Street Smarts

Traffic moves along I-405 between Highway 522 and Highway 527 where WSDOT received the approval to build a second express toll lane on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Bothell, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Second toll lanes coming to I-405 between Highways 522, 527

At the same time the highway gets expanded, Sound Transit is developing bus rapid transit lines.

Traffic moves along I-405 between Highway 522 and Highway 527 where WSDOT received the approval to build a second express toll lane on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Bothell, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars and pedestrians use the newly opened Harbour Reach Drive on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Mukilteo, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Mukilteo’s new road offers slower parallel to Speedway

Harbour Reach Drive has one vehicle lane in each direction plus bike lanes and sidewalks.

Cars and pedestrians use the newly opened Harbour Reach Drive on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Mukilteo, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars wait to take a right onto to Highway 528 off of the Exit 199 as eastbound traffic drives by on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Marysville, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

It’s hurry up and wait coming off I-5 at Fourth in Marysville

For now, drivers heading east must be patient at the red light when turning right to head east.

Cars wait to take a right onto to Highway 528 off of the Exit 199 as eastbound traffic drives by on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Marysville, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A section of sidewalk along Marine Drive in Tulalip buckled under the 100-degree heat in late June. (Snohomish County Public Works)

Heat wave melted county roads, buckled sidewalks

Extreme temperatures in late June, likely a result of climate change, damaged asphalt and concrete.

A section of sidewalk along Marine Drive in Tulalip buckled under the 100-degree heat in late June. (Snohomish County Public Works)
Street Smarts columnist Ben Watanabe places his bike onto the Community Transit 201 bus rack on Saturday, July 17, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lessons in biking and busing to a Snohomish County campground

Don’t pick a route almost entirely uphill and along a single-lane highway without shoulders.

Street Smarts columnist Ben Watanabe places his bike onto the Community Transit 201 bus rack on Saturday, July 17, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars headed north on Highway 9 line up south of the light at 30th Street on Friday, July 9, 2021 in Snohomish, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

No quick solutions to Highway 9 commute through Snohomish

Some drivers try shortcuts that frustrate neighbors and add to the gridlock in the area.

Cars headed north on Highway 9 line up south of the light at 30th Street on Friday, July 9, 2021 in Snohomish, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Arlington Public Works staff install the final crosswalk sign at the completed cross walk at the corner of 180th Street NE and Smokey Point Boulevard on Sunday, June 27, 2021 in Arlington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Speedy Smokey Point Boulevard is temporarily slowed down

The change is part of a “complete streets” demonstration for shared roads — and it could be the future.

Arlington Public Works staff install the final crosswalk sign at the completed cross walk at the corner of 180th Street NE and Smokey Point Boulevard on Sunday, June 27, 2021 in Arlington, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett Transit has cut Sunday and holiday service, plus Route 6 which loops from Everett Station to College station and West Marine View Drive along the waterfront. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Everett council asks for transit merger steering committee

Survey results show strong support for growth options, which prompted the City Council to act.

Everett Transit has cut Sunday and holiday service, plus Route 6 which loops from Everett Station to College station and West Marine View Drive along the waterfront. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Community Transit is asking for feedback on options for a pilot program to bring a community van or microtransit, on-demand public transit, to Lynnwood in spring next year. (Community Transit)

Are you ready for public transit ride-sharing in Lynnwood?

Community Transit is planning a pilot program next spring and wants to hear what people think.

Community Transit is asking for feedback on options for a pilot program to bring a community van or microtransit, on-demand public transit, to Lynnwood in spring next year. (Community Transit)
WSDOT is set to begin work building a second northbound lane on Highway 9 from Market Place to Fourth Street NE.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Months-long work on Highway 9 coming for Lake Stevens

Crews will soon begin building a second northbound Highway 9 lane near Market Place.

WSDOT is set to begin work building a second northbound lane on Highway 9 from Market Place to Fourth Street NE.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A tractor-trailer drives by a damaged fence surrounding a stormwater detention pond along Fourth Street on Friday, June 4, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Can bigger, shinier signs stop crashes at this Everett road?

A reader asks how the city addresses a situation where so many don’t negotiate a curve.

A tractor-trailer drives by a damaged fence surrounding a stormwater detention pond along Fourth Street on Friday, June 4, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A bicycle, a bus, a little sweat: Adventures in driving less

Not everyone was on their best behavior, but a newbie transit rider managed to master the bike rack.

Tim's Bike Shop owner Jay Hiester, right, opens a new bike chain while mechanic Gavin Buchanan, left, looks for tools on Friday, May 21, 2021 in Everett, Wash.

Want to buy a bicycle? Better order now or hope for a used one

Snohomish County's bike shops are running out of stock and supplies to repair and restore old ones.

Tim's Bike Shop owner Jay Hiester, right, opens a new bike chain while mechanic Gavin Buchanan, left, looks for tools on Friday, May 21, 2021 in Everett, Wash.

E-bikes are booming, whether or not we’re ready

Sales have spiked the past several years. In Snohomish County, they’re expected to gain popularity.

Herald Street Smarts columnist Ben Watanabe and Edmonds City Councilman Luke Distelhorst tour planned new bike lanes on Bowdoin Way on Tuesday morning in Edmonds. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Edmonds will add more bike lanes, reduce some street parking

The city will use a $1.85 million grant from Sound Transit to improve bicycle and pedestrian connections.

Herald Street Smarts columnist Ben Watanabe and Edmonds City Councilman Luke Distelhorst tour planned new bike lanes on Bowdoin Way on Tuesday morning in Edmonds. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Bikes Club of Snohomish County on Grand Ave on their way from Everett waterfront to Snohomish Thursday morning on April 29, 2021.
(Kevin Clark / The Herald)

‘Healthy Streets’ not coming back, but Everett plans bike work

Staff review road projects for low-cost way to improve bike infrastructure. Advocates want more.

Bikes Club of Snohomish County on Grand Ave on their way from Everett waterfront to Snohomish Thursday morning on April 29, 2021.
(Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Looking east from the Highway 9 the overpass over U.S. 2 in Snohomish on Tuesday afternoon January 8, 2019. Median barriers are in planning. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

U.S. 2 segment’s median barriers in place, bridge work ahead

The dividers are intended to reduce crashes. Pilchuck River bridge joints, meanwhile, will be replaced.

Looking east from the Highway 9 the overpass over U.S. 2 in Snohomish on Tuesday afternoon January 8, 2019. Median barriers are in planning. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Drivers go around a roundabout at 204th Street NE and 77th Avenue NE on Monday, April 12, 2021 in Arlington, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

As Amazon moves in, Arlington’s roads are already strained

The city and state are spending millions to improve traffic flow with more lanes and roundabouts.

Drivers go around a roundabout at 204th Street NE and 77th Avenue NE on Monday, April 12, 2021 in Arlington, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
The state House transportation budget proposes $15,000,000 to widen state improving Highway 524 between 24th Avenue West in Lynnwood and 9th Avenue SE.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Who wants a wider Highway 524 between Bothell and Lynnwood?

The project list includes expanding the three-mile, two-lane road between Bothell and Lynnwood.

The state House transportation budget proposes $15,000,000 to widen state improving Highway 524 between 24th Avenue West in Lynnwood and 9th Avenue SE.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Ben Watanabe, Street Smarts columnist, is committing to ditching his car as often as possible in 2021. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

My pledge to drive a car less often is on shaky footing

But I finally have a transit fare card, and I worry less about the COVID-19 risk on buses.

Ben Watanabe, Street Smarts columnist, is committing to ditching his car as often as possible in 2021. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)