Kristine Clement of Marysville writes: The block on State Avenue between Third and Fourth streets in Marysville is very short, with a left-turn lane on each end. Whether traffic is traveling north or south in this section, anyone trying to access one of the left-turn lanes is running a big risk of being hit.
People violate the double-yellow lines routinely on each end of the block, often ending up in the wrong lane facing the wrong way and blocking traffic.
How hard would it be to replace the lines with a raised curb-like divider that traffic couldn’t cross?
John Tatum, traffic engineer for the city of Marysville, responds: Since State Avenue between Third and Fourth is part of state Highway 529, the placement of concrete curbing would require approval of the state Department of Transportation. However, the city has reviewed the most recent five years of accident history and found no accidents that would have been correctable by the placement of concrete curbing as suggested.
Accidents in the mid-block area are rear-end accidents, which a concrete curb would not prevent. The expense of placing a curb along the centerline does not appear to be warranted at this time, but the city will continue to monitor this location should it be needed in the future.
Which lane for buses?
John Flint of Seattle writes: I drive from Seattle to Lake Stevens each day on I-5 about 7:30 a.m. Virtually every day I encounter a Community Transit bus that is out of service, returning to the bus barn and is driving in the left lane of I-5 between downtown Seattle and Northgate. These buses are blocking traffic for five miles before the carpool lanes begin at Northgate.
I have sent numerous e-mails to Community Transit with no response. Can they instruct their drivers to stay right until they get to Northgate?
Martin Munguia, spokesman for Community Transit, responds: Our instructions are for operators on a northbound deadhead (out of service) on I-5 to remain in any of the right lanes until they reach the area of 85th St. They can then begin their merge to access the carpool lanes at Northgate.
This is all subject to conditions. There are regular backups near Highway 520 and we don’t expect an operator to sit in a lane that is not moving if there is another lane moving.
Out-of-service buses heading north in the morning are returning to pick up customers for the next trip south, so they are trying to maintain a schedule. Under normal conditions they are not to be in the left lane until 85th at the soonest.
E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your city of residence.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
