Arlington planning for Smokey Point Blvd. corridor

'Online open house' currently available for community members to provide feedback during the planning

With expected growth in businesses and housing in Smokey Point, Arlington officials hope to make Smokey Point Boulevard a neighborhood corridor for the area.

An ‘online open house’ is being held at smokeypoint.participate.online so that community members can provide their feedback during the first phase of planning.

That site will be open until Nov. 30 for public feedback.

On the south end Smokey Point Boulevard is a four-lane corridor.

“Then it becomes a little two-lane rural type road without a lot of pedestrian or cycling access,” said Jim Kelly, director of public works at the city of Arlington.

The city of Arlington received a grant from the Puget Sound Regional Council to begin design and planning work around the area.

“They recognized Arlington was growing and that our need to provide a safe multi-modal corridor was important,” said Kelly.

City officials hope to make the area more walkable and amenable for all types of transportation, instead of just cars.

They are also working on zoning changes to bring more businesses and mixed-use areas to the corridor.

“As Smokey Point grows there will be more community housing, and we need a nice community corridor for those residents,” said Kelly.

Public transportation already has some connections to the area.

“On the south end of the corridor will be the Community Transit park and ride center,” said Kelly.

Community Transit is also planning their “Gold Line” soon, which will have its north end at that Smokey Point transit center.

City officials have completed a traffic study of the area and are in the planning process.

“Now we are starting our outreach effort,” said Kelly.

They have talked with partners such as the Stillaguamish Tribe and the Stilly Valley Center, which is on the corridor.

“Now we are reaching out to the entire community as well,” said Kelly.

A survey is available at smokeypoint.participate.online as part of that outreach.

Current plans for the corridor include two through lanes and two "drop lanes" meant for those turning off.

“That will help with access for the businesses that will be in that area,” said Kelly.

Three roundabouts are currently planned as part of the project at 180th Street, 183rd Street and 188th Street.

“We’ve applied and received a grant for funding for the roundabout at 188th,” said Kelly. That project is scheduled to begin construction in 2024.

The rest of the corridor project remains unfunded though, so construction could be years away.

“During the next funding cycle in 2022 I will be seeking funds for more of that construction,” said Kelly.