Sells and McCoy striving for needed transportation work

Snohomish County lawmakers cite importance of S.R. 529 and U.S. 2 projects

February 16, 2009

OLYMPIA – Yes, the huge economic crisis is getting the lion’s share of media attention here in the state capital. But don’t try telling two Snohomish County lawmakers that budget debates are the only game in town.

State Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, and state Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, are quietly but firmly pressing a pair of transportation measures aimed at getting a rein on the runaway traffic congestion in the Everett and Marysville area.

The measures, House Bill 1431 and House Bill 1575, are prime-sponsored by Sells and co-sponsored by McCoy.

“This year, of course, it will be tough to pass anything that requires any new money,” said Sells, who is a member of the House Transportation Committee. “That’s not going to stop us from doing our best, however, to win support for the needed highway safety improvements contained in these two projects.”

Terms of HB 1431 would grant a key designation to State Route 529 from the Port of Everett north to Interstate 5 near Marysville. The road would be singled out as what’s called a “route of statewide significance” in the state highway system.

McCoy explained that S.R. 529 is the old S.R. 99, “and it’s become very convenient over the years to use it to get to Everett – so ‘convenient,’ in fact, that the traffic actually starts backing up in Marysville.”

Sells said that “designating this road as a highway of statewide significance could deliver needed improvements. The bridge on the north end of the road, for example, really needs some serious repair work.”

Snohomish County and the City of Everett are joining Sells and McCoy in supporting HB1575, which would finance a development plan for U.S. Route 2 from the Everett/Naval Station to the interchange at S.R. 9.

“This development plan is aimed at creating the long-term vision it will take to build a transportation corridor,” McCoy said. “We need this planning work to identify transportation-related problems – and then promote solutions. Local jurisdictions can also use these types of plans to secure funding for community projects.”

Snohomish County and the City of Everett have each committed $200,000 for the plan. Sells told that “there are concerns about the safety of the westbound trestle on Highway 2, hollow core pilings. We need to plan ahead to avoid another viaduct problem.”

It was pointed out in committee testimony that this segment of U.S. Route 2 is important to Boeing and Interstate 5, and to meet the goals of freight mobility. When S.R. 9 was closed by last December’s storms, U.S. Route 2 was the only way to cross the valley.