The Herald’s “Fix your commute” program is missing the point, in my opinion. As a daily commuter between Everett and SeaTac, I believe there are several things that could be done that shouldn’t cost millions upon millions of dollars – as our leaders seem to think is needed in order to accomplish anything.
1.Co-ordinate traffic signals on major arterials, such as Aurora, especially within Seattle city limits, and then post that speed by which one could maintain to keep stopping at lights to a minimum. I know that this was done years ago along Broadway in Everett, and one could drive the entire length of Broadway without stopping at a traffic light, as long as you were maintaining the posted speed.
2. Do away with the metered on-ramps to the freeways. I have spent up to six minutes inching along at metered ramps. This only serves to increase frustration and backups.
3. Have more overhead freeway signs alerting drivers of traffic conditions.
4. Education, education, education. We get a driver’s license at 16 or 18, taking a test to qualify. Then what? Most of us are never tested again, other than a simple eye test when we renew our driver’s license. How about a test of basic rules of the road, even if it is simply graded and corrected at the counter with the clerk? At least we get some refreshers on road rules.
5. Enforcement. I believe a better job could be done in enforcing the traffic laws.
I don’t know how much these ideas would cost. Probably nowhere near the other things, such as more freeways, bridges, etc. Perhaps we need those too, but there are these things that could be done sooner than later.
Lee Woodard
Everett
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