Crews prepare for possible overnight freezing conditions
December 29, 2010
NEW — 4 p.m. Dec. 29, 2010
King County road crews continue to work around-the-clock amid the potential for possible freezing overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning.
East King County is most likely to experience hazardous road conditions, as temperatures drop to freezing levels early in the evening and roads remain wet from snowfall earlier in the day. The travel warnings extend into the Thursday morning commute.
Road Services Division crews plan to work through the to keep roadways safe for travel. Motorists should use caution, especially near hills and bridges, and monitor traffic and weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Issaquah crews continue to monitor conditions and plan to clear priority routes if needed.
Snow falls in Issaquah but does not impact travel
December 29, 2010
NEW — 10 a.m. Dec. 29, 2010
Snow dusted rooftops and dappled lawns in the Issaquah area Wednesday morning, but snow showers did not impact the morning commute.
The winter weather advisory for the East Puget Sound lowlands remains in effect until 3 p.m. Wednesday. National Weather Service forecasters in Seattle said accumulations up to 3 inches could occur at higher elevations.
City crews continue to monitor conditions and plan to clear the priority routes if needed.
Meteorologists said the Issaquah area should experience rain before 4 p.m. Then, rain interspersed with snow showers is possible as the snow level falls to 400 feet. The total daytime accumulation is not expected to be more than a half-inch. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Snow dusts Issaquah area as forecasters predict rain-snow mix
December 29, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Dec. 29, 2010
Some residents in the Issaquah area awoke to a dusting of snow Wednesday morning, but roads remained clear and buses continued to run on time.
National Weather Service forecasters in Seattle said the Issaquah area should experience rain before 4 p.m. Then, rain interspersed with snow showers is possible as the snow level falls to 400 feet. The total daytime accumulation is not expected to be more than a half-inch. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Forecasters said the temperature should rise to near 40 degrees by 11 a.m. and then dip below freezing for the remainder of the day.
The potential for snow accumulation of less than a half-inch exists for late Wednesday night.
Issaquah unveils real-time traffic cameras on city routes
December 28, 2010
NEW — 3:35 p.m. Dec. 28, 2010
Motorists can receive real-time information about Issaquah traffic due to improvements the city unveiled Tuesday.
The city has launched a traffic camera website with information from cameras at 26 intersections citywide.
The city announced the program in May and, in recent days, pushed to activate the system in time for forecasted snow showers.
The technology does not allow for streaming video to be posted to the site. Instead, the site refreshes a series of images every minute or so.
Motorists can check the camera feeds and alerts — either from home computers, smart phones or other devices — to gauge traffic before taking to city streets.
Officials said the city received numerous requests from drivers to make real-time traffic images available.
Press Editorial
August 17, 2010
Look beyond Issaquah for traffic solutions
Issaquah has waited a long time for definitive transportation improvements. At last, a few are coming.
In the past decade, Issaquah got an Intelligent Transportation System that allowed traffic lights to be synchronized and reader boards to advise drivers of traffic revisions. Two years ago, the great debate over whether to build a southeast connector road from Interstate 90’s Exit 18 at East Sunset Way to Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast was decided.
This summer, two big changes born of that decision will provide real improvements.
Sunset Way at Second Avenue will be widened to allow for a turn lane. Second Avenue Southeast will also get a right-hand turn lane onto Sunset. The changes should significantly improve traffic flow through the intersection, especially in the afternoon, when schools release students for the day. Read more
Upgrades will allow drivers to check traffic images online
May 11, 2010
The next time snow blankets Issaquah — and snarls traffic — drivers might be able to check the municipal website for real-time updates from cameras perched throughout the city.
Officials plan to include the traffic images on the city website within the next several months. The cameras — part of the Intelligent Transportation System — allow engineers to monitor traffic at 26 intersections citywide.
The technology does not allow for streaming video to be posted online. Instead, the images will be a series of photos updated every minute or so.
The city also plans to post real-time traffic alerts to the municipal website and the electronic message boards constructed as part of the system.
Officials hope drivers check the camera feeds and alerts — either from home computers, smart phones or other devices — to gauge traffic before taking to city streets.
The planned upgrades reached the City Council last month. Members agreed to spend $84,000 to post the traffic snapshots online, add monitors for the feeds at the Issaquah Police Department and improve the traffic signal-timing plans through important corridors. The equipment and software to add the real-time images to the city website carries a $49,000 price tag.
Workers enter ‘home stretch’ in SR 900 construction
February 23, 2010
Afternoon traffic lines up on state Route 900 at Northwest Talus Drive on Feb. 17 as work on the road-widening project nears completion. By Greg Farrar
Frequent closures along a stretch of state Route 900 near Talus could be a memory by late spring, as workers complete the final piece in the yearslong widening project.
State Department of Transportation crews widened the road from Newport Way Northwest to the vicinity of Northwest Talus Drive and Southeast 82nd Street. Narrow shoulders bracketed the old, single-lane roadway.
Workers added a lane in each direction and a left-turn lane in the center of the roadway, as well as a bike lane and a raised sidewalk on the west side of the road.
PSAT scores available after Jan. 4
December 29, 2009
Scores for students who participated in the districtwide Pre Scholastic Assessment Tests this fall will be available Jan. 4.
Parents interested in learning what the scores mean for students and additional opportunities available for them having taken the tests can attend a meeting with district officials at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 in the administration building, 565 N.W. Holly St.
Parents can review their child’s answers and find out how to improve their skills in areas like math, reading and writing, and learn about the National Merit Scholarship Program.
District officials can also help parents and students create an educational plan to help students reach their goals.
City budget: Bus service, maintenance to be delayed
December 15, 2009
Issaquah City Jail will add a corrections officer, but parks and road improvements will be scaled back in the 2010 budget headed to the City Council next week.
The plan reflects difficult decisions as the council sought to balance savings and services amid the recession. City residents will notice changes large — fewer traffic signal upgrades — and small — only two city newsletters will be mailed next year.
Mayor Ava Frisinger proposed a leaner budget for next year for a city with fewer employees and capital projects planned. After several tweaks, the City Council plans to adopt the $99 million budget Dec. 21.
Press Editorial
April 28, 2009
Transportation plan is good communication tool
The city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Plan is a curious document. And given the interest in traffic problems here, you’d think citizens would be lining up to speak their opinion of it at a public hearing May 4. Read more
