Street Smarts

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)
Everett Transit has cut Sunday and holiday service, plus Route 6 which loops from Everett Station to College station and West Marine View Drive along the waterfront. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Union considers sales tax lift initiative for Everett Transit

Everett Transit’s service changes could stabilize its budget, at the expense of availability.

Everett Transit has cut Sunday and holiday service, plus Route 6 which loops from Everett Station to College station and West Marine View Drive along the waterfront. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Community Transit is preparing to shift commuter buses that go to the University of Washington in Seattle to connect with Link light rail in Northgate next year. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Community Transit likely keeping similar bus service next year

The Snohomish County transit agency has concurrent plans for slow and fast economic recovery.

Community Transit is preparing to shift commuter buses that go to the University of Washington in Seattle to connect with Link light rail in Northgate next year. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Looking east down the First Street bypass on Oct. 1 in Marysville. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Speed limits are about design, development and use

Marysville’s traffic engineer rebuffed a claim that the city’s streets are all built to be 35 mph.

Looking east down the First Street bypass on Oct. 1 in Marysville. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)
Ian Terry / The HeraldAn abandoned car sits on flooded Mann Road in Sultan on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015.Photo taken on 11132015

County considers raising roads to skirt flooding near Sultan

Ben Howard Road and Mann Road are in line for culverts and elevation gains.

Ian Terry / The HeraldAn abandoned car sits on flooded Mann Road in Sultan on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015.Photo taken on 11132015
Don Sperlin works on a bike Thursday afternoon at Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop in Everett on May 30, 2019. Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop will be hosting it's 17th annual kids bike swap on June 9.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Help fix children’s bikes at Everett shop

Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop needs volunteers for weekly work parties to give children bikes.

Don Sperlin works on a bike Thursday afternoon at Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop in Everett on May 30, 2019. Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop will be hosting it's 17th annual kids bike swap on June 9.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A biker looks right and slowly proceeds through a stop sign at 16th Street and Colby Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 in Everett, Washington. As of Oct. 1, bike riders can treat stop signs like yield signs. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

State law lets stop signs become yield signs for bike riders

Keep your eyes peeled and let the cyclists go, drivers. But the new law doesn’t mean bikes can zip by.

A biker looks right and slowly proceeds through a stop sign at 16th Street and Colby Avenue on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 in Everett, Washington. As of Oct. 1, bike riders can treat stop signs like yield signs. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Looking east toward the U.S. 2 trestle as cars begin to backup on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Everett, Wa. The aging westbound span needs replacing and local politicians are looking to federal dollars to get the replacement started. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

A toll? More lanes? Have your say on future U.S. 2 trestle

WSDOT wants to know what people think of the existing highway link and its eventual replacement.

Looking east toward the U.S. 2 trestle as cars begin to backup on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Everett, Wa. The aging westbound span needs replacing and local politicians are looking to federal dollars to get the replacement started. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Some school zones with reduced speed limits are active, even though students aren't in the buildings, while others are not.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Even with no (or few) students, school zones still are active

With Snohomish County school districts mostly using remote learning, drivers still should slow down.

Some school zones with reduced speed limits are active, even though students aren't in the buildings, while others are not.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Reader asks about rules for people parking in front of gate

In Marysville, someone on 145th Street Northeast kept seeing cars blocking their fence gate.

County asks: What should housing look like near light rail?

Snohomish County wants public input on housing types in the areas around light rail stations.