In 2025, Snohomish County and surrounding areas saw significant strides in transportation infrastructure amid ongoing funding challenges. Below are some of the highlights of 2025 regarding major transportation stories.
Port of Everett’s New Marina Fuel Dock Now Open
The Port of Everett’s new 500-foot Marina Fuel Dock, costing $8.1 million, is now open after replacing the aging facility. It features two additional fuel nozzles, an ultra-high flow station, a fuel attendant building, concessions, ice sales, a restroom, and a commercial pumpout station—one of the few public ones in Puget Sound.
Funded partly by a $5.3 million DoD grant, it supports recreational and commercial boaters, plus U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, local police, fire, sheriff, and tribal partners.
Rebuilt east of the original site to handle strong currents and low tides, the project includes new 30,000-gallon fuel tanks and was completed in phases from 2023 to 2024. A dedication ceremony was held on June 12. The former dock will become guest moorage. This upgrade is part of over $165 million invested in marina improvements over 20 years.
Lynnwood cuts ribbon on College Place Improvement Project; a safer route to schools
The City of Lynnwood completed its College Place Improvement Project, eliminating the last gravel road in the city with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Christine Frizzell.
The project enhances safety for drivers, pedestrians, and students near College Place Elementary and middle schools by installing new pavement, curb and gutters, sidewalks, ADA-accessible ramps, extended stormwater infrastructure, a traffic light at 76th Avenue West and 204th Street Southwest, and rapid rectangular flashing beacons.
A new driveway access streamlines school drop-off and pick-up, reducing congestion. Initiated in 2019 by residents Emily and Scott Cornish due to safety concerns like collisions and lack of sidewalks, the project began design in January 2022 and construction in April 2024, costing over $3.4 million. Funding came from a WSDOT Safer Routes to Schools grant, ARPA dollars, and transportation benefit district funds.
The effort involved collaboration with the Edmonds School District, City of Edmonds, and others, addressing community feedback for safer access.
Everett, Mill Creek, and Mukilteo to receive $3.3 million for safer roadways
Senator Maria Cantwell announced that Everett, Mill Creek, and Mukilteo will receive $3.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to enhance roadway safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Washington state has received $88.8 million for 78 projects through this program since its inception.
Everett will get $1.2 million for the Advancing Multimodal Safety through Planning and Innovation Project, which includes updating an Active Transportation Plan, preparing an Evergreen Way corridor safety plan, and piloting Intelligent Transportation Systems with AI video detection and signal controllers.
Mill Creek will receive $1.8 million for Prioritizing Vulnerable Roadway Users, funding demonstration activities like quick-build protected bike lanes and enhanced crossings, a 35th Avenue corridor study, Safe Routes to School plans, a lighting assessment, and an education campaign, with before-and-after evaluations.
Mukilteo will receive $300,000 to develop a citywide Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, including crash analysis, public engagement, prioritized safety countermeasures, and an implementation-ready plan to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
Cantwell authored the program, which is part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding over 1,600 transportation projects in the state.
TIB awards $152 million in grants, Rep Fey shares a sobering assessment of transportation finances
The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) awarded 160 grants totaling $152 million for street and multi-modal improvements at its November 21 meeting in Everett, selected from 330 applications requesting over $335 million.
Snohomish County received 19 projects worth $22.6 million. Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), House Transportation Committee Chair, highlighted fiscal challenges, noting the recent revenue package only restored 2022 investment levels amid rising costs and constrained borrowing. He warned of declining gas tax revenues due to fuel-efficient vehicles, proposed exploring Virginia’s mileage-based fee model, and urged prioritizing preservation over expansion for the 2026 session, including potential slowdowns to manage bids and costs.
TIB funds, from a three-cent gas tax, support local projects statewide.
County cuts ribbon on 36th/35th avenue Corridor Improvement Project
The Snohomish County Public Works Department celebrated the completion of the 36th/35th Avenue West Improvement Project in Lynnwood on September 9, after 13 years of planning and 18 months of construction. The mile-long corridor, spanning county and city limits, now features sidewalks, bike lanes, curbs, gutters, a retention pond, new paving, and upgraded stormwater systems, enhancing safety and mobility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians from 164th Street Southwest to State Route 99.
Previously, the road had single lanes, traffic backups from left turns, and no sidewalks. Funded by $11.7 million from grants, mitigation fees, and taxes, the project connects to Lynnwood’s 2020 improvements.
Speakers at the ribbon-cutting, including Public Works Director Kelly Snyder and state officials, praised the enhancements for growing communities.
Florida company selected to build hybrid-electric ferries for WSF, sparking local job concerns
Washington State selected Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three hybrid-electric ferries for Washington State Ferries at $714.5 million, prioritizing cost savings but raising concerns over bypassed local shipbuilders like Nichols Brothers of Whidbey Island.
Governor Bob Ferguson announced the contract, the first competitive bid in over 25 years, with Eastern’s bid 6% below estimates. Supporters emphasize fiscal responsibility amid budget constraints, while critics, including Port of Everett CEO Lisa Lefeber and Rep. Andrew Barkis, highlight lost jobs and lack of transparency.
The project supports WSF’s electrification program, funded partly by state packages, as services expand and vessels like Wenatchee resume.
County cuts ribbon on Swamp Creek Bridge
Snohomish County Public Works held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 12, 2025, for the new Swamp Creek Bridge 503 in unincorporated land between Brier and Bothell. The bridge, replacing a 1960 structure, widens lanes, adds sidewalks, removes weight restrictions, and improves environmental features like stream habitat by eliminating in-water supports and adding woody debris. It accommodates about 10,000 daily commuters.
Key figures at the event included Representative Davina Duerr, Executive Dave Somers, and Public Works Director Kelly Snyder. The $5.7 million project, funded by federal, state, and local sources, began in 2018 and concluded construction in November 2025. It is part of broader infrastructure improvements, including nearby Larch Way enhancements, emphasizing multi-modal safety and environmental stewardship.
Construction bids for Poplar Way Bridge over I-5
The City of Lynnwood has opened bidding for the construction of the Poplar Way Extension Bridge, a six-lane multimodal crossing over Interstate 5. Proposals were due by December 9, 2025, with an estimated cost of $38-43 million and a 470-day completion timeline.
The bridge will handle about 30,000 vehicles daily, reducing congestion on the Alderwood Mall Parkway bridge by 37%. It includes pedestrian features like protected sidewalks and a shared-use path, plus a new tunnel for the Interurban Trail.
The project scope covers site clearing, bridge construction, utility upgrades, and traffic management. Funded by a $25 million federal RAISE grant, state funds, and city contributions, it is part of the Connecting Lynnwood Project, with design and right-of-way acquisition complete.
Snohomish County celebrates replacement of Jordan Creek Bridge
Snohomish County Public Works celebrated the replacement of Jordan Creek Bridge 214 on Jordan Road between Arlington and Granite Falls with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 21, 2025.
The new 120-foot concrete girder bridge features two 11-foot lanes, six-foot shoulders, and restored two-lane access for motorists, commercial vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Construction began in late April, with the bridge currently in one-lane configuration and full completion expected by early November. The $8 million project, funded by a federal grant, replaced an aging timber bridge with weight restrictions since June 2019.
County Engineer Doug McCormick noted enhancements for fish, wildlife, and modern traffic needs.
Larsen secures more than $50 million for local transit agencies
The Federal Transit Administration awarded over $50 million in grants to four Northwest Washington transit agencies—Everett Transit ($10.07 million for hybrid buses), Skagit Transit ($9.37 million for paratransit vehicles and coaches), Community Transit ($13.99 million for hybrid buses), and Whatcom Transportation Authority ($16.72 million for hybrid buses)—to transition to low-emission vehicles, improve service reliability, and enhance paratransit services.
Rep. Rick Larsen credited the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for funding these initiatives, which aim to reduce carbon emissions and maintenance costs while ensuring accessible transportation.
Local agency leaders praised the funding for supporting safer, cleaner, and more reliable transit, boosting regional connectivity and economic growth.
Seattle’s SEATAC airport one of 40 airports nationally that reduced flights amid gov. shut down
Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEATAC) was one of 40 U.S. airports who implemented a 10% flight reduction beginning on November 7, 2025, due to air traffic control safety concerns amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the cuts, citing pressure on understaffed controllers working without pay since October 1, 2025, over unresolved 2026 funding disputes. The FAA reported shortages, mandatory overtime, and increased call-outs caused delays.
Sound Transit board approves property tax increase, cost overruns up to $34.5 billion
The Sound Transit Board of Directors approved a 1% property tax increase for 2026, raising revenue from $176.2 million in 2025 to $183 million, a 3.8% increase. This is authorized under the 2016 ST3 ballot measure without voter approval.
The levy rate is set at 16 cents per $1,000, with costs of $220 annually for average King County homeowners, $140 for Pierce County, and $187 for Snohomish County. The agency faces up to $34.5 billion in cost overruns for Sound Transit 3 expansion projects, up from a prior $30 billion estimate. The increase addresses funding shortfalls to maintain light-rail project schedules.
The 2026 budget is $3.3 billion, with taxes comprising 75% of revenue and $1.9 billion allocated to expansions. Service hours will rise 29%, and additional funding is needed for security during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle.
Rejecting the increase would cut projected revenue by $47 million through 2046.
Mariner’s playoff parking surge leads to dozens towed with no plans of adding additional parking
Sound Transit has no plans to add parking at Lynnwood’s City Center light rail station after a parking surge caused by a Mariners playoff game on October 15, 2025.
The surge led to 45 vehicles being towed from private property, costing owners up to $600.
Sound Transit cited the abnormal volume, zoning restrictions, and alternatives like Ash Way and Swamp Creek park-n-rides, or Mountlake Terrace station. Community Transit offers frequent bus services, including Swift lines, from these lots, though late-night service ends at 1 a.m. The city is exploring better signage and potential paid parking under special permits.
The incident stemmed from the 1,900-space garage filling up, prompting fans to park on a future development site, Northline Village, where towing was enforced by Mary’s Towing.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
