Two new traffic signals will be activated next week to improve pedestrian safety to and from Shoultes Elementary and Cascade Elementary schools. Specifically, a traffic signal will be activated Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the 136th Street Northeast/51st Avenue Northeast intersection in front of Shoultes Elementary School.

Another signal will be activated Wednesday, Feb.3, at the 100th Street Northeast/51st Street Northeast intersection next to Cascade Elementary School. Staff from Snohomish County and the city of Marysville will be on site to assist pedestrians and drivers with the transition.

"Our children should not have to walk to school in fear of their safety, Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said. These improvements will help keep children out of harms way. The traffic signals are part of the work Snohomish County Public Works has undertaken to improve conditions for pedestrians  including school students  on 51st Avenue Northeast next to the two schools.

Sidewalks, wheelchair ramps and crosswalks were added at all legs of the two intersections. Left turn lanes also have been improved for better flow of traffic. During 2009, the county made similar improvements to the 51st Avenue Northeast intersection at 122nd Street Northeast. For environmental protection, porous asphalt was installed in the middle of 51st Avenue Northeast, north of 136th Street.

The porous asphalt will allow stormwater to drain through the surface of the road, removing pollutants as the water filters through the asphalt and soil. This green building practice eliminated the need for a detention pond and the cost of purchasing extra right-of-way at the intersection. Funding for these improvements was provided through the Enhanced Community Infrastructure Development Initiative (ECIDI). The ECIDI program was developed by Aaron Reardon and added to and approved by the County Council in 2006 to speed up the delivery of 46 projects to neighborhoods throughout the county.

The projects were designed to improve roadways for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers; expand recreational opportunities; improve water quality; restore streams; and reduce flooding. By building sooner, 10 years sooner in some cases, the county has avoided rising costs and saved money. The 136th Street Northeast and 100th Street Northeast intersections are in an area recently annexed by the city of Marysville and will be maintained by the city.

For more information about this project, contact project manager Mo Kashani at 425-388-3488, or access the project Web page at www.snoco.org and search 51st. Questions and comments should be sent to transportation@snoco.org.