2023.07.11_NLCIATS_Briefing 2_Lewis County_FinalLaurie Lebowsky-Young, WSDOT
Richard Warren, WSDOT
July 11, 2023
North Lewis County Industrial Access
Transportation Study
Lewis County Commissioners
Briefing #2
•Legislative proviso
•Purpose, need, and goals
•Public outreach
•Potential improvements
•Evaluation and traffic modeling
•Recommendations
•Next steps
2
Overview
Legislative Proviso Objective:
•Improve access to the industrially-zoned properties in North Lewis County
Purpose and Need:
•The study will address the current conflicts between freight traffic and
local road users of all modes
Goals:
•Improve safety
•Take a holistic view of transportation in North Lewis County
•Identify short-and long-term solutions for improved traffic and multimodal
operations
3
Proviso, Purpose and Need
How did we obtain input?
•Four stakeholder meetings between Fall 2022 and Spring 2023
•Online open house in March 2023
•Attended Harrison / Reynolds Improvements Project open house on April 20
•Online public survey from May 31 –June 14
4
Public and Stakeholder Engagement
5
Public Survey Results (280 responses)
Potential Improvements
•Traffic flow improvements on Harrison Ave
•Local road network improvements
•Bike & pedestrian improvements
•New I-5 Interchange
7
Improvements Overview
Traffic Flow Improvements to Harrison Ave
8
Improvements or Modifications
•Consolidate driveways where possible
•Make some driveways right-in/right-out
•Install adaptive signals
•Install center curb median
Estimated Cost –Rounded ($2023)
•$1,200,000 total
–$940,000 for adaptive signals
–$260,000 for access consolidation
Draft
Local Road Network
Improvements
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Draft
Improvement
•Connect Blair Rd and Hobson Rd
Estimated Cost –Rounded ($2023)
•$165,000,000
Local Road Network
Improvements
10
Draft
Improvement
•Extend Gallagher Rd north to Harrison Ave
Traffic Changes
•Modest increase on Gallagher Rd
•Decrease on Sandra Ave
Estimated Cost –Rounded ($2023)
•$20,000,000
Local Road Network
Improvements-
Westside Connector
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Draft
Improvements
•New bridge over Chehalis River with bike
and pedestrian separation
•Upgrades to Oakland Ave and Scheuber Rd
•Extend N Scheuber Rd to the north
Traffic Changes
•Decrease traffic volumes on Harrison Ave
between Johnson Rd and I-5 interchange
Estimated Cost –Rounded ($2023)
•$60,000,000
Coordination
•Tribal input needed
Bike & Pedestrian
Improvements
12
Estimated Cost –Rounded ($2023)
•$3,300,000 total
–$900,000 for pedestrian signals
–$1,100,000 for Galvin Rd
sidewalks
–$1,300,000 for Harrison Ave
improvements
New I-5 Interchange
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Improvements
•Option 1: 216th Ave (Thurston County)
•Option 2: 222nd Ave (Thurston County)
•Option 3: Kuper Rd (Lewis County)
Coordination
•Would require state and federal review
and approval
Traffic Changes
•Decrease in volumes on Harrison Ave
near existing interchange
•Modest increase in volumes on I-5
between Grand Mound and Harrison
interchanges
Draft
I-5 Interchange Option: Kuper Rd
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Benefits
•Closest location to industrial areas in
North Lewis County
•Greatest distance between Harrison Ave
and R-1 railroad
Challenges
•Landslide area immediately east of I-5
•Impacts to adjacent industrial properties
•Would require clearance with R-4 railroad
I-5 Interchange Option: 222nd Ave SW
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Benefits
•Second-closest location to industrial
areas in North Lewis County
•No industrial property impacts
Challenges
•Residential property impacts
•Steep slopes to the east of I-5
•Would require several new structures
•Would require relocating rail line
I-5 Interchange Option: 216th Ave SW
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Benefits
•Existing, permitted overcrossing over R-4 railroad and I-5
•No industrial property impacts and minimal impacts to residential properties
•Fewest environmental constraints
•Most straightforward design
Challenges
•Furthest from industrial properties in
North Lewis County
•R-1 railroad 300-ft east of Harrison Ave
Estimated Cost –Rounded ($2023)
•$100,000,000
Potential Improvements Evaluation
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Evaluation and Scoring Process
•Initial screening based on Purpose and Need
–Ruled out potential projects on Lum Road
•Traffic pattern changes assessed using Thurston Regional Planning
Council model
–Analyzed a new I-5 interchange, Westside Connector, and
Gallagher Road extension
–Assumes Harrison/Reynolds project improvements are in place
•Scoring of projects
Evaluation Overview
Recommendations
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Carry Forward:
•Interchange at 216th Ave
•Westside Connector
•Access consolidation on Harrison Ave
•Adaptive signals on Harrison Ave
•Pedestrian signals at key
intersections
•Address sidewalk gaps on Galvin Rd
•Harrison Ave shared-use path
•Extend Gallagher Rd to Harrison Ave
Do Not Carry Forward:
•Interchange at 222nd Ave
•Interchange at Kuper Rd
•Connect Blair Rd to Hobson Rd
Recommendations
•July 14: Project team finishes first draft of report
•July 17 -August 4:Stakeholder team reviews draft report
•August 31:Finalize report
Thank you!!
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Next Steps