Street Smarts

Students load onto the 116 Community Transit bus after school on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in front of Edmonds-Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Early Community Transit data shows youth ridership bump

After adopting free fare for riders 18 and under in September, youth ridership accounted for 11% to 28% on 13 routes.

Students load onto the 116 Community Transit bus after school on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in front of Edmonds-Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Decisions on light rail, buses and more loom in 2023

Snohomish County’s top transportation stories include Sound Transit Link, bus agency changes and highway shifts.

Traffic moves northbound on Highway 525 past an empty ferry lane on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Even with new terminal, old Highway 525 ferry lane staying put

A reader asked if there were plans to turn the lane on the hill south of 5th Street into a bike and pedestrian space.

Traffic moves northbound on Highway 525 past an empty ferry lane on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A small blue light shines on the backside of a traffic signal at the intersection of Broadway and Everett Avenue on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in downtown Everett, Washington. The lights are designed to help law enforcement catch drivers who blow red lights. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Those blue lights on traffic signals help nab red-light runners

The indicator turns on when the traffic signal is red, which lets law enforcement officers know.

A small blue light shines on the backside of a traffic signal at the intersection of Broadway and Everett Avenue on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in downtown Everett, Washington. The lights are designed to help law enforcement catch drivers who blow red lights. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Traffic moves northbound on I-5 through Everett on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Grinding work still needed for I-5 through Everett

Construction crews need warmer temps for the work to remove what a reader described as “mini raised speed bumps.”

Traffic moves northbound on I-5 through Everett on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Eric Wilkinson, a Community Transit driver of 17 years, departs from Seaway Transit Center in an empty 280 bus Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Everett, Washington. Wilkinson said he usually has about 5 passengers from Boeing on the bus to Granite Falls, but had none Friday because Boeing was closed for the holiday weekend. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Driver shortage prompts Community Transit’s trip cut proposal

Reducing service, by 78 trips total on 9 routes, could make for more reliable arrivals and departures in March.

Eric Wilkinson, a Community Transit driver of 17 years, departs from Seaway Transit Center in an empty 280 bus Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Everett, Washington. Wilkinson said he usually has about 5 passengers from Boeing on the bus to Granite Falls, but had none Friday because Boeing was closed for the holiday weekend. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Cars drive along 76th Avenue West in front of Edmonds-Woodway High School on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds eyes speed cameras near three schools

Roads near Edmonds-Woodway High, Chase Lake Elementary and Westgate Elementary could get automated enforcement.

Cars drive along 76th Avenue West in front of Edmonds-Woodway High School on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Light rail construction is seen just beyond a vacant property on Alderwood Mall Property on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Light rail deal could push proposed Lynnwood apartment north

Sound Transit is considering moving part of Alderwood Mall Boulevard a little to make room for the elevated track.

Light rail construction is seen just beyond a vacant property on Alderwood Mall Property on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Officials gather outside two of Everett’s electric buses to discuss the new BattGenie system on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Everett Transit bus yard in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Earlier, later service proposed for Everett Transit in March

A bridge replacement will force a major change for the Mukilteo ferry route. Others shifts focus on transfers and access.

Officials gather outside two of Everett’s electric buses to discuss the new BattGenie system on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Everett Transit bus yard in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Doug Wennerberg boards the ParaTranist bus on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

What Snohomish County officials learned from not driving

Several city, county and state lawmakers and transit officials participated in the Week Without Driving challenge.

Doug Wennerberg boards the ParaTranist bus on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Street Smarts reporter Ben Watanabe steps into the new Zip Alderwood Shuttle on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Zip trip made Alderwood travel convenient, quick

Instead of figuring out a bus route and schedule, Zip lets riders go door-to-door in the Lynnwood entertainment hub.

Street Smarts reporter Ben Watanabe steps into the new Zip Alderwood Shuttle on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Construction continues for the Orange Line at McCollum Park and Ride on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Eye-catching work at McCollum Park is for Swift Orange buses

Readers wondered about the park and ride near Everett after seeing parking spaces broken up and trees cut down.

Construction continues for the Orange Line at McCollum Park and Ride on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Dan Bates / The Herald
Mid-afternoon traffic on northbound Interstate 5, Monday, just north of the Boeing Freeway (526) offramp provides a wicked brew of corporate, public and personal vehicles for homebound Boeing commuters to merge with, following a shift change at the Everett 747 plant.

I-5 lane reductions through Everett set for weekends this month

Crews are set to replace dozens of decades-old concrete panels between Highway 526 and Everett Avenue.

Dan Bates / The Herald
Mid-afternoon traffic on northbound Interstate 5, Monday, just north of the Boeing Freeway (526) offramp provides a wicked brew of corporate, public and personal vehicles for homebound Boeing commuters to merge with, following a shift change at the Everett 747 plant.
Vehicles exiting I-5 southbound begin to turn left into the eastbound lanes of 164th Street Southwest on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Traffic backups on 164th Street near I-5 could see relief soon

The county and state are implementing a new traffic signal system that synchronizes the corridor and adjusts to demand.

Vehicles exiting I-5 southbound begin to turn left into the eastbound lanes of 164th Street Southwest on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A semi truck blows smoke out of its exhaust pipes while driving southbound on I-5 on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Reader: Did a tractor-trailer cover my car in diesel soot?

Probably not, according to a Department of Ecology spokesperson, since diesel emissions are getting “cleaner.”

A semi truck blows smoke out of its exhaust pipes while driving southbound on I-5 on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
News logo for use with stories about Mill Creek in Snohomish County, WA.

Yellow arrow left turns scrapped at Dumas Road in Mill Creek

Collision data showed drivers weren’t yielding to oncoming traffic, so the state changed the highway intersection signal.

News logo for use with stories about Mill Creek in Snohomish County, WA.
Traffic heads north and south along Highway 99 between 168th Street SW and Airplane Road on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State seeks safety ideas on Highway 99 between Everett, Lynnwood

Bike lanes, complete sidewalks and lower speeds are some ideas for the 3½-mile stretch between the cities.

Traffic heads north and south along Highway 99 between 168th Street SW and Airplane Road on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Doug Wennerberg boards the ParaTranist bus on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Week Without Driving challenges officials to learn transportation gaps

People with disabilities are asking city and county leaders to rely on their bodies, rides and transit for seven days.

Doug Wennerberg boards the ParaTranist bus on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crews painted lane and median stripes this summer on a stretch of Highway 99 between Everett and Lynnwood, but in some places the median was the wrong color, like the yellow seen here. Eventually it was repainted the correct white. (Erik Robins)

Wrong median paint color had to be redone on Highway 99

An old yellow was used in some spots between Everett and Lynnwood until the standard white paint was applied.

Crews painted lane and median stripes this summer on a stretch of Highway 99 between Everett and Lynnwood, but in some places the median was the wrong color, like the yellow seen here. Eventually it was repainted the correct white. (Erik Robins)
A car drives along Dakota Way on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett man asks city to curb fast, loud cars on 25 mph road

Luis Burbano wants infrastructure changes to reduce the frequency of window-rattling engines that rumble by his home.

A car drives along Dakota Way on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)