Regarding the Nov. 25 article titled: “Mukilteo misses the boat”:
One of the positive results of the failure of the R-51 transportation tax measure is there will be no funds to develop a new Mukilteo ferry terminal. Hopefully our citizens will begin to realize the effect of pursuing current administration plans of redeveloping 22 acres of prime waterfront property into a virtual parking lot to benefit ferry commuters and a few boat owners.
Current plans call for a new double-slip ferry terminal with holding space for 400 vehicles, a small marina, a commuter rail station, and minimal commercial and public access amenities. The plan also depicts construction of a new access road down Japanese Gulch in order to remove traffic from the Mukilteo Speedway. The fallacy is there is nobody in the state Department of Transportation who will commit to funding this new road. At an estimated cost of $100 million, it simply does not meet any DOT funding criteria.
The result of current plans will ruin 22 acres of prime waterfront land; drive more growth to Whidbey Island and increase commuter traffic on Mukilteo Speedway because funding of a Japanese Gulch Road cannot be guaranteed.
There are other options that make more sense for Mukilteo and for traffic relief. We should encourage DOT to reschedule some vehicle traffic from Clinton to the Edmonds terminal, which is going to be relocated. We should also encourage DOT to acquire land adjacent to its current holding area in Mukilteo. And finally, encourage DOT to develop more passenger-only boat services on Puget Sound.
Traffic studies indicate the largest traffic impacts are not a result of the ferry, but the continuing development of Mukilteo itself.
Former Mayor, City of Mukilteo
Mukilteo
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