Blog going on hiatus

Greetings. Due to staffing transitions at Jefferson County Public Works, this blog is going on hiatus.

The snippets of other transportation-related blogs to the right will continue to be automatically updated.

Check again in the future to see if things are "rolling" again here on the Visionary Transport Blog. Thank you for checking in on us.

Public Hearing August 13 for 2013-2018 Transportation Improvement Program

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 13, 2012, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Chambers at the County Courthouse in Port Townsend, in consideration of the proposed Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2013 through 2018.

Update: The Board adopted the 2013-2018 TIP unanimously on August 13 through Resolution 49-12.

Oak Bay Road culvert replacement, milepost 8.947, April 2011

The 2013-2018 TIP is a list of capital transportation projects that Jefferson County Public Works anticipates undertaking in the corresponding six-year period. The list includes secured and anticipated funding sources for each project.

For more information, visit the TIP webpage. 

Example project map. Click here for the TIP wall map.

The text of the August 1 media release follows after the jump...

Say "wow" to VOWS?

The Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC) has launched a new program for soliciting public input. It's called Voice of Washington State (VOWS) and it takes advantage of new web-based techololgy. Read about it here:

• news release
• VOWS website
• Transportation Issues Daily blog post

The program includes:

1. seven regional Online Discussion Forums to publicly voice opinions, post ideas, and interact with other citizens
2. online Survey Panel to participate in occasional online surveys

Jefferson County is in the Western Washington Forum.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the discussion forums and survey panel. One must create an account using an email address and password in order to participate.

According to the WSTC news release dated June 28, 2012:

The ultimate goal is to gather public input on Washington state transportation policy and funding, and to inform the statewide discussion and decision-making process. Topics for discussion will focus on all things transportation: highways, mass transit, freight and high-speed rail, ferries, barges and aviation. The governor and Legislature will be briefed on the ideas and data generated through the online discussion forums and surveys.

The combination of the online survey and the regional online discussion forums is a new outreach strategy for the WSTC. While the Commission has conducted successful phone and email surveys through the Ferry Riders Opinion Group for a few years, the primary community input tool has been public meetings. The online tools remove the distance and travel barriers inherent to public meetings; this increases the opportunity for everyone – no matter where they live – to participate and share their views.

Quimper Peninsula Transportation Study

The Quimper Peninsula Transportation Study is now posted on the Jefferson County Public Works website.

The Port Hadlock "Crossroads"

A few years back Jefferson County hired Transpo Group of Kirkland to build a travel demand model for the Quimper Peninsula. We shared the data with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to contribute to the SR 19/20 Corridor Plan and we initiated our own study that covered a larger area and focused on the Irondale & Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area (UGA). We have now completed the contract with Transpo Group and the final products are up on the web.

The Quimper Transportation Study, Study Appendices and the 2008 Travel Demand Model Documentation can be found here: http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/publicworks/trans_planning.asp.

An anticipated next step is to scope a “UGA Roadmap” project that will use the Quimper Transportation Study as a foundation for further transportation planning. Refer to initial goals, deliverables and outcomes below (after "the jump").

Legislature considering Governor's transportation revenue package

2012 Legislative Session

The Washington State Legislature is considering Governor Christine Gregoire's proposed transportation revenue package during the early stages of the 2012 Legislative Session.

The bill numbers for the revenue components of the package are HB 2660 in the House and SB 6455 in the Senate. There are associated policy bills being considered by the House and Senate Transportation Committees, as well.

Connecting Washington

The current package is one outcome of the Governor's Connecting Washington Task Force effort. The Governor "...charged the Connecting Washington Task Force with reviewing statewide transportation needs, recommending the most promising investment options and revenue sources to address top priorities." The group was comprised of locally elected officials, members of State Legislative Transportation Committees, tribal members, organized labor, and trade associations and businesses.

The results of the effort are presented in a final report dated January 6, 2012.

Jefferson and Other Counties

If adopted, the package could have the following impacts on Jefferson County and other counties.

2012-2017 Transportation Improvement Program

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 20, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Jefferson County Courthouse in consideration of the proposed Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2012-2017.

For details and documents, visit the Public Works TIP page.

Public Works issued a media release on June 8 with information about the process by which the proposed TIP is developed. Read the text after the jump or jump to a PDF of the release.

* * *

"Longest Day of Trails" walk-run-bike-a-thon June 19, 2011

The Longest Day of Trails, a fundraiser for trail organizations in Jefferson County, will be held on Sunday, June 19, 2011.

This is the second year for this event, which utilizes the Larry Scott Trail to raise money for the Jefferson Trails Coalition as well as Quimper and Pacific Northwest Trails Associations. 

 

Event sponsors encourage everyone from the fiercely-competitive to the family-oriented to join the fun.


To learn more about the Longest Day of Trails, click on this link:
http://longestdayoftrailspt.wordpress.com/

WSDOT approves SR 19/20 Corridor Plan

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has completed a Corridor Plan for State Route (SR) 19/20 from SR 104 to the Port Townsend ferry dock.

The plan outlines a vision for the future of the highway corridor and recommends improvement strategies.

The WSDOT Olympic Region Administrator approved the February 2011 document on March 27.

Visit this website to download the Corridor Plan: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr19/corridorplan.

The key question for those of us who use this highway corridor is how best can we work together to implement the Plan. How can we see to it that the priority improvements happen?

Jefferson County Public Works will be working toward meeting the goals of the Plan and we look forward to working with you.

Snow Blind

Make sure to pay attention to the signs when you're out there driving in winter conditions!  ;-)

The first snow of what is anticipated to be a wet winter has hit the area.  The Leader posted some winter driving tips for your information.

2011-2016 Transportation Improvement Program subject of Oct. 18 public hearing

The Quinault River threatens the South Shore Road.  Jefferson County frequently faces road management challenges resulting from winter storm damage.

The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) will hold a public hearing on October 18, 2010 as a step in the process to consider and adopt a Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the period from 2011 through 2016. The TIP is a list of capital transportation projects that the Jefferson County anticipates undertaking in the next six years.  It includes cost estimates and secured or planned revenue sources for each project.


Jefferson County Public Works issued a press release this week that pertains to the proposed TIP and upcoming public hearing.


Visit the Jefferson County website TIP page for more information and access to documents and maps.


You are welcome to comment on this blog.  In order for your comment to reach the BoCC as part of the public hearing and TIP adoption process, please email the Commissioners directly.

Non-Motorized Plan update complete

Jefferson County has adopted the 2010 update to its Non-Motorized Transportation & Recreational Trails Plan.

The 2010 Plan will guide the County’s development of active transportation facilities and multi-purpose trails.

Draft County Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Update

Jefferson County is updating its Non-Motorized Transportation & Recreational Trails (NMT) Plan that was initially adopted in 2002. The 2010 Plan update will guide the County’s development of non-motorized transportation facilities and multi-purpose trails, including:

• Larry Scott Trail and the Rick Tollefson Trail


• Safe routes for walking to school


• Sidewalks in commercial areas and adequate roadway shoulders and community trails for walking in residential area


• Pedestrian and bicycle connections to transit routes


• Bicycle commuting routes


• Bicycle touring routes such as the Olympic Discovery Trail
  

Click here for additional information on the 2010 NMT Plan Update, including links to chapters of the proposed NMT Plan.

The Jefferson County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on the Draft 2010 Non-Motorized Transportation and Recreational Trails Plan at 10:00 AM on May 17, 2010 in the Commissioners’ Chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend.

"Longest Day of Trails" walk-run-bike-a-thon June 20, 2010

The "Longest Day of Trails" walk-run-bike-a-thon event on June 20, 2010 will benefit Port Townsend and the greater Jefferson County community by raising money for a coalition of local trails organizations: the Jefferson Trails Coalition, Quimper Trails Association, and Pacific Northwest Trails Association.

The Larry Scott Memorial Trail is the venue for this event, which starts at 5:11 AM (sunrise) and ends at 9:11 PM (sunset). For more information, visit:

http://www.longestdayoftrailspt.wordpress.com/

US DOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation

The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) recently issued an updated Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation - Regulations and Recommendations.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood presented at the National Bike Summit and blogged about it on March 15.

Jefferson County will be updating the 2002 Non-Motorized Transportation and Recreational Trails Plan in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information on how to participate.

Jefferson Transit Extends Saturday Morning Poulsbo Service for Four Weeks

When Jefferson Transit staff heard that Kitsap Transit had proposed to cut connecting service in Poulsbo on Saturdays, it didn’t take long to come up with a plan to maintain vital connections until a service adjustment could be made in January. Jefferson Transit staff members first heard about a Kitsap Transit service reduction effective December 13 on December 6. The information passed by word of mouth from riders to drivers to administrative staff members. The service cut eliminates two of the existing 8 round trips on Saturdays on the Kitsap Transit #90 Poulsbo/Bainbridge service. Coincidentally, these two eliminated trips are the only trips on that route that connect with Jefferson Transit’s #7 service between Port Townsend and Poulsbo. In addition, cuts to Kitsap Transit’s #32 Poulsbo/Silverdale schedule will have some adverse effects on Jefferson Transit connections.

By mid-morning the following Monday, a plan had been made to extend the #7 route on Saturday mornings all the way to the Bainbridge Island Ferry terminal until a service adjustment in January once again makes it possible to have efficient connections from Port Townsend to Poulsbo to Bainbridge and back on Saturdays. “We realized that this was just about the worst time of year to lose this connection. Many people depend on those trips to get to and from the airport, especially during the holiday season. We needed to act fast in order to keep our riders happy”, reported Jefferson Transit’s general manager Dave Turissini. The #7 will run morning service from Port Townsend to the ferry terminal on Bainbridge Island on the following dates:

Saturday, December 19
Saturday, December 26
Saturday, January 2
Saturday, January 9

The regularly scheduled Saturday #7 departure will leave from the Haines Place Park-and-Ride at 8:20 AM, as it does now, and continue on to the Bainbridge Island Ferry terminal. It will make one stop in Poulsbo at the Poulsbo Transfer Center at 9:40 AM and will arrive at the ferry terminal at 10:05 AM. That same vehicle will then depart the ferry terminal for its return trip to Port Townsend at 10:15 AM, stopping at the Poulsbo Transfer Center at 10:35 AM and arriving back at Port Townsend at its regularly scheduled time of 11:49 AM. There will be no changes to the regularly scheduled Saturday afternoon service that departs Port Townsend at 3:22 PM; however, this bus will not connect with any Kitsap Transit Services upon arrival in Poulsbo. This bus will accept transfers from Kitsap Transit #90 as it does now. Passengers should note that the only way to get beyond Poulsbo on Saturdays using Jefferson Transit between December 19 and January 9 is to use the 8:20 AM #7 Port Townsend departure. After January 19 Jefferson Transit will operate a modified schedule that will restore connections with remaining Kitsap Transit services.

For further information, please contact Jefferson Transit directly at 385-4777.

Final Open House for SR 19/20 Corridor Plan

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will host the final SR 19/20 Corridor Plan Open House on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at the Chimacum Middle School Commons, 91 W. Valley Road. The public is invited to stop by anytime from 3:30 to 6:30 PM.

The agency plans to share its final transportation improvement recommendations for the corridor from SR 104 to the Port Townsend ferry terminal. The plan is expected to be adopted early next year. For more information, visit this website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr19/corridorplan.

5 years of Washington State climate action summarized in one place

The Washington State Department of Ecology has summarized all of the legislation and executive orders passed or issued in Washington State over the past five years that serve to reduce our state’s greenhouse gas emissions or otherwise address climate change. The text of the bills and executive order are linked to the summaries. Here is a link: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/docs/2009_ClimateChangeActions_071509.pdf

Jefferson County, the City of Port Townsend, and other local partners have joined together to plan and implement climate action. Visit this webpage for more information:

http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commdevelopment/ClimateChange.htm

6-year TIP adopted for 2010-2015

Conceptual rendering of the future Rick Tollefson Trail connecting Chimacum and Port Hadlock through the Chimacum Valley. The preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisiton, and construction for this project is included in the 2010-2015 TIP.

On July 27, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners adopted through Resolution 42-09 a Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the period from 2010 through 2015. The TIP is a list of capital transportation projects that the County anticipates undertaking in the next six years, including identified funding sources for each project. Visit the TIP page for more information and access to documents and maps.

SR 19/20 Corridor Plan Open House #3

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will host an Open House this Thursday, August 27, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Chimacum Creek Primary School in Port Hadlock.

This is the third Open House scheduled as part of the corridor planning process. There will be a fourth once the draft plan is prepared late this year.

The agency is interested in public comments on a preliminary list of potential transportation improvement projects along the SR 19/20 corridor from SR 104 to the Port Townsend ferry terminal.

For more information on the Open House and on the corridor planning process in general, visit this website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr19/corridorplan.

The poster boards to be presented at the Open House can be accessed on the WSDOT website, as well.

There are eight "projects of special interest" about which WSDOT is looking for feedback in particular. These are:

1. SR 20/Kearney Street intersection control
2. SR 20/Port Townsend entryway study (Discovery-Mill-Jacob Miller vicinity)
3. SR 19/SR 20 intersection control
4. SR 19/Prospect Avenue intersection control
5. SR 19/Irondale Road intersection control
6. SR 19/SR 116 intersection control
7. SR 19/West Valley Road intersection control
8. SR 19/SR 104 intersection control

"Intersection control" could mean a traffic signal or a roundabout.

For more information, plan on attending the Open House and/or continue to visit the WSDOT website linked above.

Hood Canal Bridge Closed - Where Can I Get Info?

On May 1, 2009, at 12:01 AM, the Hood Canal Bridge was closed to traffic for an estimated six weeks.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is managing the project and has a project website at HoodCanalBridge.com. The site includes links to a travel options page, an interactive transit map, a printable travel options map, the schedule and reservation protocol for the special Edmonds-Port Townsend twilight ferry, and a Bridge closure blog for the public.

You can also get updated traffic information on the project traffic webpage and sign up for email traffic alerts about situations as they develop on alternate routes such as US 101 and SR 3.

Visit the project Flickr page for pictures of the construction work, including the removal of old Bridge sections.

For local information related to the closure and travel options, visit JeffConnections.com and see the "Discover Your Own Backyard" closure survival guide published by The Leader newspaper. Jefferson Transit also has a printable two-page pamphlet concerning the closure.

Intersection Status:

The intersection of Paradise Bay Road and SR 104 just west of the Bridge will be in operation during the closure. However, SR 104 will be closed 1.2 miles west of the Bridge, between Scenic View Lane and Garten Road, so that WSDOT can install a new culvert. The preferred route for detoured traffic will be SR 19 to Oak Bay Road to Paradise Bay Road. Local traffic may choose others routes, keeping in mind that SR 104 will be closed at that location (milepost 12.7).