Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • GOP pitches its own plan for U.S. 2 3/5/08 • Roads budget OK'd after U.S. 2 debate 2/28/08 • Millions for U.S. 2 and I-5 barriers in Senate budget 2/26/08 • New passing lane a 'baby step' for U.S. 2 2/21/08 • U.S. 2 to get $5 million for passing lane 2/20/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, March 10, 2008 More money for U.S. 2 to be added to state budget By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer OLYMPIA – House and Senate transportation leaders have agreed to add another $5 million for U.S. 2 into the final state roads budget due out as early as today. Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, and Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, leaders of the Legislature’s transportation committees, agreed to boost money for U.S. 2 on Saturday in their negotiations on the supplemental budget for 2008. Coupled with previously pledged investments, U.S. 2 is in line for $14.6 million of improvements in the next three years. State officials estimate the highway needs $2 billion in safety improvements. “It’s the start of something pretty great but ultimately U.S. 2 needs to be widened to a four-lane highway,” Rep. Liz Loomis, D-Snohomish, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said this morning. Loomis said leaders of the Highway 2 Safety Coalition and the Department of Transportation will decide the specific project on which to spend the money. She said it will be targeted for improvements in the area of U.S. 2 and Fern Bluff Road where a number of fatalities have occurred. The House and Senate had approved draft budgets pledging $5 million for a passing lane west of Sultan and $4.6 million for rumble strips and re-striping on stretches of the route on where 47 people have died as a result of collisions since 1999. Lawmakers also want the Washington State Patrol to put six troopers on patrol on U.S. 2. If released today, the final budget could be voted on as early as Tuesday. The legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday.

1. Tulalip man, 20, charged with baby boy's murder 2. Donated safe gives Marysville museum a mystery 3. Fears over commercial air service at Paine Field dismissed 4. Everett officer charged with manslaughter reveals plan for defense 5. Merchants reject security for downtown Snohomish 6. Holmgren interested in returning to Seahawks 7. Friends open account for orphaned daughters of Highway 9 crash victims 8. Crack That Safe 9. Country singing contestant Chance McKinney amazed by his fans 10. Have M’s, Figgins reached a deal? 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Wildcats fall to familar foe in semis • ‘Nutcracker' times three • Road warrior • Mavericks reloading • Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings • Cities prepare for winter blast repeat • Wolfpack duo takes last shot at state tourney • This Weekend in Your Town • Tips for the stormy season • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million