MARYSVILLE – A $22 million overpass on Grove Street between State and Cedar was just one of many transportation projects the City Council was updated on Monday.
That bridge is part of the city’s 6-year Transporation Plan.
City engineer Jeff Laycock also talked about an expansion on 88th Street to three lanes instead of five. “Everyone will be able to keep their houses,” he said.
The total amount of spending for the six years of projects is $404 million, which includes $169 million more from the state than last year.
Many of the biggest projects along Interstate 5 involve other agencies. Those include: a complete interchange at 116th; completion of the 88th interchange; a new northbound offramp and southbound onramp at Highway 529; added lanes on the Highway 528 interchange; and the peak use of a new shoulder lane between Everett and here.
Work also will continue on the First Street Bypass and with the widening of lanes from 100th to 116th on State; 172nd; 83rd; 87th; Sunnyside and more.
There will be citywide intersection improvements for traffic safety, along with roundabouts on 172nd; and State fixes from 1st to 88th.
Non-motorized work will be done on the Ebey Waterfront Trail; Grove Street bicycle and pedestrian lanes; a connection to Centennial Trail; and sidewalks near Sunnyside, Marshall, Cascade and Shoultes elementary schools.
City Council Member Michael Stephens noted the large number of projects.
“Before the TBD (Transportation Benefit District) it took a lot longer” to get things done, he said.
In other council news:
•City judges received raises to equal the pay of district court judges because of increased workload. The city’s growth, along with a new part of the job dealing with search warrants, led to the increase. Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima said Marysville police are “prolific” when it comes to search warrants, serving more than much-larger cities like Everett and Lynnwood. The judges have to be available for that “any time of day, intruding on their personal time,” Hirashima said.
•A ballot measure was approved for a 1/10th of 1 percent sales tax to pay for criminal justice. The $750,000 raised would staff four new officers and one sargeant, putting “more officers on the street,” said Gloria Hirashima, chief administrative officer.
•Veronica Love was named Volunteer of the Month for her work on the Marysville Strawberry Festival. A Maryfest board member, she helped bring back the car show back, along with organizing The Market, carnival and being a royalty chaperone. She also is the Kiwanis Club, being involved in the Easter egg hunt, pancake breakfast and fishing derby, along with fundraisers that raise scholarship money for graduates. She also volunteers with the Northwest Organization for Animal Help, a no-kill shelter. “It seems those who volunteer the most get the most fun out of it,” Mayor Jon Nehring said.
•A grant was received to replace police dogs who are old or injured. They will be cross-trained to do both tracking and drug detection.
•A grant was received to build 600 feet of sidewalks near Sunnyside Elementary School, which should allow some students to walk to school. Currently all of its students take buses.
•A parking measure was passed, saying vehicles can only be in the same spot three consecutive days.
•The budget was amended to change jail operations to allow for custody sergeant and corporal positions.
•A grant was received to cap the former Geddes Marina.
