[Quark]

Get real, people: Do you really think these towns shouldn't have traffic lights because it inconveniences you? What about the people who live there and need to navigate around their own towns? I remember before the lights were installed - feeling sorry for the townspeople trying to turn left onto Hwy 2 to get around to do stuff. Turning right took enough balls, at times - but turning left - forget it. Try turning left onto Aurora mid-block without a light on a sunny weekend afternoon and see how long it takes for you to luck out on a clearing. That's about what it'd be like for those towns sans light. I'm pretty sure the lights are there mainly so people can get around their own communities. When I do a Hwy 2 hike, I take 930 to I-90 if I can, but if around the Skykomish area, I'm sure to stay out long enough that traffic is cleared. In summer, that's not hard to do - you choose longer trips anyway, to get into the mountains. In fall and winter - it's not much of an issue. If you're driving Hwy 2 westbound before 8 PM, you didn't choose the right hike. ANd yeah, I hate Monroe. That 11 mile stretch from 2 to 405 is the longest, biggest pain in the ass for some reason. I guess by then, I just want to be home, since going through Monroe sucked any dreamy inspiration out of me that the McChevronalds in Sultan didn't get.

[Daryl]

They can have all the lights they want. I just wish they were timed and planned a little better. As I said, do you ever see a back up on the cross streets with the lights? A street light should not cause a 10-20 mile back up one way and clear the intersection the other way. It's highly possible they do it intentionally. When your 1 hour drive becomes a 2 hour drive the odds of you stopping for gas, coffee or a meal go up.

[Foist]

Never ever do a hike that requires driving back home west on Route 2 on a Sunday. Or at least in the summer. It's a nightmare. We adopted this as an iron clad rule a long time ago. Just go somewhere else.

[Allison]

All of those towns on 2 with the stoplights can kiss my grits.

[moonspots]

[tmatlack]

All, Back road from Snohomish to Monroe...the old Snohomish Monroe Rd. I think it's called. It leaves Snohomish from the big Stocker soccer fields. Then, as mentioned, take 203 to the Ben Howard Rd. From Sultan to Gold Bar is on your own. At Gold Bar, try Reiter over to Index...much longer but sorta pretty. And don't forget Sultan to Granite Falls/Lake Stevens back roads are a piece of cake. Best yet...avoid the place at all costs, especially with the fair coming up. Tom

[MtnGoat]

[MtnGoat]

2007 report on Hwy 2 corridor Adding lanes in towns and those ffing roundabouts isn't going to actually solve the problem. Hwy 20x should be in the works, four lanes bypassing all towns and feeding in near Zekes.

[Redwic]

[Stefan]

Solution: Plan a VERY late comeback on Sundays. Seriously. 10:30p.mish there really is nobody at Index. Take your time on the trail coming out on Sunday. This is what I do. Enjoy the outdoors. If you are too early coming back from a hike, go to a river...like the Beckler or North Fork Skykomish or Money, and just hang out. That is the solution. Do not try to beat the traffic, but try to come home late. You have to look at this light "problem" as an opportunity, and not a hinderance.

[Sultan Guy]

[Bloated Chipmunk]

[Schroder]

40 years ago Sohomish County had the right-of-way for a bypass around the north side of Monroe. They built one around Snohomish in '85 but decided to sell all the property around Monroe for housing developments. Very short-sighted thinking.

[Snow_Knot]

[Mtn Dog]

SR 2 is a state route, so Snohomish County has nothing to do with it in any city smaller than 27,500. It's WSDOT who will upgrade Hwy 2 when the time comes, and more importantly when funds become available. The Monroe bypass is still a possibility last I heard. And Mtn Goat, roundabouts would be the best thing for this corridor, either at interchange ramps or on the hwy itself if it isn't made into limited access. Since travel speeds are already 30-35 MPH in town slowing down a bit for a roundabout that provides equal access to everyone with minimal delay would be the most efficient intersection control. And they save lives too!