PORT TOWNSEND — Representatives of three North Olympic Peninsula cities appeared before the state Transportation Commission on Wednesday seeking funding support for their future road projects.
“Most local streets are deteriorating with more traffic than they can handle,” Port Townsend Mayor David King said.
“In order to support community programs, we have needed to defer financing on street repair.”
Sequim Mayor Ken Hays and Port Angeles’ director of community and economic development, Nathan West, accompanied by City Councilman Patrick Downie, also addressed the commission.
The seven-measure commission is made up of representatives throughout the state and is nominated by the governor to provide input about transportation policy to the Legislature.
“We are here to help you,” said Commission Chair Dan O’Neal of Mason County.
“The Legislature doesn’t buy everything we suggest, but at least we can help to move the discussion forward and get the issues before them.”
The issue, as stated by commission policy analyst Paul Parker, is that needs exceed resources.
“We are at a crossroads,” Parker said.
“Improving mobility is essential to our economy, but the transportation needs outstrip the funds that are available.”
King said conservation measures and more fuel-efficient vehicles shrink the funds available.
“One inconvenient result of conservation is that usage fees don’t support the transportation needs,” he said.
“In Port Townsend, we have the highest average number of [hybrid Toyota] Priuses, and we have a variety of interesting transportation options that people use to get around town.”
Hays said Sequim has several of its own alternative transportation modes that are tied to the aging population.
“We have a lot of electric vehicles, motorized carts and golf carts, so we have a lot of alternative options,” he said.
Hays added that Sequim has the same worries as other small towns, citing pavement repair and capital improvement funding.
“We believe that our successes make us good partners with the state for transportation projects,” Hays said.
“We’ve developed plans that are geared toward moving people and not just relieving congestion.”
“I think Port Angeles is doing a great job in balancing the challenges of transportation funding with our future needs,” West said.
“By meeting those needs, we will make a difference in the long term for the community.”
Even so, there are challenges, West said, in maintaining existing roads and facilities.
The city has fallen behind in implementing federally required upgrades for the disabled and installing school walking routes because it has been unable to find partners for these projects,
“We have a backlog of 41 projects that have not been funded,” West said.
“There are mothers who are very concerned about their kids walking to school on a regular basis, and these projects are very important.”
In the future, West said, Port Angeles is looking toward developing projects that “connect major city assets.”
This includes downtown waterfront redevelopment, repair of erosion on Ediz Hook Road and development of Race Street, which West said provides the major link between the downtown area and local parks, including Olympic National Park.
Another acute need for the downtown area is to improve signs.
“Directional signage in Port Angeles takes many forms but has no consistency,” West said.
“An integrated and unified template for directional signage is needed in order to reduce confusion and frustration.”
Port Townsend’s King said sidewalk repair is an important though unexciting aspect of transportation policy.
“In a lot of places here, the sidewalk starts and stops with no reason,” he said.
“Some people say this is part of our charm, but it has become a real problem.
“It is possible to fix this and still maintain our local character.”
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
