report to the House and Senate transportation committees and governor’s budget office is due Dec. 1.

The focus will be on a single-tracked stretch of rail between Point Wells and north of downtown Edmonds. About 40 trains go through the city each day, each time shutting down access to the waterfront via Main and Dayton streets. The delays add up to about two hours per day, according to city officials.

If a train breaks down in the area, which happens occasionally, it can leave people stranded on either side of the tracks for an hour or more and keep emergency vehicles from getting into the area, city officials say. The senior center is west of the tracks.

The state has a stake in the problem, too. State Highway 104 leads to the ferry dock.

“It’s a huge public safety issue,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, who serves on the House Transportation Committee and worked to ensure the study didn’t get axed in negotiations with the Senate on the final version of the budget.

“We are so grateful it is in,” she said. “It’ll get the ball rolling.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@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

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Julia Zavgorodniy waves at her family after scanning the crowd to find them during Mariner High School’s 2025 commencement on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Dream without limit’: Thousands of Snohomish County seniors graduate

Graduations at the arena conclude this weekend with three Everett high schools on Saturday and Monroe High School on Sunday.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

‘No Kings’ rallies draw thousands to Everett and throughout Snohomish County

Demonstrations were held nationwide to protest what organizers say is overreach by President Donald Trump and his administration.

Marysville is planning a new indoor sports facility, 350 apartments and a sizable hotel east of Ebey Waterfront Park. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New report shifts outlook of $25M Marysville sports complex

A report found a conceptual 100,000-square-foot sports complex may require public investment to pencil out.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Snohomish County Board of Health looking to fill vacancy

The county is accepting applications until the board seat is filled.

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.