A new report by an environmental group says more fuel-efficient cars would save Washingtonians $5.3 million at the gas pump this Thanksgiving weekend alone.
The report was released as the Obama administration is developing new fuel efficiency and pollution standards for cars and light trucks.
State residents are expected to spend $9.6 million at the gas pump this Thanksgiving weekend, said Kristina Dumas of the Seattle-based group Environment Washington.
The study used regional Thanksgiving travel projections released last week by AAA to determine how many
Washingtonians would be traveling more than 50 miles by car this weekend, according to Dumas. The report then estimated how much money would be saved if the average car got 60 miles per gallon instead of the current 26.4 miles per gallon.
For more information, go to http://www.environmentwashington.org/
Gary Noble of Lynnwood writes: I was wondering if you could investigate what I consider a safety issue at the Wal-mart on 164th and I-5. Trucks delivering goods to Wal-Mart exit I-5 onto 164th Street SW and then must turn right onto 13th Avenue W. This turn is too tight for long semi- trucks. There is a barrier in the middle of 13th Avenue W. that prevents trucks from making wide turns. Consequently, the rear wheels of the semi trailer go up and over the corner curbing on the inside of the curve every time a semi turns here.
This happens many, many times every day. There are a lot of pedestrians at this corner, and I worry that a pedestrian or inattentive child is going to get hit by the rear wheels of a semi trailer as it rounds the corner.
I have mentioned this to the county previously, but I have never received a response. Clearly this corner was not designed for large semi trailers, and something should be done to fix this. There is also a vacant lot across 13th Avenue from the Wal-mart entrance that is often used as a turn-around or resting place for semi trailers that also increases the number of trucks turning at the 164th-13th corner.
Owen Carter, county engineer, responds: Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. As you stated in your question it appears that the centerline barrier on 13th is restricting the turning of the large semi-trucks. I agree that this curbing is restricting the right turn movement of larger vehicles.
I will have my traffic operations section work with the road maintenance division to get a portion of the barrier removed to improve turning. In addition, we will move the limit line for the left turn pocket from 13th to the south to provide the large vehicles more area to turn to keep their rear wheels from tracking onto the sidewalk.
Alvin Koetitz of Warm Beach writes: I have a problem concerning the Forty Five Road southwest of Lakewood in the vicinity of 156th Street NE and 11th Avenue NE. Several years ago the Forty Five Road was torn up for utility work and repairs, but it appears the contractor dropped the ball when he built the road through these intersections.
The road has a number of dips in it that are pretty extensive. It really causes your car to bounce around going through there. It’s especially bad if you are going at the speed limit, 40 mph, coming from the south and have a trunk load of groceries. You’re almost afraid you’re going to bounce right off the road. It could be exciting if you were to go a lot faster! I was wondering if there any plans to correct this problem.
Owen Carter of the county responds: Thank you for bringing this roadway condition to our attention. It appears that there has been some settlement of the roadway at this location since the utility was installed in 2007. Since the 2010 paving season is coming to an end due to outside temperatures and other weather related restrictions, I have asked my pavement engineer to program a repair at this intersection for the 2011 paving season.
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