Help for Highway 2

Gov. Christine Gregoire's visit to a busy and lethal stretch of roadway in southeast Snohomish County is a good sign that help is coming for deadly Highway 2.

Without high-profile attention, the 47 miles between Monroe and Stevens Pass will not generate the political dynamic necessary to ensure good intentions are acted upon. Having the governor as an advocate for Highway 2 in Olympia is a key to finding the money for this neglected and dangerous roadway. The governor was joined Tuesday by state legislators from the 39th District, Snohomish County officials and local dignitaries, including Monroe Mayor Donnetta Walser.

Another vital element in the pursuit of improvements is a blueprint for how the job can be done right. After nearly two years of study, the state Department of Transportation has produced a list of 56 projects along the corridor. The plan was developed and endorsed by local jurisdictions.

Even with a focused engineering vision and political support, the missing ingredient is money. A round number for doing all the identified improvements starts at a billion dollars, with a time horizon that goes out to 2030.

The first project to be started next year with $731,000 from the state Legislature is installation of rumble strips between highway lanes from Monroe to Stevens Pass. Guardrail installations at selected sites are planned next year as well.

Jolting drivers awake and back into their travel lanes is a modest, almost desperate beginning. Highway 2 is narrow, dark, without shoulders or turning lanes and intersected by crossroads. Add in 15 years of dramatic population growth, and the urgency is obvious.

For a decade, the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition (formerly the Highway 2 Traffic Safety Coalition) has worked hard to bring attention to the dangers. This community effort poked and prodded to find money and support for the highway study.

Now the focus is the list of priority projects.

With a working blueprint in hand, Gregoire can help shake the money trees in Olympia and the other Washington.