US HWY 2 non-motorized shared path
Just last month, Per the Facebook page, City of Monroe, WA it was announced that the City of Monroe will be planning to start construction on the US HWY 2 Non-motorized Shared Path in the late spring. They say that the purpose of this project is to provide a separated shared-use path along US Highway 2 adjacent to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. Above is an image of what the completed project will look like. And in even better news, the City of Monroe has been awarded many grants to help fund the project. Also, the sidewalk that currently ends at Cascade View Drive will be extended west approximately 1,200 feet to 179th Avenue SE.
The intent of this project is to provide a separated path for pedestrians, bicyclists, and power wheelchairs that currently travel along the shoulder of Highway 2, between 179th Avenue and Cascade View Drive. These road users travel from the residential areas along 179th Avenue to the North Kelsey shopping centers, approximately ¾ of a mile along Highway 2.
Beginning in 2016, City Staff applied for several grant programs to help fund this project. The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) awarded $112,710 for the design phase in 2020, and $432,500 for the construction phase in 2022. These are federal grant funds for PSRC’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program. In addition, Snohomish County is willing to partner with the City and contribute towards the construction of this project. The remaining project expenses will be paid using local funds, primarily collected from Transportation Impact Fees and supplemented as necessary with Real Estate Excise Tax.
Proposed project elements include a 12-foot wide asphalt path, new fencing, path lighting, street trees and landscaping, pedestrian bridge, and a marked crosswalk at Cascade View Drive.
The current construction cost estimate is around $1,000,000; 40% to come from federal grants, 25% to come from Snohomish County, and the remaining 35% to come from local funds as noted above.
They are expecting to start construction in June. They also say that the project should be open to the public prior to the Evergreen State Fair. The Evergreen State Fair begins in late August.
The Monroe project timeline
The US HWY 2 non-motorized shared path project was authorized by the City Council on January 24th, 2017. Obligate Design Funds, Advertise for Design RFQ, SOQ Proposals Due, Award Design Contract, Kickoff Meeting, 30% Design, 60% Design went from June 2020 to July 2021. Finally, in December 2021, 100% of the design was completed. Construction funds - Advertise for Contractor Bids occurred in April 2022 and construction will begin in late May 2022. Lastly, construction is expected to be completed by early August of 2022
Monroe, an ongoing growing community
Projects like the non-motorized share path are what makes Monroe such a vibrant small city. The breadth of outdoor spaces in Monroe, combined with accessibility features like this, makes for an ideal community. And the rise in home prices in Monroe speaks to this. Monroe's vast parks and open spaces, coupled with reasonable home prices, are a welcome change to the hustle and bustle of the larger cities.
Thinking of selling in today's real estate market? Wondering where you should go next? Consider Monroe. In a real estate market like this, it may be wiser to consider moving further out of the city. It may be a nightmare trying to buy in most of the bigger cities in Washington, but going further out into places like Monroe (or other Snohomish County locations) may be easier on many levels. Consider a place like Monroe, where its small city, big town feel has attracted more people each year. As a Monroe resident myself, I found some appreciable things. Such as Monroe being reasonably close to many hikes like Wallace Falls (only 24 min away). Or, if you want to stay local, you can head to Al Borlin Park, which has great reviews, or Frylands Park, which allows you to walk the trail around the lake. Buying a home in places a little farther out like Monroe, you can get more house and property for your money. Some of Washington's favorite vacation places are much closer as well. Places like Lake Chelan are an hour closer than starting from Seattle and Leavenworth, just over 1.5 hours from Monroe.
Further, it is less competitive in the suburbs, with fewer buyers competing than in the cities. More buyers most certainly drive up the house prices, tag on high-interest rates, and you may likely not be able to afford the house you want any longer. So why stay in the city? The silver lining during the pandemic has allowed many people to work at home, which in return has allowed more people to move to the suburbs. We see signs from many tech companies allowing remote work (at least in part), which will be here to stay. By not having to drive into the city as often, residents have more freedom to buy more house, more land and enjoy the space that municipalities farther out in the county offer. There is no better time than now to consider moving further out! Consider Monroe, where this community grows more and more each year!
Some of the benefits of suburban living vs. crowded cityscapes: open spaces, parks, trails, larger homes on larger lots, and general population sparsity. The suburbs offer extremely convenient access to places like shops and restaurants. People are choosing to go (or stay) further out to spend their money. The trend of moving (and staying) a little further out from the large cities is a long-term play. Brought on by the pandemic, the ability for many to work from home and the relative strength that your dollar has in the suburban real estate markets will continue to pay dividends for people in years to come. The eastern parts of the eastside, Snohomish County, and other less populated areas are offering great values for large properties with amenities still close at hand. One of the other benefits is more affordability. The pandemic and working from home have allowed people the freedom to move away from the city. And if people are allowed to continue working from home rather than commuting to an office, they might also realize that they can shop for homes farther outside cities—great news for home sellers who live in more remote areas. Many real estate agents have noticed this glut of eager home buyers first-hand. Others who no longer want to commute to their jobs every day are looking for a home with an office space, making up about 19% of sellers. Another 19% no longer need to live near their jobs. That means they can live just about anywhere they choose.
New development in Monroe - Wild Sky Estates
It looks like Monroe is growing more and more these days. Be sure to come and check out the scene here. Beyond the personal touches of the local businesses, there are great homes at prices that you can afford. Give me a shout to learn more about Monroe!
I can help you sell your home and/or find your next home
I make my home in Monroe and love all the things that Snohomish County has to offer. I’m dedicated to giving my friends, neighbors, and the local Snohomish County community simply outrageous service. Please give me a call and I’d be happy to share how I can market and sell your home for top dollar!
Or, if you are in the market to buy, I can help with that as well. Being a local real estate agent with intimate knowledge about the Snohomish County and broader eastside market allows me to serve our community's personal real estate needs. My goal is to not just meet, but always exceed your expectations.
As a Monroe resident, I found some appreciable events coming to Monroe at Choose Monroe.com. You can also subscribe to my local Real Estate Blog and stay up to date on the market and all real estate happenings and events! Subscribe HERE
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