WSDOT Projects

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Project Facts

• Between 1990 and 2000 Auburn's population grew 22 percent and Enumclaw had a 54 percent increase in population.
  Source:  2004 King County Annual Growth Report.
• Recently measured traffic volumes along the corridor range from 8,000 vehicles per day in Enumclaw to 34,000 vehicles per day in Auburn near the SR 18 interchange.
  Source:  WSDOT Annual Traffic Count.
• SR 164 is the corridor connecting recreation enthusiasts to Mount Rainier.
  
  

Why is WSDOT looking at ways to improve SR164?
SR 164 is an important rural and commuter highway; a regional highway for southeast King County; a main street for Auburn, Enumclaw and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and a main access for Enumclaw Plateau residents. This freight connector experiences mounting traffic congestion and has a number of high accident locations.

This 15-mile highway also provides access to Mt. Rainier National Park and the White River Amphitheater on the Muckleshoot Reservation.

The 2004 Legislature provided $650,000 in funds to the WSDOT to evaluate transportation problems and potential improvements for SR 164 and recommend projects for implementation.

The End Result

Phase I of the SR 164 corridor study was completed in 2001 and resulted in a list of 34 short-term improvements, some of which have already been implemented by WSDOT and our partners.

Now in Phase II, the final product of this phase will be a route development plan containing community and environmentally sensitive transportation recommendations to increase safety and travel reliability; reduce person and vehicle delay; manage access; and respond to growth in the years to come.

The route development plan;and the list of recommended projects will be developed by a corridor working group made up of local city, county, regional, and state partner agencies responsible for guiding the route development plan effort. These corridor working group partners include the cities of Auburn and Enumclaw; the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe; the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC); King County; and the Washington State Department of Transportation. These partners are the agencies responsible for funding and implementing the route development plan's recommended projects. The corridor working group encourages input from partners and citizens to develop consensus-based recommendations that address transportation problems along the corridor. The recommendations will include:

• Short-term proposed for mobility and safety improvements for the next six to 10 years.
• Long-term mobility and safety recommendations for the next 25 years.

Most of these recommended projects are not currently funded. If funded, some projects may move forward as WSDOT projects; others may be implemented collaboratively with partner agencies; or may be done by local agencies.

What are Route Development Plans?

Route development plans are planning studies for state highway corridors. Within the study area, existing and future transportation related problems are identified and appropriate solutions are proposed. Corridor lengths may vary from a few miles to an entire highway route and proposed solutions may include several alternatives.

The RDP analysis focuses on issues that might affect the individual state highway and surrounding communities. Those issues include:

• operating conditions (traffic flow)
• safety concerns
• environmental issues
• population and land development
• right-of-way

WSDOT provides information on the web for other RDP's around the state.

Project Benefits

• Regional and Statewide Planning. The recommended set of projects will be produced in a Route Development Plan. The improvements will then be eligible for inclusion in the Regional Transportation Plan and the Washington Transportation Plan.
• Improve Safety. Possible recommended improvements include: separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, installation of signals, and designated highway crossings.
• Ease Congestion. Recommended projects will seek to reduce traffic bottlenecks and chokepoints where possible, while improving the flow of people and goods through the corridor.

What is the project timeline?
The study is expected to conclude with the publication of the final Route Development Plan.

• September 2004 to December 2004: Developed immediate-term list of projects.
• September 2004 to March 2005: Developed short-term and long-term projects.
• March 2005: Held first round of open houses.
• March 2005 to August 2005: Evaluated and refined projects.
• October 2005: Held second round of open houses.
• Summer 2006: Completed recommendations and developed the SR 164 Route Development Plan.
• September 2006: Distributed draft of the route development plan to corridor working group for comment.
• Fall 2006 to Spring 2007: WSDOT’s internal review and approval of revised draft plan.
• Summer 2008: Expect to release the final approved route development plan.

Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Please contact us to provide your input on possible SR 164 improvements. Public outreach activities have already begun and includes: community group presentations, six open houses and e-mail updates.

Title VI: WSDOT assures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin and sex in the provision of benefits and services. For language interpretation services please contact WSDOT at 206-382-5287. It is necessary to speak limited English so that your request can be appropriately responded to. For information on WSDOT's Title VI Program, please contact the Title VI Coordinator at 360.705.7098.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: Individuals requiring reasonable accommodation of any type may contact Kathryn J. Lepome by e-mail at LepomeK@wsdot.wa.gov or at 360-705-7097 (Olympia). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call WA State Telecommunications Relay Service (TTY) at 711.

Environmental Protection
WSDOT and its study partners make every effort to assess and avoid, or minimize environmental impacts from our projects. During Phase I, the SR 164 Corridor Study identified known environmental and cultural/historic resources, such as, endangered/threatened species, wetlands, geologic hazards, aquifers, air/noise issues.

Please visit the WSDOT Environmental Services Web site for more information.

Increasing safety is one of our priorities
The Phase I list of 35 short-term improvements included many safety improvements. During Phase II, all projects submitted for recommendation will be reviewed for pedestrian and driver safety. Additionally, projects to reduce or eliminate traffic chokepoints will also improve traffic safety.

Will this project impact tribal resources?
State Route 164 is a primary access route for the Muckleshoot Tribal Reservation. Government-to-government consultation has been initiated between WSDOT and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe is a key partner of this study and secured some of the original funding for it. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe will be involved in the project decision-making through their participation in the study's Corridor Working Group.

At WSDOT, we seek to address the concerns of the tribal nations 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 visit our WSDOT Tribal Liaison Web site.

Financial Information
The project is funded through the following sources:

•2004 Legislative Appropriation - $650,000
• Total Funding Available from all sources - $650,000

Project Manager
Seth Stark

How can I get more information?
Contact:
Corridor Planning Manager Richard Warren
401 2nd Avenue South, Ste 300
Seattle, WA 98104-2887
WARRENR@wsdot.wa.gov
206.464.1283

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