Street Smarts

Everett Transit is staying fare-free through June. (Sue Misao / Herald file)

Everett Transit: Stay the same, grow, or merge and grow?

An online open house and survey explore how bus service should evolve — and how much it will cost.

Everett Transit is staying fare-free through June. (Sue Misao / Herald file)
Ian Terry / The Herald

Brian Henderson, of Renton, plugs in his Kia Soul EV electric vehicle at a charging station in Sultan on Wednesday, June 7. Henderson and a group of fellow electric car drivers made the trip from Everett's City Hall to Spokane's City Hall late last week in an effort to raise awareness about convenient charging locations along U.S. Highway 2.

Photo taken on 06072017

PUD offers hundreds of dollars to some electric car buyers

People who buy qualifying electric cars and charging stations can get hundreds of dollars back.

Ian Terry / The Herald

Brian Henderson, of Renton, plugs in his Kia Soul EV electric vehicle at a charging station in Sultan on Wednesday, June 7. Henderson and a group of fellow electric car drivers made the trip from Everett's City Hall to Spokane's City Hall late last week in an effort to raise awareness about convenient charging locations along U.S. Highway 2.

Photo taken on 06072017
Leigh Spruce gets off of Everett Para Transit at the Everett Mall on Thursday, March 11, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Where does Everett need accessible curb ramps and sidewalks?

The city is finishing an ADA transition plan to identify right-of-way barriers and how to fix them.

Leigh Spruce gets off of Everett Para Transit at the Everett Mall on Thursday, March 11, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic along Hwy 2 in Monroe of Sunday afternoon on March 7, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Gold Bar fire chief pleads for U.S. 2 traffic help from state

The highway’s long had backups. But now drivers are using apps that take them onto narrow side roads.

Traffic along Hwy 2 in Monroe of Sunday afternoon on March 7, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Parked tractor-trailers line the side of 40th Avenue NE on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 in Marysville, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Worker wonders why dead end Marysville road is rough and rutty

A stretch of 40th Avenue NE is mostly used for heavy trucking and isn’t in line for repairs soon.

Parked tractor-trailers line the side of 40th Avenue NE on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 in Marysville, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In a zipper merge, cars continue in their lanes and then take turns at the point where the lanes meet. (Koenb via Wikimedia Commons)

Do Washington drivers need to learn the zipper merge?

Legislators propose requiring zipper merge instruction in drivers education and in license test.

In a zipper merge, cars continue in their lanes and then take turns at the point where the lanes meet. (Koenb via Wikimedia Commons)
Kitsap Transit fast ferries in Kingston. (Puget Sound Regional Council) 20210215

Study examines Everett-Whidbey passenger ferry service

So far, no government is seriously considering such a service, which would cost millions of dollars.

Kitsap Transit fast ferries in Kingston. (Puget Sound Regional Council) 20210215

Turns out biking and walking in winter isn’t a breeze

Our transportation columnist’s one-month check-in: Convenience is a tough drug to kick.

Buretta changes a faulty spark plug, getting a driver back on the road. (Lizz Giordano/ The Herald)

When your car’s in trouble, WSDOT ‘road angels’ to the rescue

The Incident Response Team clears collisions, debris and stalled vehicles to keep traffic moving.

Buretta changes a faulty spark plug, getting a driver back on the road. (Lizz Giordano/ The Herald)
Ric Ilgenfritz is the new CEO Community Transit. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)

Community Transit’s new CEO looks beyond the pandemic

Ric Ilgenfritz anticipates continued growth and more bus service adjustments as light rail extends north.

Ric Ilgenfritz is the new CEO Community Transit. (Kevin Clark/The Herald)

No changes any time soon for ‘busy’ Marysville intersection

A reader asked if a roundabout is planned at 67th Avenue NE and 108th Street NE. The city says no.

Left turns against red lights are rarely legal

A reader asked whether they are allowed. The law’s clear on when.

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.
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.
Ben Watanbee, Street Smart columnist, is committing to ditching his car as often as possible in 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

I’m planning to bike, bus and walk more, and so should you

Having a car is expensive but convenient. I’m challenging you and me to make small changes.

Ben Watanbee, Street Smart columnist, is committing to ditching his car as often as possible in 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
The signage eastbound on 168th Street SW as you approach Highway 99 is confusing and leads to people in the center lane illegally turning left. Lynnwood's traffic engineer said it's all up to standards and code. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Why am I driving straight under a left-turn sign in Lynnwood?

A reader asked about 168th Street Southwest and Highway 99 signage, which a city engineer says is OK.

The signage eastbound on 168th Street SW as you approach Highway 99 is confusing and leads to people in the center lane illegally turning left. Lynnwood's traffic engineer said it's all up to standards and code. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Construction continues in Mountlake Terrace on the light rail extention Friday afternoon on December 11, 2020. Sound Transit is re-evaluating its ST3 projects' timelines based on projections for vastly reduced revenue in the coming years.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Dicey revenue outlook could slow Everett light rail timeline

Sound Transit is working on realignment plans for upcoming capital projects, including Everett Link.

Construction continues in Mountlake Terrace on the light rail extention Friday afternoon on December 11, 2020. Sound Transit is re-evaluating its ST3 projects' timelines based on projections for vastly reduced revenue in the coming years.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
WSDOT is proposing several projects for Highway 526 (the Boeing freeway) from Seaview Boulevard to I-5. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

State proposes new Highway 526 eastbound lane, meters to I-5

Several improvements to the Boeing freeway are under consideration to save time, reduce crashes.

WSDOT is proposing several projects for Highway 526 (the Boeing freeway) from Seaview Boulevard to I-5. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Lynnwood Transit Center Light Rail Station under construction on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

How will light rail affect Snohomish County neighborhoods?

As Link stations crawl northward, officials are looking for input what housing to allow around them.

Lynnwood Transit Center Light Rail Station under construction on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The City of Marysville is finalizing its self evaluation and Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan to address accessibility issues in its right of ways. That could mean more to-standard curb ramps and other features. (Ben Watanabe / The Herald)

Where does Marysville need to improve accessibility?

The city’s draft ADA Transition Plan identifies hundreds of deficient locations. Comment ends soon.

The City of Marysville is finalizing its self evaluation and Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan to address accessibility issues in its right of ways. That could mean more to-standard curb ramps and other features. (Ben Watanabe / The Herald)
The median curb on northbound Highway 99 at 112th Street SW got a fresh paint job earlier this month. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Faded curb median in Everett gets new paint after complaint

The city doesn’t keep a list of median curb conditions, but people can identify and report problems.

The median curb on northbound Highway 99 at 112th Street SW got a fresh paint job earlier this month. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)