Date:
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Contact:
Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4704
EVERETT - On Monday, Oct. 8, Governor Chris Gregoire announced the designation of US 2 as a safety corridor, and provided details on efforts by the Washington State Patrol and WSDOT to enhance safety on US 2.
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission, in cooperation with WSDOT and WSP, designates highways as safety corridors at the request of local communities with the goal of reducing fatal and disabling collisions on roadways with significant safety needs. The safety corridor designation makes the highway eligible for grants to provide targeted education, engineering and enforcement efforts. The safety corridor also constitutes a partnership between local government and the state.
Starting immediately, WSP will prioritize resources, such as motorcycle troopers and the nighttime enforcement team, to assist with additional enforcement. WSP detachments from Monroe will also perform targeted patrols, focusing on the violations that cause the most serious collisions, such as drunk driving and speeding.
WSDOT engineers are currently designing a $3.9 million project to install over 40 miles of rumble strips and high-visibility, long-wear striping along the US 2 between Monroe and Stevens Pass. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2008.
Governor Gregoire was joined by Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director Lowell Porter, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond, Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Sommers, and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon at Monday's event.
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