Public asked for ideas for upgrades to key Jefferson County state highways
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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The state Department of Transportation would like to know.
The agency last week kicked off the SR19/20 corridor plan process, which over the next 18 months will gather public comment to outline a vision for the future development of Highway 19 and the portion of Highway 20 that leads to downtown Port Townsend.
A final plan will be published once the process concludes.
A corridor plan identifies transportation safety and mobility improvement opportunities and guides Transportation on investments in the corridor over a 20-year period.
The plan will target many of the congestion, safety and roadside issues that travelers often face.
The study will recommend improvement strategies for existing and future investments to the transportation system along these two state routes.
"This is one of those planning steps that needs to come before funding does," said Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, on Monday.
County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, said the plan also would address the non-motorized element of use in the corridor, such as walking and bicycling trails.
Public meeting
A public meeting on the plan is set for 4 p.m. Aug. 28 at Washington State University Extension Learning Center Spruce Room, 201 W. Patison, Port Hadlock.
During the public meeting, state officials are expected to engage the public in an analysis of existing conditions and future needs on the two highways.
A corridor working group will be part of the process, and the public will be asked to contribute in a draft vision and criteria for the plan.
In the winter of 2008, the state will formulate a list of improvement options and conduct follow-up public and corridor working group outreach.
Further evaluation of improvement options will be conducted in spring 2009 with the public and working group.
In the summer of 2009, the state will complete and endorse recommended improvements and bring them again before the pubic and working group.
A draft and final corridor plan is expected in fall 2009.
For more information, write Nasmul Alam at the state Department of Transportation Olympic Region Planning Office, P.O. Box 47440, Olympia, WA 98504-7440, phone him at 360-357-2722 or e-mail alamn@wsdot.wa.gov.
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 23. 2008 9:00PM