Project Update FAQ

At the March 4th, 2025, City Council meeting, Public Works and the project consultant presented the results of their study to turn 116th and 117th Avenue NE into a one-way couplet, with a protected pedestrian path. There have been questions, and we hope this FAQ addresses those. If you have follow-up questions, contact Ben Romanaggi, the project manager. The City will host an Open House and will announce the date soon. We hope to hear from as many residents as possible. The Open House will be followed by a pilot project, implementing the couplet for one month.

• Will mailboxes be moved?
  • Mailboxes will need to be moved to one side. Similar location is Hartford Road, which has a slightly smaller daily traffic than both roads.
  • In the protected pedestrian path, there will be spaces for a mail truck to pass through the delineators/armadillos/similar elements, to enter the pedestrian area. The mail truck can then stop in the pedestrian area temporarily, with normal traffic in the vehicle lane.
• How will garbage vehicles get through?
  • Garbage cans will be moved to one side of the street, different for both 116th and 117th.
  • Flyers will be taped to each bin for furter direction.
  • In the protected pedestrian path, there may spaces for a vehicle to pass through the delineators/similar elements and pass a garbage truck. Additionally there are multiple side streets that the trucks pass into, giving a chance to pass.
• How will I get my RVs/trailers/boats into my driveway?
  • The delineators/similar elements will be placed a distance away from driveways, giving room to turn and back up.
  • They will be spaced 10', giving room for vehicles to turn into them.
  • Existing parking for some RVs/trucks/vehicles is in the right-of-way (ROW) for possible sidewalks and could not be parked at the property.
• How much will this cost? Why not put in sidewalks instead?
  • The approximate costs of the Lake Stevens standard sidewalk on one half of 117th Avenue NE from 20th Street NE to 26th Street NE, would be close to $2.3 million. This includes a landscape strip, storm sewer replacement, and increased ROW costs.
  • 116th Avenue NE will not have a sidewalk for at least ten to fifteen years, as there are higher priority sidewalks through the city to be constructed. Cost will be similar to 117th Avenue NE.
  • The maximum cost for the one-way couplet on both 116th/117th Avenue NE is $450,000, including signage, landscaping, traffic elements, and engineering studies to monitor the performance.
• Will this affect vehicles speeds?
  • We anticipate a speed reduction with the reduced travel width for vehicles, a narrower roadway usually results in lower speeds. Generally, drivers will reduce speeds in the presence of pedestrians. We anticipate an increase in pedestrians with a more comfortable pedestrian environment.
• Will this affect my property values?
  • The following aspects are planned that can increase property values.
  • Decreasing traffic speeds will increase property values.
  • Increasing pedestrian access will increase property values.
  • Additional landscaping will increase property values.
• How will pedestrians be protected?
  * One possible element would be armadillos, as seen in another pilot project in the image below. Made of durable plastic, a slow moving vehicle can navigate around, but provide a barrier to fast moving vehicles.