PORT TOWNSEND — As part of the 2020-25 Transportation Improvement Plan, Jefferson County Public Works has created an interactive map that allows the public to view the different individual projects and get specific information on each of them throughout West and East Jefferson County.
The Jefferson Board of County Commissioners approved the six-year Transportation Improvement Program, outlining the funded and planned projects throughout Jefferson County, on Tuesday.
Having a rolling six-year Transportation Improvement Program is a requirement by state law, with the plan reviewed and updated each year, commission documents said.
The program was unanimously approved at the end of a public hearing Tuesday morning. The regular Monday meeting was rescheduled due to the Veterans Day holiday.
Wendy Clark-Getzin, transportation planner, and Eric Kuzma, engineering service manager — both of Jefferson County Public Works — presented the plan and map to the commissioners and the public to start the hearing.
The plan and specifically the interactive map were well received by the commissioners.
“I can’t contain my excitement about having an interactive map,” said Kate Dean, commission chair.
Only one question was asked during the hearing. Jeff Selby, past vice-president of the Peninsula Trails Coalition, wanted clarification abut the difference between two of the projects.
Clark-Getzin explained that item five is the plan for the Olympic Discovery Trail segment between the Larry Scott/Milo Curry trailhead and Anderson Lake State Park, for which the team has secured partial state funding and which is expected to have a total cost of $2,916,000.
The item 15 project is to improve South Discovery Road by widening and paving the shoulders and clearing hazards from longer sight distance, among other plans.
The project, which has not been funded, is expected to cost $854,000, according to the program documents.
District 3 Commissioner Greg Brotherton was happy to see the Quilcene Complete Streets project is the top item of the program.
“It’s looking optimistic that number one is going to happen this year,” Brotherton said.
Item one is the Quilcene Complete Streets project that is improving crosswalks, traffic calming, lighting and sidewalks along U.S. Highway 101 and country roads, with a specific focus on connections to the Quilcene School District campus, the documents say.
The Quilcene Complete Streets project has a total cost of $972,500, and is being funded through state and local funds.
The full 26-item program and the interactive map, as well as prior Transportation Improvement Programs can by found at www.co.jefferson.wa.us/444/6-Yr-TIP.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
