WSDOT Priority Needs and Project Highlights
Fix it first: Extensive infrastructure currently in place. Over 3,990 lane miles of state and federal roads, 1,243 bridges, 10 ferry routes, 20 ferry terminals and hundreds of other system features including signals, guardrails, lights, weigh stations, signs, culverts, drains and rest areas. Maintain, Operate, Preserve: Take care of what we have and make it last.
Keep it Safe: Implement the Statewide "Target Zero" plan. Meet Legal Mandates: Comply with court mandated fish migration barrier mitigation.
Finish what we start: I-90 to Issaquah; SR 520 Seattle Corridor Improvements-west end; SR 509 Corridor Completion; I-405 Renton to Lynnwood-widening; SR 522 Kenmore to Monroe-complete corridor; I-5 Federal Way - triangle improvements; SR 9 Snohomish - corridor widening; SR18/I-90 interchange improvements and SR 539 Lynden - corridor widening. Make Strategic New Investments: reduce congestion and keep freight moving: Partner with Communities: improve livability and quality of life. Responsible, Reliable, Sustainable: Efficient and effective program/project delivery; greater use of and support for technology;
With respect to SR 9 Corridor Improvements, $300 million investment from 2000-2017 addressing the highest priorities first through spot improvements and corridor widening. Spot Improvements: Turn lanes, signals, roundabouts, illumination, straighten curves. Corridor Widening: Generally south to north with access management. Widening up to Clearview complete this year. Ms. Eng showed a chart of the comparison before and after regarding collision data. The corridor widening and safety spot improvements have made a difference. Upcoming and current improvements/construction: 212th S. SE to 176 St. SE widening Stage 3 to four lanes now open to traffic with the project to be completed in 2014; 32nd St. SE & 84th St. NE I/S Safety; signal at 32nd St SE and a Roundabout at 84th St NE (Getchell Road).
Long term plan lists more to do on SR 9 Corridor Improvements; Continue widening and safety improvements. Current funding package: Design and right of way acquisition to widen from 176th St SE to SR 96 (No construction funding). New Law Revenue Package (11.5 cent gas tax increase) $140 million for widening SR 9 from Marsh Road to 2nd Street including a new Snohomish River Bridge and $58 million for construction a grade separated interchange at SR 9/SR204 including a Roundabout to allow full egress at tye west entrance to Lake Stevens Center (formerly known as Frontier Village) and a Roundabout at SR 204/91st Av NE.
Ms. Eng finished her presentation with updating the members on the US 2/Bickford Avenue Intersection Safety project that was recently completed. This eliminated left turn conflicts. US 2 Everett to Snohomish Corridor Plan for short and long term recommendations. The good news was a successful structural repairs to the older westbound structure, theoretically extending its life to 2047. Bad news: the State has other structurally deficient bridges that need to be addressed before the trestle.
There was so much more in Ms. Eng's presentation including "what we are doing now" and what's next. For more information or a copy of her presentation, contact the writer for the pdf file or go to www.wsdot.wa.gov.
In closing, a bit of information about our speaker. Lorena Eng oversees 1,100 employees and an $850 million biennial budget at the Washington State Department of Transportation. Her staff is responsible for the planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of over 3,990 lane miles of federal and state highways from the Pierce County line to the Canadian Boarder in the 6 county Northwest Region on the west side of the Cascades. She received her civil engineering degree in 1979 from the University of Washington, serving WSDOT her entire career in both the highway and ferries divisions. In 2001 she became the Regional Administrator.