Letters

Traffic median

Poor design is creating problems for drivers

Many times a day me or my family members go through the intersection of Mill Creek Boulevard and the Bothell-Everett Highway. It is now significantly more dangerous due to the median that has been placed in the middle of the road.

I was waiting to write this opinion until the paving was complete, to see if the new striping would help. It looks like the striping will even make it worse. It is nearly impossible to turn right from northbound Bothell-Everett Highway onto Mill Creek Boulevard without going into the new left turn lane. The lanes do not line up from both sides of Mill Creek Boulevard as you cross the Bothell-Everett Highway. The backup waiting to turn right onto the highway from the boulevard is now extremely long, blocking access from The Mill apartments.

The median is simply a very poorly thought out design that will solve nothing and only cause problems.

DAVE FITZGERALD

Mill Creek

Highway construction

Bothell-Everett not easy for drivers to navigate

Has anyone else been confused by the lack of proper signage and the bombardment of cones highlighting the construction taking place on the Bothell-Everett Highway in Mill Creek?

Although I had just traveled the same road a few hours earlier, I made the mistake of believing I could turn left onto Dumas Road because of signage (or the lack thereof). My left blinker was on and I was stopped at Dumas, preparing to make a left turn in what appeared to be a permissible move, when a policewoman started yelling at me with an onslaught of accusations. I was traumatized by her unprofessional upbraiding, the receipt of a ticket and the open threat of being hauled directly off to jail.

If you or anyone else you know have experienced similar difficulties negotiating the gauntlet on the Bothell-Everett Highway I would appreciate hearing about it. E-mail me at cdkennedy7@juno.com.

CATHY KENNEDY

Everett

Paine Field

Smith’s column didn’t address all concerns

Evan Smith’s July 16 column is severely lacking in presenting both sides of the issue relative to commercializing of Paine Field. 

While what he states may be somewhat factual, his obvious push in favor of this concept seriously neglects the negative impact on our residential community. Commercializing Paine Field would result in an excessive increase in noise, people, traffic and pollution with the result of a extremely severe degradation in the “quality of life” for those who live in the area. That also translates into decreased property value and/or a vastly lower rate of property value increase than a non-commercialized environment. 

Having lived in Snohomish County since 1974, I can assure you that except for the occasional private aircraft, there is little impact in our cul-de-sac due because of Paine Field activity. 

On the occasion when a large commercial plane from Boeing or BF Goodrich flies over, it is totally unacceptable. When this has occurred, my neighbors and I have contacted Paine Field operations and complained. The over-flights would then cease.

The commercial use of Paine Field arose again during the 2004 session of the state Legislature. Upon contacting my Senator and Representatives, they assured me that they clearly were against it because of the serious negative impact on the quality of life.

I have contacted neighbors and we intend to oppose such commercial activity at Paine Field.  Additionally, several of us are intending to contact neighbors in adjoining areas with the full intent of preparing for a battle.

I do not intend to sit by and be impacted in that manner. Unless Snohomish County is prepared to purchase my residence, at “fair-market” value – with value based on a non-commercial Paine Field – the issue will end up in court.

MAXWELL S. FISCHBACH

Lynnwood

College parking

Shoreline should follow Edmonds CC example

As readers of The Enterprise (in various editions) and active citizens in the Shoreline/South Snohomish area, what wasn’t said in your “Highland Terrace neighborhood may soon get parking zone permits” article in The Shoreline Enterprise of July 9 is nearly as important as what it did say.

Sure, there is a parking problem for Shoreline Community College students and nearby homeowners and tenants. The question is not what, but why.

As we prepare to send our own daughter to the college, my alma mater, this fall we find that the college is unlike its enlightened counterpart Edmonds Community College. That is, while Edmonds Community College underwrites the entire cost of monthly bus passes, Shoreline does not help students at all. What that means in plain terms is that a student choosing not to use a car must pay $54 to ride from the South Snohomish/Shoreline area to the college. At a minimum he or she hands over $45 dollars for a basic monthly pass or $74 for a two zone one. That first amount is as much as a commuter pays to go all the way to Downtown Seattle.

That might be acceptable in some circumstances, but given a cost of around $30 per month – $1.50 per round trip – even for a gas-guzzler, what should a student such as my daughter do? It is simply less expensive to drive a personal vehicle.

This is where Shoreline Community College could be civic minded and encourage ecologically sound policies. How do we encourage students to leave their autos and use the bus when they join the workforce? We do it by providing the opportunity now. By reducing the front-end cost of the transit system pass, more students would opt to use the bus and leave their gas guzzling rockets home. And the result? Homeowners are happy and students get a ride right into campus. And they learn riding isn’t so bad after all.

STEPHEN BARNES

Mountlake Terrace

Editor’s note: The author is a King County Metro Transit driver.