SNOHOMISH — The city needs money to fix potholes, build a roundabout on Avenue D and add an extra lane to a Highway 9 intersection.
To get the projects done, the city wants to raise its sales tax by 0.2 percent. First, though, the proposal needs voter approval.
The city’s new Transpor
tation Benefit District is scheduled to take action on the ballot proposition at its next meeting, at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the George Gilbertson Boardroom, 1601 Avenue D.
The board could choose between setting a public hearing in May, rejecting the idea, or going forward without a hearing, City Manager Larry Bauman said.
The board has a May 24 deadline for the measure to get onto the Aug. 16 primary election ballot.
Currently, Snohomish has a 8.6 percent sales tax, the same as in Monroe and Marysville. If approved, Snohomish’s s sales tax will remain below other cities, like Everett’s 9.2 percent tax and Lynnwood’s 9.5 percent tax.
If the majority of the city’s nearly 5,000 registered voters approve the sales tax increase, Snohomish would raise an additional estimated $660,000 a year.
Of this revenue, $500,000 will be used to repair and maintain the 41 miles of city roads. The rest will help pay for projects intended to fix two heavily congested areas.
These projects are a one-lane roundabout at the intersection where Bickford Avenue becomes Avenue D, and 15th Street SE; and adding an extra lane at the intersection of 30th Street and Highway 9.
“The city picked these sites because it wants to improve how people get in and around town,” city engineer Steve Schuller said.
The proposed roundabout would cost about $700,000.
Installing a roundabout is better than a traffic light because Snohomish would save in maintenance and power costs in the long run, Schuller said. It also is safer, because accidents that happen when people run red lights occur at a higher speed than accidents in roundabouts, he said.
The intersection currently is a four-way stop, one of two left on the city’s main arterial.
The other one is located at First Street and Avenue D by the downtown area. The city intends to install a traffic signal there, and hopes federal funds next year will pay that bill, Schuller said.
The other project is adding an eastbound lane to 30th Street which meets Highway 9 north of downtown.
Currently, there is a single lane at the intersection which becomes congested with drivers wanting to turn left onto the highway. The additional lane will help drivers who want to go straight or turn right from 30th Street.
Adding about 300 feet of street will cost about $500,000. The project may take longer than the roundabout because the city needs to work with Snohomish County and state’s Department of Transportation, Schuller said.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
Meeting Tuesday
The Transportation Benefit District is expected to make a decision on a ballot measure to increase Snohomish’s sales tax by 0.2 percent. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, at the George Gilbertson Boardroom, 1601 Ave. D.
Share your view
The city is looking for people to join committees in favor of and against the tax measure. The three-member committees are appointed by the board and are responsible for writing the pro and con arguments for the voters pamphlet. Anyone interested should send a letter to City Manager Larry Bauman, 116 Union, Ave., Snohomish WA 98290, or email at bauman@ci.snohomish.wa.us. The deadline is April 26.
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