Transportation

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)
Traffics moves slowly along I-5 through Everett on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Icy Sea-Tac tops ‘Misery Map,’ in prelude to worst of holiday gridlock

The predicted third-busiest holiday travel season since 2000 faces a wintry mix of traffic jams and flight issues.

Traffics moves slowly along I-5 through Everett on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The former ferry holding lanes are repaved and getting ready for cars in Mukilteo, Washington on August 16, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Port’s parking lot in Mukilteo may not open until spring

The permit process, which required a traffic study and other analyses, is taking longer than the Port of Everett hoped.

The former ferry holding lanes are repaved and getting ready for cars in Mukilteo, Washington on August 16, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Construction workers walk along the underside of the Lynnwood Link light rail tracks on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lynnwood light rail could sit unused for months

The Sound Transit board is considering the sequence for four upcoming light rail projects after pandemic and strike delays.

Construction workers walk along the underside of the Lynnwood Link light rail tracks on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Conceptual rendering for a future section of Smokey Point Boulevard between 174th Place NE and 200th Street NE. (City of Arlington)

Arlington to host open houses on Smokey Point Boulevard

Open houses are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. There’s also an online survey.

Conceptual rendering for a future section of Smokey Point Boulevard between 174th Place NE and 200th Street NE. (City of Arlington)
Crews will reduce lanes and eventually close northbound Interstate 5 between Everett and Marysville this week to work on a bridge overpass girder. (Washington State Department of Transportation)

Overnight lane closures, I-5 detour set between Everett, Marysville

Crews need to replace a girder on the 12th Street NE bridge that was damaged by an overheight load in September 2021.

Crews will reduce lanes and eventually close northbound Interstate 5 between Everett and Marysville this week to work on a bridge overpass girder. (Washington State Department of Transportation)
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)
Bird scooters lined up along the intersection of Colby Avenue and Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Bird scooters removed from Everett bridge overhang

A prankster, or pranksters, lugged the electrified rides to an area not meant for the public on the Grand Avenue Park Bridge.

Bird scooters lined up along the intersection of Colby Avenue and Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vehicles are parked in front boutique-style businesses on the brick road portion of 270th Street on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Historic West Downtown in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Stanwood voters embrace sales tax to pay for street work

Nearly two-thirds of voters backed a measure to keep the two-tenths of a percent sales tax for maintaining streets, sidewalks and more.

Vehicles are parked in front boutique-style businesses on the brick road portion of 270th Street on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Historic West Downtown in Stanwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A ferryboat. (Washington State Ferries)

Turkey travel is for the birds

Leave extra early or late if you can, pack the winter essentials and prepare for traffic whether driving, flying or sailing.

A ferryboat. (Washington State Ferries)
A pedestrian uses the crosswalk at 30th Street NE along 113th Avenue NE near Lake Stevens High School on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State won’t keep federal money from Lake Stevens for ADA issues

In September the state told the city it wasn’t complying with federal law. Upon review, the state is easing its stance.

A pedestrian uses the crosswalk at 30th Street NE along 113th Avenue NE near Lake Stevens High School on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vicki Clarke, left to right, Brock Howell, Megan Dunn, Liz Vogeli and George Hurst listen while Ed Engel speaks during a press conference for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Advocates call for safer roads, sidewalks across Snohomish County

Several people marked World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims at one of the most dangerous roads in the county.

Vicki Clarke, left to right, Brock Howell, Megan Dunn, Liz Vogeli and George Hurst listen while Ed Engel speaks during a press conference for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / 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)
Cars park along Madison Street on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Madison Street project in Everett will include bike lanes

Project is scheduled for next summer, and includes removal of center turn lane.

Cars park along Madison Street on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood

Divided council leaves Lynnwood vehicle license fee in place

Mayor Christine Frizzell vetoed a council measure to ditch the fee. An attempt to override her action came up short.

Lynnwood
A pedestrian uses the crosswalk at 30th Street NE along 113th Avenue NE near Lake Stevens High School on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

State warns ADA issues could keep federal money from Lake Stevens

City leaders wondered why the state is not including other cities with similar noncompliance issues.

A pedestrian uses the crosswalk at 30th Street NE along 113th Avenue NE near Lake Stevens High School on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Lake Stevens, 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)