| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 1:25 pm |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
|||||||||
U.S. 2 safety bill dies in Legislature The leader of the House Transportation panel says something will be done for the dangerous roadway this session. OLYMPIA -- Republican-drafted legislation to make U.S. 2 safer died Friday, but a key Democrat vowed the effort to improve safety on the highway is not dead."We are going to do something on Highway 2 this session in our budget," said Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, who as chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee will write the spending plan. She said her staff is examining details and costs of five potential projects. She said she wanted to discuss them with the Department of Transportation and the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition before going public. A transportation budget is due out later this month with the session slated to end March 13. "We're right in the middle of doing something for Highway 2," Clibborn said. "It's not exactly ready for prime time," Her comments came shortly after Friday's committee session in which Republican members walked out when she denied them a vote on bills aimed at funding improvements on the highway where 47 people have died in accidents since 1999. Friday was the legislative deadline to pass the bills out of the committee to keep them alive this session. Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, sponsored the three pieces of legislation in dispute. They would have created a new fund to pay for projects on designated safety corridors and fill the account with money diverted from existing pots of state revenue. Kristiansen made the motion for a vote that failed. Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, the panel's ranking Republican member, questioned Clibborn about her decision. GOP members then left the meeting. Kristiansen said he felt he needed to press the issue. "I had to try to keep the policy alive, especially since there has been no word from anybody that we are going to do something specifically," he said. When told Clibborn said she would deal with U.S. 2 in the transportation budget, he said, "We have not gotten any input on this thing. We had been told, in good faith, something is being worked on. I would love to be part of the process, and I'm not getting that opportunity." Clibborn did hold a hearing on Kristiansen's bills Jan. 31. "We all heard the testimony. There wasn't anyone who heard the testimony that wasn't moved," she said. Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com. |
- A Dick's Drive-In for south Snohomish County?
- Suspect arrested in Everett manhunt after shots fired at officer
- Reardon makes pitch for Dick's Drive-In
- Man claims self-defense in killing
- A stroke of kindness for Everett woman
- Bus driver avoids I-5 tragedy in harrowing south Everett collision
- Boeing won't buy supplier
- Edmonds teen missing since Thursday
- More public housing smoking bans possible
- Charges for alleged robbery at Alderwood mall
- A Dick's Drive-In for south Snohomish County?
(54) - More public housing smoking bans possible (50)
- Mukilteo's red-light camera fight on radar of others (26)
- Income-tax initiative's math adds up (11)
- Report on Granite Falls police chief fills 5 binders (11)
- Crash leaves car embedded in Everett Transit bus (9)
- Suspect arrested in Everett after chase that shut down I-5 (9)
- Judge rules against Trafton supporters (9)
- ACLU opposes student cell phone search (9)
- Man accused of shooting at police had allegedly bought drugs (8)
- Prep football: Picks of the week
- Sixth Annual Puget Sound Bird Fest
- PTSD: The battle after the war
- Jackson relying on new faces
- Edmonds Center for the Arts announces new season
- Stevens Hospital District taxes to stay
- Mountlake Terrace seeks more success seeking more success
- Hootenanny hosts singer/songwriters
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|