This morning I heard a brief blurb about this weekend’s traffic. It’s going to be lovely, and there are some great events like Folklife going on (besides Folklife, my favorite so far is Tankfest in Everett at Paine Field.
Everyone will be on the roads!
Expect horrible traffic throughout the Puget Sound region, and plan extra time to get to whatever adventure you’ll be taking.
Looking for something to do (besides one the two above)? Here’s a few lists of events and activities out there.
This has been hinted at for years, and then boldly stated (“Paine Field wins FAA’s approval for commercial airline flights” from 2012 and “Snohomish County OKs plan for commercial passenger terminal at Paine Field” more recently, in 2015)…at least that this was a plan. But, aside from Mukilteo’s battles, we seem to be moving this way. It’s definitely happening, and there’s a timeline: flights starting fall of 2018. The likelihood that this will be stopped is quite small (though Mukilteo hasn’t fully given up the fight yet), though I’m hardly an attorney. Delayed: sure. Stopped: hard to picture that happening.
Anyway, I see this as a mixed thing. I’d much rather travel out of Paine Field than driving down to Seatac. I’ve sworn on a few occasions that the next time I fly, I’ll travel out of Bellingham. But I haven’t yet. So, convenience is nice. And bringing in air service opens up events and conventions to the county, through Everett and Lynnwood. It also opens up the south Snohomish County region to businesses that depend on access to airports. At least a little.
I expect that service will start small and light, slowly expanding their operations. I believe the negotiations that have established a 22 flight max and the near normal business hours as sincere, but there will be pressure to increase capacity…and probably as soon as flights start. Especially since Seatac seems to be pretty near capacity and demand is still increasing.
This will bring more traffic to the area. And then there’s the aircraft noise. I’m glad Mukilteo is working with the entities at play to mitigate as much as we can. However, it will come. It will come. I’m also glad that we’re looking at significant infrastructure upgrades to the area (check out the Harbour Reach Corridor Project, for one).
It is interesting that this is just two weeks after a plane crash in the neighborhood. From a PR perspective, it’s a good thing this media cycle played out as it did. Well, for the proponents of this it is.
I’ve always tried to focus on the practical, the effective. It looks like we need to adapt to the new reality. As I see Snohomish County growing more urbanized over the next few years. This is the reality I’m referring to. My little piece of suburbia is moving away from a semi-rural feel to a far more urban structure. And this will fuel it.
SDOT advises travelers that on Monday, May 1, a number of demonstrations and rallies are expected to significantly impact traffic around the city throughout the day. Please plan ahead for delays due to larger than normal crowds along demonstration…
You know that little rest area on I5 south, right by the truck scales south of Everett Mall? If you don’t, well, fret not…I know many people who’ve lived here their whole lives who are oblivious to it’s existence. I’ve stopped there a handful of times. But, since most of my driving in this area is commuting, I usually don’t have need.
Anyway, it’s good that it’s there, and I’m glad the state is keeping it up.
Southbound Interstate 5 travelers should plan ahead if they wish to use the rest area between Marysville and Olympia.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close the southbound I-5 Silver Lake rest area just south of Everett from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 26, for maintenance work to the area’s RV dump station. This closure may roll over to the next day if work cannot be completed in the scheduled time.
Other rest areas
Drivers have other rest areas on southbound I-5 to choose from, including:
The Smokey Point rest area is located 19.5 miles south of Mount Vernon and offers restrooms, telephones, drinking water, vending machines, visitor information, RV dump station and picnic areas.
The Maytown rest area is located approximately 12 miles south of Olympia. Services include restrooms, telephones, drinking water, vending machines, visitor information, and picnic areas.
I live really close by and am <sarcasm>delighted at the added fun. </sarcasm> Oh well….be advised and forewarned.
Water Main Break on 64th Ave W Causes Extended Road Closure Lynnwood Utility Crews will begin repair work Friday morning
LYNNWOOD, WA (April 28, 2016) – Early This morning, a private contractor inadvertently hit a water main on 64th Ave W, just south of 196th St SW. The water main break caused several blocks of 64th Ave W to flood. Lynnwood Utility Crews responded and were able to successfully repair the pipe, however there was damage done to the road surface. 64th Ave W between 196th St SW to the 19800 block will remained closed until 7:30am on Friday, April 29th. Local and emergency access is available.
On Friday, April 29th beginning at 7:30am, Lynnwood crews will remove the damaged pavement and begin repair work. During this time one lane of southbound traffic on 64th Ave W will be open to accommodate business access. Please make plans to avoid 64th Ave W at this location if possible.
I watched a video about the rail link and it’s plan to make it up here. (Check out the site and video here) It’s very promising. I love the idea of a 28 minute trip to downtown Seattle where I don’t have any concerns about parking. I love this future. Especially since I really don’t see leaving South Snohomish county. Ever. Well, vacations and such, but I live living here, my family is here, friends, etc. Hard to conceive of living anywhere else.
That really amuses me. When I joined the Navy all those decades ago, my goal was to get as far away as possible. And returning was not on my mind. The Navy brought me back, to Subbase Bangor, and I’ve remained in western Washington since.
Post Navy, I lived for about 10 years in downtown Seattle. Then in Bothell, then Edmonds and now Lynnwood. I’m a few hundred feet from my parents house. Now. I love it. My son goes to my old middle school, a few staffers are connected to my history. My connection to this place is pretty deep and pretty rich.
Back a decade or two ago, my fellow citizens failed as a progressive, proactive community and we didn’t pass a pretty aggressive transportation package. That one had aggressive rail deployment. We choked on the price tag and we fell behind our issues. I’m pleased to see the way they’re using light rail, getting the trolleys out of the traffic flow. To some degree.
I’m afraid heavy traffic is here to stay. These solutions can really make a dent in that. But only some. I wonder, hope that the next time we have the opportunity to proactively tackle these issues, we have enough foresight to mice forward. Being ahead is immensely preferable to behind.
If you’re planning on using 68th right by Edmonds Community College, you’ll want to be prepared for this.
Lift Station and Force Main 16 Project
Upcoming Road Closure – 68th Ave West
The contractor for the Lift Station and Force Main 16 project intends to begin extending the sewer force main on 68th Ave W, just north of the new round-a-bout in front of Edmonds Community College. This will require road closures on 68th Avenue West during working hours from Saturday, February 13, 2016 – Monday, February 15, 2016. Detours will be set up and local access will be permitted. Work will continue north until 202nd St SW at which time the contractor will head east down 202nd Street SW towards Hwy 99.
Please note there will be delays and detours due to this work.
The WSDOT has some great resources for those heading up to the slopes. Check out the Mountain Pass website before you leave home. You’ll see current conditions and key details like whether you need chains or all-wheel drive. They also have a whole Winter Driving section, making your life easier and less dramatic. With that, I’d recommend you pack and keep a winter kit in your car. Well, at least until March.
Brown Jeep Cherokee, newer model. Blasted through the center turn lane, past by all the cars waiting for the school bus. You know, the one with the red blinking lights. They’re on for a reason. Punk!
I tried to get his license, but was too slow. My deepest hope is for karma to body slam him.
The anger I feel is quite intense. People, like this young man, who callously risk lives, especially the lives of children, both raise my ire and disgust. Yeah, at moments like this I want this traffic offense to be raised to felony status.
And, with that, I will leave you, dearest readers.
Over the past few weeks, major construction projects have started which will significantly impact Lynnwood. In particular, there are three large multi-family projects in process. 1) The CityCenter apartments on 196th & 36th, right across from the Convention Center, 2) the Lynnwood CityCenter Senior Living Apartments just north of 196th on 40th, 3) Lynnwood Place, next to where the new Costco is going and the 4), another round of apartments across Alderwood Mall Boulevard from the Alderwood Fred Meyer. Lots of construction, lots of new people, and with that, cars. This is the most concerning piece. Traffic around Lynnwood will be getting dramatically heavier over the next few months.
In most respects, I think the coming changes are positive. I like the mixed-use design that’s been incorporate and am looking forward to seeing the new businesses that rise up to support our new neighbors. But there are some costs, and it’s best to be prepared.
What do you think? Are there issues I’m missing? Let me know!
