New traffic system to improve drive times in Snohomish County

Commuters in Snohomish County could soon see their drive times improve, especially during rush hour.

Snohomish County roads can’t handle the growth

One of the biggest frustrations for drivers anywhere is when they are stuck in traffic and lights aren’t timed.

That will be changing for a number of traffic lights in Snohomish County, including those along the Bothell Everett Highway.

According to The Daily Herald, local transportation officials are pushing forward with the first phase of a new adaptive traffic signal system.

It will link 47 traffic lights from near Paine Field down to the Canyon Park Regional Center in Bothell.

A second phase of the project will extend to major roads in Bothell, Lynnwood Mill Creek, and Mountlake Terrace.

The technology will sync with Lynnwood’s existing signal control system on Highway 99 and 196th Street Southwest, according to HeraldNet.

Much like the adaptive traffic signals KIRO 7 has covered in Seattle including those along Mercer, the lights are meant to be timed better according to current traffic conditions so drive times will improve, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours.

The changes won’t be in place until sometime next year.