Date:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Contact:
Contacts: Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4704 (Seattle)
Angie Ward, WTSC Safety Corridor Program Manager, 360-753-0877 (Olympia)
SULTAN – State and local officials gathered with community members this morning in Sultan to unveil new signs designating US 2 a traffic safety corridor.
“We are eager to move forward with the community to see some real changes take place on US 2,” said WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond. “This is an important first step.”
Secretary Hammond joined House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Judy Clibborn, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, and Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director Steve Lind to discuss the safety corridor program and what’s planned for US 2.
“The goal of the program is to reduce traffic deaths and injuries through a combination of low-cost, near-term engineering improvements, targeted enforcement patrols and public education campaigns,” said Lind. “We have seen excellent results in corridors around the state and we hope to see the same on US 2.”
Governor Chris Gregoire declared US 2 from Everett to Stevens Pass a traffic safety corridor on Oct. 8, 2007. The safety corridor program aims to reduce collisions on roadways with significant safety needs through partnerships with community groups, businesses, engineering, enforcement, education and emergency services organizations. The program is locally led and coordinated in each community.
Some steps have already been taken since the Governor’s announcement last fall, including a project to reduce crossover collisions on the highway. This summer WSDOT will install over 40 miles of rumble strips and high-visibility, long-wear striping along US 2 between Monroe and Stevens Pass.
“We know that centerline rumble strips help reduce crossovers,” explained Hammond. “Since we installed centerline rumble strips on US 2 west of Monroe in 2004, we have seen about a 40 percent reduction in crossovers collisions.”
In addition, the state legislature recently approved an additional $10 million to fund safety projects on US 2 between Monroe and Gold Bar. Rep. Clibborn said that she was moved by the US 2 bus tour the transportation committee took last summer and by testimony they heard during the legislative session.
"It was evident that we had to do something, even if it was small start," said Rep. Clibborn. "This is a great first step on the road to a safer Highway 2."
In addition to engineering improvements, WSP has already shifted resources to provide additional troopers and emphasis patrols on US 2 targeting violations such as drunk driving and speeding.
“We’re out there watching for those dangerous behaviors that lead to serious crashes,” said Batiste. “We want drivers to take responsibility for their own actions and for keeping everyone safe on this highway.”
State officials were joined by two community members who have been directly affected by collisions on US 2: Amber Carpenter, a Monroe High School student who was involved in a collision with her family, and Tom Cock, whose son died in a collision near Gold Bar in December. Carpenter and Cock helped unveil the new corridor signs that will be installed on the highway later this month.
Drivers and residents interested in improving safety on US 2 are invited to the public kickoff meeting on Tuesday, March 25 at 2 p.m. at the Monroe Public Library. For more information, visit the US 2 Traffic Safety Corridor Web page: http://www.us2drivesafe.org/.
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