Elizabeth Chicoine of Marysville says: “A traffic light is needed at OK Mill Road and South Machias Road in Snohomish. Traffic is very heavy early morning and especially in the afternoons.”
Chicoine attempts to turn left at the intersection during her evening commute leaving work on OK Mill Road.
Deputy Public Works Director Owen Carter responds: “Snohomish County Public Works has been keeping the intersection at OK Mill Road and South Machias Road on our radar. In 2010, we performed a review of this intersection and at that time, it did not meet the criteria for a traffic signal. Public Works follows the criteria of the national standard for placement of traffic control devices (the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices).
“Upon hearing of Ms. Chicoine’s concern, I have requested Public Works’ traffic section to review this intersection with updated data to see whether it now meets the criteria. Please note that if the intersection does meet the criteria, it does not mean it would be immediately constructed, but rather placed within the project funding priority list for scheduling.”
Carter hopes to have the review done by the end of November.
Update Nov. 6, 2015:
Carter reports: “A new warrant analysis was performed (and shows) that the intersection does now meet traffic signal warrants. Unfortunately at this time there are more needs than funds available; therefore, the intersection will be placed into the county’s Road Fund priority array. When the intersection rises in the array and funds become available we will look at all possibilities to improve this intersection. Again, thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
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