Project Facts
- Forty-two percent of Mason County residents commute outside the county to work
- More than 240,000 people live in Kitsap County
- The study area spans 47 miles
What is the Bremerton Economic Study?
It's a planning study where we will assess the current and future transportation needs within the study area and provide recommendations to address short-term and long-term safety and mobility deficiencies. We will also identify improvement strategies that support the economic objectives within the study area, including the South Kitsap Industrial Area (SKIA).
What areas are being studied?
The study will be conducted along SR 3 from US 101 near Shelton to Loxie Eagans Boulevard in Bremerton; US 101 from SR 3 near Shelton to SR 102 (Dayton Airport Road); and SR 16 from Sedgwick Road (SR 160) to SR 3 in Gorst.
Why is WSDOT
studying these highways?
Presently, SR 3, US 101 and SR 16 serve growing communities in once largely rural areas, a booming freight industry and local businesses.
Thirty percent of Kitsap County's workforce relies on these highways to commute to work daily. Mason County has one of the highest population growth rates in the state and is home to a growing business environment.
Also, during the summer months these highways see increased traffic due to recreational travelers.
The End Result
We will develop a plan to improve the function of SR 3, US 101 and SR 16 for communities that rely on them.
The study will include a list of recommended congestion, preservation and safety improvement projects that could be constructed over the next 20 years as funding becomes available.
Project Benefits
Congestion We will assess how well people currently travel through the study area and forecast how well they will travel through the same area in the future if no improvements are made. This information will be used to develop recommended improvements to make travel through the area more efficient.
Preservation We will consider projects that maintain the performance and condition of the roadways, bridges, culverts and other highway features within the study area.
Safety We will develop recommendations that will help reduce collisions and prevent risks to drivers for locations within the study area that have existing safety problems. We will also forecast and develop recommendations for future safety needs.
What is the project timeline?
The study began March 2008 and should be completed by December 2008. We are currently gathering information to determine what improvements are needed to meet existing and future transportation needs.
Public Involvement
Send us your thoughts
We want to hear from the people who use SR 3, US 101 and SR 16. Please send us comments on any travel issues related to these roadways. We will use this information to assist in determining the needs and future of each highway.
Check out the community calendar
We will visit local events throughout the summer to hear more from you. Visit our booth at one of the following events in your area. Check out our community calendar for more details.
Sept. 1 - Bremerton Blackberry Festival
Environmental Protection
We will conduct a broad evaluation of the environmental conditions within the study area and surrounding communities, and assess needs such as replacing culverts to restore fish passages and controlling stormwater runoff to preserve streams and lakes.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental
Services Web site for more information.
Increasing safety is one of our priorities
For SR 3, US 101 and SR 16 we will collect and analyze traffic data to identify safety problems and develop recommendations for improvement. We will also gather information from the drivers, communities, and local officials to determine what improvements are needed to meet existing and future safety needs.
We are working to improve transportation safety across the state. Learn more about WSDOT's commitment to safety.
Will this project impact tribal resources?
We have informed the Port Gamble S’Klallam, Suquamish, Squaxin Island, Skokomish, Puyallup and Jamestown S'klallam tribes about this study and invited them to join the planning discussion. We will also seek to address their concerns using the process outlined in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the WSDOT Tribal Consultation Policy adopted in 2003 by the Transportation Commission as part of the WSDOT Centennial Accord Plan.
For more information, please visit the WSDOT Tribal Liaison Web site.
Financial Information
This study is funded through the following funding sources:
- State Funds - $500,000
- Port of Bremerton - $75,000
- Kitsap County - $75,000
- Port of Shelton - $5,000
- City of Port Orchard - $2,500
- City of Bremerton - $15,000
- Port of Allyn - $1,000
- Total Funding Available From All Sources - $673,500
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Richard Warren, Project Manager
WSDOT Urban Planning Office
401 2nd Avenue South, Ste 300
Seattle , WA 98104
Phone: 206-464-1283
E-mail: urbanplanning@wsdot.wa.gov
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