Roads & Transportation

Fixing our transportation problems is one of our greatest challenges. Having a transportation system that works requires a balance between roads, transit, walking, and bikes.

We need to find ways to use the dollars we have more effectively to reduce traffic congestion. Dave has been a leader in finding cost effective solutions. Sometimes the dollars aren’t there to improve an entire road. Dave’s worked with the Public Works Department to identify specific intersection improvements which will increase safety and reduce traffic backups while allowing us to stretch limited tax dollars.

Another way to speed up transportation projects is to use low interest rates to build roads now instead of years in the future. Dave has been a champion of this idea. Design work is being done on North Road improvements right now and the final project will be done a decade earlier thanks to this strategy. Dave’s innovative ideas have made tens of millions of dollars available for projects without increasing taxes.

Dave has been a strong advocate of more walkways and including bike lanes in major arterial improvements. As Vice Chair of the Community Transit Board he has worked hard to increase transit.

Some of the key projects Dave has worked for:

Road projects:

* 132nd St SE: A crucial east-west connector
* 35th Ave SE between 120th Pl and Seattle Hill Road: Another segment of this vital north-south corridor completed
* Intersection improvements at 180th and 35th: These improvements will significantly increase traffic flow
* Intersection improvements at 35th and Seattle Hill Road: Also increasing traffic flow these improvements will be complete in 2009 or early 2010.
* SR 524: Completion of the first phase of this project connecting Thrasher’s Corner and Lynnwood
* North Road: This vital north-south connector was scheduled to be completed sometime before 2025. Dave’s efforts moved it up so that design work is beginning now with construction to begin in 2012.

Walkways for pedestrian safety:

* Eastshore Drive between 155th St SE/SW and 2nd Ave W
* Cascadian Way between 164th St SW and Meridian Ave (construction begins in 2009)
* Lockwood Road between Locust Way and Carter Road (construction begins in 2009)
* 45th Ave walkway between 240th St SE and 228th (construction in 2010)
* Meadow Road between 164th St SW and Meridian Ave (construction in 2011)
* Larch Way between SR 524 and 180th SW (construction in 2011)

* Total cost for these projects is over $20,000,000

Improved transit services:

As a member and Vice Chair of the Community Transit Board Dave has worked for better and increased transit. Over 30,000 hours of bus service have been added. The Mountlake Terrace Transit Center has been opened. And before the end of 2009 Swift Bus Rapid Transit service will begin on Highway 99.