Meeting was called to order at 7:05pm. Sultan Police Chief Fred Walser opened with introductions around the room. Chief Walser then summarized for the group how and why the HWY 2 Safety Coalition was formed along with the current misson statement.

Chief Walser began the meeting with the following points:

As a result of group discussion, some key points/concerns raised regarding the "red arrow" were the following:

Group felt that more lanes were needed in order to move traffic and maybe eliminate some accidents – while understanding that this would not be a cure-all. Group raised the question on where the status of the 522 Bypass lays. Mayor Donetta Walser informed the group that while we experience severe traffic congestion on a daily basis, the bottom line is funding. Even if we combined all the Sky Valley cities together it is hardly a dent compared to the

Carolyn Eslick, informed the group that there is a "commuter train" in the works. The goal would be to accommodate the Sky Valley commuters and skiers and alleviate the volume on the roads during peak traffic hours.

Carolyn will bring more information for the next meeting.

Group raised the question on what the economic impact of this traffic has on our community and whether it is possible to even monitor it.

Mayor Donetta Walser reminded the group that not only is the HWY 2 traffic an issue in Monroe but also the traffic resulting from the Prison and Industrial area

Chief Fred Walser read the Press Release submitted by Representative Kirk Pearson’s office outlining the new tax package proposal. (See Attachment "A")

Snohomish County Councilmember John Koster posed to the group how important it is that the Coalition be specific in their requests. He also went on to say that the Coalition would benefit by devising a plan that would resemble selling a "product". In addition, all the local cities would then lobby East County as this "product" for funding. Koster also stated that currently 30% - 40% of funds are used up in environmental litigation.

Doug McCormic, Snohomish County Pubic Works, gave a brief synopses on the projects in Sultan, namely the Sultan Basin Road. (See Attachment "B"). Doug also informed the group that a public meeting is scheduled for March 1^st.

Mayor Donetta Walser informed the group that the mayors from the local cities would begin meeting again on a regular basis.

Chief Fred Walser read the article in the Everett Herald regarding the decision made by the Puget Sound Regional Transit in regards to transportation funds. (See Attachment "C")

Captain Lenz, District Commander - WSP, addressed the group with several issues he sees as priorities;

• Our communities are frustrated from the congestion and the inability to get immediate relief, which then translates, to more accidents.
• This coalition must be a strong force that does not take no for an answer. However, along with being a strong force even with good leadership, Capt. Lenz felt that if DOT is not leading the charge it will be very difficult to get results.
• The reality is that we, in Snohomish County, will have to accommodate 300,000 more residents by 2025.
• Capt. Lenz encouraged the group to pursue funding through traffic safety dollars. Would not hurt to apply again.

Mayor Rowe reiterated the history of HWY 2 and also discussed the issue of truck traffic. He reminded the group that all the trucks that use HWY 2 route translates in economic dollars. He also stated that the largest source of complaints come from commuters.

Chief Fred Walser stated to the group that nothing will get done unless we devise a plan and follow through with it – and - keep the momentum going by continuing to recruit new volunteers. All agreed that unless we feel passionately on this issue we will not get anywhere. We will continue to lobby for changes.

The following are the agreed upon action items:

• Put together a Roster of the Coalition that includes phone numbers and e-mails addresses.
• Identify the "product"; Traffic Safety – or – Capacity
• Start the process in checking into what monies are available under safety grants.
• Start getting the figures together for implementing a "red arrow" for the HWY 2 & Main Street intersection

As per agreement, the Coalition will meet regularly during the legislative session on the last Monday of the Month.

Next meeting set for Monday, February 24^th 7pm. Location Too be announced.

Meeting Adjourned 9:52pm

Sincerely Submitted,

Roxanne Husmann

A plan to ease the constant stop-and-go traffic on I-5 in Everett looks like it will get a $1.3 million boost, but the carpool lane project still needs big-time construction dollars before it can be considered a sure thing.

Based on input from local transportation officials, the Puget Sound Regional Council has recommended spending most of Snohomish County's share of a $12 million federal grant -- $1.9 million -- on improving I-5 in Everett.

The regional council's executive board is currently seeking public input on its plan for the $12 million. It is scheduled to vote on Feb. 27. If approved, the money would be allocated in June.

The regional council's plan also calls for spending $400,000 to help widen 148th Street SW in Lynnwood and $159,000 to plan a traffic signal on U.S. 2 at Fifth Street in Sultan.

"Part of the goal here is to complete some projects and get some things done," said Rick Olson, a spokesman for the regional council.

The Everett I-5 plan is to add carpool lanes in both directions between Highway 526 (the Boeing freeway) and U.S. 2 -- what state officials call one of the most congested sections of freeway in Washington.

The $1.3 million for the carpool lanes will be spent to get the project ready for construction, which won't start until transportation planners figure out how to pay the overall $230 million cost of the project.

Local officials have listed the widening in Everett as one of the county's two top transportation priorities.

"This is an important project for Everett at many different levels," said Wayne Wentz, Everett's traffic engineer. He added that I-5's constant backups during rush hour are hurting the city.

"It's a quality-of-life issue. It affects the desire of people to live and work here in Everett," Wentz said.

The county's other top priority is a long-range plan to widen Highway 9, the north-south corridor east of I-5. The latest plan for funding both projects is to place a bond issue on the ballot in November.

Transportation officials from Snohomish, King and Pierce counties hope to ask voters to approve a Regional Transportation Improvement District bond for $10 billion to $14 billion that aims to tackle the worst traffic problems in the three counties.

Besides adding carpool lanes in Everett, the rest of the $230 million would be spent adding merging lanes on I-5 between 41st Street and U.S. 2 and building a right-hand off ramp at the Broadway exit. The current left-hand exit would be used by carpool traffic.

If funded, the project is scheduled to be finished at the end of 2007.

• Real permit streamlining that would get projects done faster, at less cost and would provide equal or greater environmental protection than currently exists;
• Removing barriers to providing passenger only ferry service;
• Requiring performance audits of the Department of Transportation every 4 years;
• Contracting-out reforms
• Common sense prevailing wage reforms.