The average price of a gallon of gas in Washington was the fourth highest in the country last week, behind only California ($3.85), Hawaii ($3.77) and Alaska ($3.72).
At $3.63 per gallon, it was a new record-high price for Washington and mirrored prices in the Everett-Seattle-Bellevue area, according to AAA auto club.
It makes sense. Our recent weather is proof of the bond we share with the tropical equatorial paradise and the frozen state to the north. Remember that record-high 70-degree Saturday earlier this month, followed by snow this weekend? KING 5 meteorologist Jeff Renner will have to grow back his moustache to keep warm.
There’s usually a run-up in prices leading to Memorial Day, the official start of the summer driving season. Five years ago this month, a gallon of unleaded cost $1.81. That was just after the Iraq War started.
Memorial Day prices in 2003 were about $1.60 a gallon. The summer road trip would never again be cheaper.
Carpool curiosity
Q: I recently moved onto Admiralty Way in Everett. I travel on 128th Street SW and was wondering about the HOV lanes on that street. There are signs with time periods on them: 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. going west, and 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. going east. Does that mean the HOV lanes only apply during those hours? I assume they are for Boeing traffic.
Mary Chesnut, Everett
A: The HOV lanes are only in effect during the times identified on the signs. The lanes were constructed and designated in two phases to accommodate traffic associated with the Everett Boeing plant. The first phase was in January 1993 and converted one general purpose lane for two or more people on Airport Road and 128th Street SW between I-5 and Highway 99. An HOV lane was added to Airport Road between Highway 526 and Highway 99 for outbound Boeing traffic. Phase 2 completed the project in 1998 by adding an HOV lane between Highway 99 and Highway 527 for inbound Boeing traffic.
Jim Bloodgood, Snohomish County traffic engineer
A safer flasher
Q: Does the flashing school zone light on Casino Road near Fifth Avenue have set hours and what are those hours? The problem is tall vehicles block visibility of the flashing pedestrian light.
Would it be feasible to place a flashing school light above the street, like the flashing crosswalk sign that is farther east nearer the intersection of Casino Road and Evergreen Way, by one of the Fred Meyer entrances?
Linda Esquivel, Everett
A: Placing the flasher over the street is an excellent suggestion and we will look into implementing this safety idea.
The school zone hours are set and only come on when children cross to and from Horizon Elementary School. The flashers turn on during normal start-dismissal days from 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m., 2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.
The flashers turn on during early dismissal days from 8:20 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.
The school zone on Casino Road starts about 300 feet west from the crosswalk at Fifth Avenue and ends 300 feet east of the school crosswalk light at the elementary school. The start and end of the speed zone is marked by the flasher and the 35 mph speed limit sign.
Dongho Chang, city of Everett traffic engineer
Ask about traffic
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