This was one of seven traffic signals along Aurora Avenue that the city of Shoreline synchronized in 2003 with a King County grant.
Six cities will receive more than $244,000 to synchronize a total of 61 traffic signals in their jurisdictions thanks to a grant from King County Metro Transit. This year's grants will go to the cities of Seattle, Kirkland, Issaquah, Shoreline, Federal Way and Bothell.
In the past four years, King County has awarded $1.47 million to cities across the county to re-time approximately 300 traffic signals. Funding for the synchronization grants was made possible in November 2000 when voters approved the .2 percent sales tax that restored much of the funding for Metro Transit bus service following the loss of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax. This will be the last year for the four-year grant project.
“Sitting in traffic does nothing to improve the quality of life for anyone,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “The success of this program over the past few years demonstrates that when we work together to pool funding and knowledge, we can deliver projects that make a real difference in our daily lives.”
Results from projects completed in 2003 shows that signal synchronization does make a difference.
The city of Renton received a grant in 2003 to re-time 16 signals in the corridor that travels east from the city center along Northeast 3rd, Northeast 4th and Southeast 128th Streets. The before-and-after results indicate overall travel time improved between 26 to 30 percent faster.
Grants and projects for 2004 include:
• 10 signals along Seattle's Northwest Market Street corridor from 24th Avenue Northwest to Third Avenue Northwest;
• 24 signals along Greenwood/North 85th from North 65 th to North 145 th in Seattle;
• 3 signals in Shoreline on Northeast 175th Street from Meridian Avenue North to 15th Avenue Northeast;
• 3 signals in Bothell on 195th Street Northeast from North Creek Parkway to 120th Avenue Northeast;
• 6 signals along Northeast 85th Street in Kirkland from 114 th Avenue Northeast to 132nd Avenue Northeast;
• 6 signals in Federal Way on 21st Avenue Southwest between Southwest 336th Street and Southwest 312th Street; and
• 9 signals on East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast in Issaquah between Southeast 43rd Street and Gilman Boulevard.
For more information about the program and the projects funded over the past four years, visit the signal synchronization website.
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The King County Road Services Division is warning wrong-way drivers near the Vashon Ferry Terminal that they are endangering lives, and could also receive a heavy fine for their risky behavior.
Traffic engineers have noticed a recent increase in motorists crossing the double-yellow center line divider on Vashon Highway Southwest and driving on the wrong side of the road to reach the Vashon Ferry Terminal to pick up and drop off passengers, or do other business.
Driving on the wrong side of the road under any circumstances is illegal and a dangerous move. The fine for driving on the wrong side of the road is $101, and a possible head-on collision resulting from this action could have far-reaching tragic results.
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Metro is working closely with Sound Transit and the city of Seattle to help keep people, traffic and transit moving through downtown during this project. There is a lot of advance planning now underway, and transit passengers may notice some changes beginning this spring and summer as Metro installs new bus shelters and makes other changes downtown.
There is a great deal to be done before the tunnel closes, and the three partners will work together to inform the public, the businesses, and property owners in advance of key projects, adjustments in transit service, or other changes.
In the television industry, February is an important “sweeps” period when viewership is measured. So, the crew at “Inside Transportation” has some hot stories for this month's show to snag all those public access channel clickers.
Tune in at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays or 5 a.m. on Wednesdays on
King County Civic Television to learn the latest about: the Eastgate Park and Ride garage; hard-working Roads crews; the vintage years at Boeing Field; and the best of KCDOT in 2003.
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Here is a list of King County Department of Transportation projects that may disrupt traffic and travel this week:
South 277th Street, between Auburn and Kent – There will be no lane closures, but there will be traffic disruptions on this road between the West Valley Highway and 72nd Avenue South through October 2005.
Northeast 124th Street, north of Redmond -
Work continues through October 2004 on this project between Willows Road and State Route 202.
124th Avenue NE, in Kingsgate -
Private utility relocation is underway now to be followed by street improvements along 124th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 132nd Street and Northeast 146th Place.
Southeast Courtney Road, near Kanasket -
There will be some traffic disruptions west of Southeast 311th through Friday, February 27th while crews install a new culvert.
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DOT Dash