WSDOT Projects

View phase map.  Planning area is along SR 7 between the town of Morton in Lewis County and SR 507 in Pierce County.

Project Facts

• The SR 7 Route Development Plan covers more than 47 miles and will be conducted in three phases.
• The plan will identify improvement opportunities and guide WSDOT investments in the corridor over a 20-year period.
• The plan will target many of the congestion, safety and roadside issues route users encounter.

Why is WSDOT studying State Route 7?
State Route 7 is an important north-south connector for the traveling public. This 47-mile section of the route is used by a wide variety of customers including schools, the logging industry and recreational traffic. WSDOT is using a community-based planning approach to help determine what transportation improvements should be made to the route. 

The End Result
The Route Development Plan will produce a list of short- and long-term recommendations on how to improve transportation on this section of SR 7. Short-term recommendations will be sent to specific WSDOT program managers for consideration. Long-term recommendations will be analyzed and incorporated into the statewide Highway System Plan, and will be considered for future funding. A report providing details about the data analyzed, the public involvement process and the recommended solutions will be prepared as a reference document at the conclusion of the Route Development Plan process.

Project Benefits
A Route Development Plan identifies transportation safety and mobility improvement opportunities and guides WSDOT's investments in the corridor over a 20-year period. The plan will target many of the congestion, safety and roadside issues that drivers often face.

The goal of the study is to ensure that priority corridor problems are documented and appropriate solutions are determined.  There is an added benefit as a result of the 2005 revenue package that was passed by the Legislature.

The input from the stakeholders and community on safety concerns can be utilized to develop projects for the corridor between US 12 and SR 706.

What is the project timeline?
The study will be conducted in three phases. 

• Phase 1 - SR 7 corridor between US 12 in Morton and SR 706 (completed in March 2006).
• Phase 2 - SR 7 corridor between SR 706 and SR 702 (to be completed as funding becomes available).
• Phase 3 - SR 7 corridor between SR 702 and SR 507 (to be completed as funding becomes available).

Public Involvement
Your thoughts and opinions are important to us. The opinions of community members and those who depend on the route are a fundamental part of the route development study process. WSDOT kept the public informed about the progress of the Route Development Plan through the local media, this project Web page, multiple public open houses and the stakeholder committee.

WSDOT hosted four stakeholder committee meetings during Phase 1. 

The stakeholder committee was made up of individuals interested in transportation issues along SR 7. Their role was to inform WSDOT of transportation concerns in the communities they represent and endorse the improvements included in the plan. To view a list of people who serve on the stakeholder committee, please visit the Stakeholder Committee Web page.

Three public meetings were held between May and October 2005 at the Bob Lyle Community Center in Morton. For more information about the public outreach activities, please visit the Public Meetings Web page.

Environmental Protection
Studying and evaluating environmental issues that might have an impact on future project development is an important part of the Route Development Plan process. Although specific project impacts cannot be addressed by a study like this, some indication about known environmental issues, especially those that are identified as priorities by the community, will be analyzed and documented as part of the study report. Among other things, discussions with the community will focus on how environmental issues play a role in local planning and project development.

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

Increasing safety is one of our priorities
The Route Development Plan includes both short- and long-term safety solutions for this section of SR 7. WSDOT collected information about safety concerns at the public meetings.

Will this project impact tribal resources?
WSDOT addresses 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.

Financial Information
This planning effort is being paid for by general WSDOT Planning funds. Projects identified in this plan will compete for statewide funding on a biennial basis.

How can I get more information?
Contact:

Karyn Anderson

WSDOT Southwest Region Planning Office

PO Box 1709

Vancouver, WA  98668-1709

Phone:  (360) 905-2080     

E-mail:  andersonk@wsdot.wa.gov

or

Communications
WSDOT Southwest Region
PO Box 1709
Vancouver, WA 98668-1709
Phone: 360-905-2058
E-mail: SWWebInfo@wsdot.wa.gov

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