Transportation

A passenger pays their fare before getting in line for the ferry on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Starting Sunday, ferry passengers will pay 4.25% more

The good news is that the 25% peak season vehicle surcharge ends Sunday.

A passenger pays their fare before getting in line for the ferry on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In this photo posted to the Washington state Department of Ecology website and taken by the U.S. Coast Guard, people watch as emergency crews respond to the Walla Walla passenger ferry, which ran aground near Bainbridge Island west of Seattle, Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Lt. Cmdr. Brian Dykens/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

Edmonds-Kingston shuffle: 64-car ferry replaces 202-car boat, for now

The system-wide boat swap stems from the vessel Walla Walla out of service for four weeks for repairs.

In this photo posted to the Washington state Department of Ecology website and taken by the U.S. Coast Guard, people watch as emergency crews respond to the Walla Walla passenger ferry, which ran aground near Bainbridge Island west of Seattle, Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Lt. Cmdr. Brian Dykens/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
Evening rush hour traffic moves along I-5 on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Cars clogging highways more, data shows; local lawmakers eye solutions

On highways in the central Puget Sound region, delays were up 35%, according to new data from the state Department of Transportation.

Evening rush hour traffic moves along I-5 on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Cars drive near River Park in Sultan, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

After Maui wildfires, Sky Valley locals look warily at US 2

It’s the main evacuation route for 40,000 people near Sultan, Gold Bar and Index. And it wouldn’t take much to cut it off.

Cars drive near River Park in Sultan, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A group of travelers aboard the MV Suquamish watch from the sun deck as MV Tokitae passes starboard side on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in the waters near Clinton, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

With 1 Seattle ferry down, Edmonds-Kingston route could be affected

It is unlikely the Mukilteo-Clinton route will be impacted. Edmonds-Kingston may be as the boat shuffle continues.

A group of travelers aboard the MV Suquamish watch from the sun deck as MV Tokitae passes starboard side on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in the waters near Clinton, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Spokane leaves dock at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal Tuesday afternoon on July20,, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Edmonds-Kingston ferry route returns to full service

Generator problems had docked the ferry Spokane for two days.

The Spokane leaves dock at the Edmonds Ferry Terminal Tuesday afternoon on July20,, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
The MV Puyallup, a ferry capable of carrying 202 cars, offloads at the Edmonds Ferry dock on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 in Edmonds, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Two-boat ferry service resumes Friday on the Edmonds-Kingston route

Mechanical issues docked the 188-car vessel Spokane on Wednesday and Thursday

The MV Puyallup, a ferry capable of carrying 202 cars, offloads at the Edmonds Ferry dock on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 in Edmonds, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
An Everett Transit Route 6 bus arrives at the 13th Street stop near the Port of Everett Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Traces of meth, fentanyl exposure common on Puget Sound, Everett buses

Five public transit agencies, including Everett Transit and Community Transit, participated in a new UW study released Thursday.

An Everett Transit Route 6 bus arrives at the 13th Street stop near the Port of Everett Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Ambitious high-speed rail project could have stop in Everett

Travel time from Portland or Vancouver to Seattle could be just an hour. The project is slated to cost tens of billions.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Traffic moves around one of Lake Stevens new roundabouts at the intersection of Highway 204 and Highway 9 on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Blessing or baffling? Lake Stevens’ new roundabout maze divides drivers

Last year, a Highway 9 intersection saw 43 crashes — fewer than a complex of roundabouts has seen in two months since opening.

Traffic moves around one of Lake Stevens new roundabouts at the intersection of Highway 204 and Highway 9 on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars drive through the intersection of Highway 9 and South Lake Stevens Road on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Road closures to watch out for in Lake Stevens, Marysville

In the next week, stretches of Highway 9 will close at night for striping and pavement repairs.

Cars drive through the intersection of Highway 9 and South Lake Stevens Road on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars drive onto the ferry at the Mukilteo terminal on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Mukilteo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Shrimp fishing gear snarls Mukilteo-Clinton ferry travel

Service was disrupted for 90 minutes Monday during peak travel time, especially for those departing Clinton.

Cars drive onto the ferry at the Mukilteo terminal on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Mukilteo, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Daily Herald says farewell to Street Smarts columnist and transportation reporter Ben Watanabe.

Street Smarts columnist signs off from a dream job

Columnist and Everett local Ben Watanabe reflects on the lessons learned from over 3 years covering transportation.

The Daily Herald says farewell to Street Smarts columnist and transportation reporter Ben Watanabe.
Felipe Hernandez, left, and his son Tony Hernandez speak about the impact the Light Rail plan would have on their business and the greater local community outside of their store on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

In light rail’s path, Casino Road businesses brace for impact

Where stations go, displacement and redevelopment follow. Everett is weighing options to cushion the blow for Casino Square.

Felipe Hernandez, left, and his son Tony Hernandez speak about the impact the Light Rail plan would have on their business and the greater local community outside of their store on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic cameras on Tuesday showed heavy smoke and flames at separate fires in dry grass right along the freeway, near the exits to 144th and 156th streets NE. (Washington State Department of Transportation)

Cause unclear in series of brush fires in Marysville that closed I-5

The fires, spreading along northbound I-5, backed up traffic for at least 7 miles Tuesday. More than 100 firefighters responded.

Traffic cameras on Tuesday showed heavy smoke and flames at separate fires in dry grass right along the freeway, near the exits to 144th and 156th streets NE. (Washington State Department of Transportation)
Culvert replacement under 128th Street SE and Highway 96 near McCollum Park in Martha Lake, Washington on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

More weekend closures set for 128th Street SE and Highway 96

The busy road near Everett and Mill Creek is set for westbound lane closures and only one eastbound lane this weekend.

Culvert replacement under 128th Street SE and Highway 96 near McCollum Park in Martha Lake, Washington on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A car drives west on Madison Street past new bike lane curbs on Thursday, July 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett bike lanes’ white curb, paint confuse drivers on Madison

A reader asked for better warning about short curbs at Madison Street and Evergreen Way. Flexible posts are coming.

A car drives west on Madison Street past new bike lane curbs on Thursday, July 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett

Broadway lane reductions set for 2 weeks in Everett

The road is scheduled to drop to one lane in each direction 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays between 35th Street and Hewitt Avenue.

Everett
Culvert replacement under 128th Street SE and Highway 96 near McCollum Park in Martha Lake, Washington on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Drivers must reroute so salmon have a better commute near Mill Creek

This weekend, lanes on 128th Street SE and Highway 96 will be closed west of Dumas Road and Elgin Way for culvert replacement.

Culvert replacement under 128th Street SE and Highway 96 near McCollum Park in Martha Lake, Washington on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)