Funding to build Bickford/Weaver traffic light appears promising





SNOHOMISH — The city could score a $733,000 grant to construct a traffic signal, and have other improvements, at Bickford Avenue and Weaver Road.
The project scored well in a 2019 funding criteria list by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), according
to Councilwoman Karen Guzak.
The intersection currently has traffic on Weaver turning onto Bickford.
Weaver Way, where the Bicycle Tree subdivision was built, is across from Weaver Road.
Two new housing centers are under construction along Weaver Road, one of which is a 100-unit senior housing apartment complex.
In 2017, the city won a $216,250 grant from the PSRC toward designing the intersection. The city believes design work should wrap up next year.
The city has no money in hand to construct the intersection, according to a February city road projects report.
The PSRC acts as a regional administrator for federal transportation dollars for large and small projects. The grant would come from the PSRC’s Rural Town Centers and Corridors grant program, and final project selections will be made this fall.
PSRC notes Snohomish “has received over $562,000 in funding for three projects in its town center” since 2005 when the program started. These awards were for design work for the Second and Lincoln Avenue traffic signal, installed in 2014; and funding for construction and design work to add more turn lanes on 56th Street SE (Johnny Jump Road) where it intersects state Route 9,  according to PSRC data.