WSDOT Shares Public Feedback on Proposed US 2 Trestle Improvements

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has shared what it learned from thousands of people who participated in a summer online open house about potential improvements to the US 2 trestle and its connections to I-5, Everett, SR 204, and Lake Stevens.

The public input was collected as part of the US 2 Trestle Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study. Participants provided information about how frequently they use the trestle, their preferred ways to travel, and their opinions on proposed improvement alternatives.

According to WSDOT, approximately 85% of survey participants live east of the trestle, while 58% said they use it every day.

Several major themes emerged from the feedback:

• Transit and HOV access: Many participants support a continuous high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) and transit lane across the trestle.
• Roadway safety: Residents raised concerns about the curve connecting westbound US 2 to southbound I-5, with some supporting a flyover or underpass. Others highlighted limited visibility where traffic from SR 204 and 20th Street Southeast merges onto westbound US 2.
• Intersection improvements: Participants expressed interest in creating a safer intersection at SR 204 and Sunnyside Boulevard Southeast.
• Potential tolls: Some respondents questioned whether tolls could become part of the project and how they might affect families, lower-income drivers and other commuters.
• Environmental impacts: Community members want to understand how construction could affect wetlands, streams, green spaces, wildlife habitats and vehicle emissions.
• Long-term resilience: Concerns were also raised about the trestle's ability to withstand earthquakes and the effects of climate change.

WSDOT said the feedback will help guide the next phase of planning and ensure that community concerns are considered as the project moves forward.

Draft Study Report Expected in December

WSDOT plans to release the Draft US 2 Trestle PEL Study report in December. The report will outline the agency's draft recommended alternative, explain how it was selected, present the supporting data, and summarize public feedback and its influence on the planning process.

An additional online open house will accompany the report, giving residents and other interested parties another opportunity to review the proposals and submit comments.

After the public comment period closes, WSDOT will work with the Federal Highway Administration to prepare the final PEL Study report, which is planned for early spring. The final report will include a summary of public comments to help guide the scope and approach of the subsequent environmental review.

Planning Moves Toward Environmental Review

Completion of the PEL Study will mark an important milestone, but it will not mean construction is ready to begin. Instead, the project will move into a more detailed environmental review and preliminary design phase.

WSDOT says the planning work has already established the project's purpose and need and developed a draft recommended alternative. The agency is also preparing to bring in additional consultant support for the next phase.

Residents, commuters and businesses that rely on the US 2 corridor will have further opportunities to review the plans and share feedback as the project advances.