U.S. Highway 101 south of Forks and east of Port Angeles along with the entire stretch of State Route 104 through Jefferson County are projected to become two of the state’s most congested roadways by 2030.
That projection is one of many that the state Department of Transportation notes in its Draft Washington Transportation Plan Update.
The plan focuses on priorities rather than individual projects.
Easing congestion is only one of the state Department of Transportation’s priorities — and it wants to know if the public thinks it has spread a limited budget over those priorities properly.
Transportation is taking public comment on its Draft Washington Transportation Plan Update 2007-2026, which sets long-term policy for the state’s transportation system.
Spread thin
There isn’t enough money to do everything that needs to be done, according to Transportation officials.
The state’s population is projected to grow from 6 million to 8 million people in the next 20 years, mostly in the Central Puget Sound area.
Locally, the North Olympic Peninsula’s population is projected to increase from 96,000 to 135,000 in that same period — 87,000 in Clallam County and 48,000 in Jefferson County.
An estimated $67 billion in additional transportation spending is needed during the 20 years beyond the funding from 2003’s 5-cent gas tax increase and 2005’s $7.1 billion, 16-year Transportation Partnership Act, according to Transportation.
But the state has only about $29 billion in projected funding available, leaving nearly $38 billion in transportation needs unmet.
So, what are the state’s priorities for the next 20 years?
“We can’t just build our way out of this. We need to prioritize,” said Judy Lorenzo, manager for the Washington Transportation Plan update process.
