WSDOT Projects

Overview
State Route 167 is a primary highway connecting south King and north Pierce counties to the Seattle/Bellevue metropolitan area. The corridor serves a growing number of housing developments and lies along the largest freight distribution center in the region. SR 167 is also an important alternative route to I-5 for moving both people and goods in the Puget Sound Region.

SR 167 Valley Freeway Corridor Plan Draft Recommendations
The Washington State Department of Transportation and the SR 167 Corridor Working Group have completed the draft recommendations to improve safety and relieve congestion on 27 miles of SR 167 between Renton and Puyallup. The draft recommendations are part of the SR 167 Valley Freeway Corridor plan report, which is expected to be published in Winter 2007/2008.

A corridor plan is the first step toward obtaining funding for transportation improvement projects. It identifies existing and emerging problems, and proposes specific solutions to be implemented over the next 25 years.

The SR 167 project team examined the effects on traffic and the environment of adding one to two additional lanes and examined projects that would provide near-term relief by addressing specific bottlenecks where traffic bogs down. Completing the HOV lanes is a priority that was analyzed, along with HOT lanes as a way to move more vehicles more efficiently.

To identify problems and solutions, we examined:

• Collision rates and locations
• Population growth and future development
• Traffic flow
• Environmental issues
• Future demand, costs and ability to pay for improvements
• Public input

Why is WSDOT looking at ways to improve SR 167?
The last few decades have transformed the Green River Valley from farmland to a mix of busy residential, commercial, retail and industrial activity. Between 1980 and 2000, population grew by 68% and is projected to grow another 39% by 2030.

Employment has nearly doubled between 1980 and 2000 with growth projections of another 50%. This could mean another 90,000 jobs in the Valley by the year 2030, which is good news. However, increasing development often brings an increase in traffic congestion and collisions.

A corridor that carried 15,000 vehicles per day in 1970, now carries 120,000 vehicles on a busy weekday. If current trends continue and no investments are made by 2030, southbound travel time on the corridor could go from an average of 20 mins. to over an hour.

The End Result
The SR 167 Corridor Plan was undertaken to provide a list of improvement projects for the corridor that can be built in stages over the next 20-30 years. One project is already underway: building southbound HOV/HOT lanes from Auburn to Pacific, a high-priority project of the plan.

When finalized, the corridor plan’s recommendations will be incorporated into other regional and statewide plans to ensure consistency and give decision makers the tools they need to prioritize projects for implementation. The corridor plan will also give local leaders an agreed-upon list of projects to take to the legislature for future funding. Other projects in the plan will be built as they are funded.

Project Benefits

• Safety -  The corridor plan will identify projects to improve freeway ramps.  Improving ramps will enhance safety and truck mobility by providing more room for vehicles to gain speed or slow down when entering and exiting SR 167.
  
• Congestion Relief -  The corridor plan will identify improvements that respond to growth and economic development.  Extending merges and adding lanes will allow SR 167 to carry more people and vehicles as the region continues to grow.
  
• Environment - Proposed projects will maintain or improve air quality, protect or enhance fish-bearing streams and wetlands, and support regional environmental goals.  For more information, please read the "Environmental Protection" paragraph below.

What is the project timeline?
The study began in August 2005 and will be complete by Winter 2007/2008.

Public Involvement
In addition to close coordination with the Corridor Working Group, the SR 167 Project team sought input from local communities to learn more about the problems they are encountering and to document their ideas for solutions. For information about public outreach activities that were conducted throughout the corridor, please visit our public outreach page. Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. Please feel free to send us a comment or question.

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 Carol Hunter by email at hunterc@wsdot.wa.gov or at 206-464-1219.  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 identify and avoid or minimize potential environmental effects from its projects.

The SR 167 Project team examined the environmental conditions in the study area which are included in the findings of the plan. Areas of particular interest: wetlands, floodplains, and stormwater runoff; soil stability; fish-bearing culverts; protected fish and wildlife species.
Please visit the WSDOT Environmental Services Web site for more information.

Increasing safety is one of our priorities
Potential improvements were evaluated based on their ability to enhance both driver and truck safety. 

Will this project impact tribal resources?
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.

The SR 167 corridor is within the usual and accustomed areas of the Muckleshoot Tribe.  Government-to-government consultation has been initiated between WSDOT and representatives of these tribes.  WSDOT is committed to keeping the tribes informed and involved during the planning process, and provided a seat for tribal representation in the study's Corridor Working Group.

For more information, please visit the WSDOT Tribal Liaison Website.

Financial Information
The corridor plan and some SR 167 projects are funded by the following sources:

• 2003 Gas Tax - $9.6 Million
• Total Funding Available from all sources - $9.6 Million.

How can I get more information?
Contact:

For general questions or comments about the plan,
e-mail the SR 167 corridor group

To contact specific team leaders:

Carol Hunter, Project Manager
WSDOT Urban Planning Office
401 2nd Ave South #300
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 464-1219

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