PACKET: BOCC Special Meeting - WSDOT at Wed, Apr 05, 09:30 AM

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Letter to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Summer Construction Schedule

Topic Summary

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) approved and sent a letter to Governor Jay Inslee and WSDOT leadership regarding the critical impacts of the planned Hood Canal Bridge Center Lock Rehabilitation project and concurrent Hwy 101 construction on the North Olympic Peninsula. The letter highlights the region's dependence on the bridge for commerce and emergency services and urgently requests clarity on the summer construction schedule, specific mitigation plans, and dedicated resources for emergency responders and commercial carriers.

Key Points

  • Jefferson County and the North Olympic Peninsula are almost singularly dependent on the Hood Canal Bridge for commerce flow and emergency services.
  • The BOCC acknowledges the need for the Center Lock Rehabilitation project but emphasizes the uncertainty regarding specific impact dates and potential time overruns is unsettling.
  • WSDOT data shows the late July through August weekends are the most traveled times of the year, which are currently being discussed for potential closures.
  • The closures could "devastate" major local events, including the Thing NW festival (August 25-27) and the Wooden Boat Festival (September 8-10), for which hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been spent.
  • The County recommends distributing the impact with longer closures affecting weekday and weekend trips more equitably, rather than concentrating them on high-travel weekends.
  • Emergency responders (East Jefferson Fire and Rescue) complete 60-70 medical transfers on summer weekends, making the potential bridge closure a "life or death issue."
  • Concurrently, fish passage barrier removal projects on Hwy 101 will cause two separate 25-day closures, detouring approximately 600 trailers destined for Sequim via a route containing a load-limited bridge.
  • Mitigation efforts need to start immediately to secure a proviso in the legislative budget at the end of the session, including planning staffing and logistics like moving the dolphins at the Port Townsend Ferry Dock.

Financials

  • East Jefferson Fire and Rescue (EJFR) estimates the cost of additional emergency response mitigations to be between $500,000 and $750,000 for four weekends of bridge closures.
  • Hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been spent to secure the Thing NW and Wooden Boat Festival events.

Alternatives

The Commissioners presented two options for Washington State Ferries (WSF) mitigation, noting both rely on existing boats and crews: 1. Divert the last sailing of the day from the Edmonds-Kingston route, pick up commercial freight from Edmonds, and sail one round trip to/from Port Townsend. 2. Instead of restoring Vashon Island to 3-boat service in April, use that 3rd boat for Edmonds-Port Townsend service for the duration of the major highway detours.

Community Input

  • One public comment was received regarding the agenda topics (content of comment not specified).

Timeline

  • April 5, 2023: Special meeting date where the BOCC approved sending the amended letter.
  • Late July through August: Weekends identified by WSDOT data as the most traveled and currently discussed for potential Hood Canal Bridge closure dates.
  • August 25-27: Thing NW festival dates.
  • September 8-10: Wooden Boat Festival dates.
  • 2009: Mitigation similar to the WSF alternatives proposed was offered during a prior bridge closure.
  • April (specific date not specified): Proposed date for restoring Vashon ferry service from 2-boat to 3-boat service.
  • End of the session (Legislature): Deadline for getting a proviso in the budget for planning and resources.

Next Steps

  • The Board approved sending the letter to WSDOT "as amended today."
  • The letter will be sent to Governor Inslee, Secretary Millar (WSDOT), and the state legislative delegation.
  • Immediate planning and resource allocation are requested to address ferry logistics (e.g., moving dolphins at the Port Townsend Ferry Dock) and emergency response costs.

Sources

  • Governor Jay Inslee - Office of the Governor
  • Secretary Roger Millar - Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
  • Senator Kevin Van De Wege - 24th Legislative District
  • Representative Mike Chapman - 24th Legislative District
  • Representative Steve Tharinger - 24th Legislative District
  • East Jefferson Fire and Rescue (EJFR)
  • WSDOT data (cited regarding travel statistics)
  • Greg Brotherton - District 3 Commissioner and Chair
  • Kate Dean - District 1 Commissioner
  • Heidi Eisenhour - District 2 Commissioner

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