By JESSICA SPARKS
Published Aug. 15, 2012

First street projects funded by sales tax begin soon
SNOHOMISH - The City Council last week approved the first set of street projects funded by the newly formed Transportation Benefit District.
The projects will rebuild parts of the roadway on 10th Street eastward of Avenue D and 16th Street and Terrace Avenue, which are both in poor condition. One cedar tree on 10th Street will be removed because its roots are destroying the street. The work will include street closures and detours and both will be determined later when the contractor sets a construction schedule.
The work is expected to start soon.
The council selected B&L Utility of Snohomish to do the work.
The two projects are projected to cost almost $198,000. Nearly $167,000 of that is coming from the Transportation Benefit District, which collects a 0.2 percent sales tax for street repair and improvements. The City Council approved the formation of the district last year and voters in last year’s August primary approved the sales tax increase.
These projects are part of the district’s 2012 street preservation construction program. A third project focusing on Avenue A at Fourth and Fifth streets was not selected because the council wants staff to research widening the road there instead of repairing it at this time.
In its inaugural year, the district has collected $250,000 so far. The sales tax will last 10 years and is expected to bring in about $600,000 a year when fully operational.