Planners and around 50 community participants gave serious consideration to three alternatives for traffic safety improvements in Quilcene in a community meeting on April 19.

“I think this is a wonderful process,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan, a member of the Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization for the past 11 years. “This is where it actually happens. People all over Quil are talking it through. I feel really good about this.”

The three alternatives presented were developed from elements chosen in a community design workshop held in December 2015, attended by more than 60 people, and reviewed by business owners fronting on U.S. Highway 101, said project manager Eric Kuzma of the Jefferson County Public Works Department.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) identified Quilcene’s Highway 101 crosswalk as a priority on a regional top 10 list of school zones, and subsequently funded improvements to enhance safety and mobility in 2013 through an $884,165 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program grant submitted by the county.

Elements of each of the three alternatives for the zone along Highway 101 from the area of U.S. Bank to the Quilcene Community Center could be combined to form a preferred alternative, said Kuzma.

Currently, about 40 percent of that area is in travel lanes, 32 percent is paved shoulder, 18 percent is turn lane, 6 percent is vegetated area and 4 percent is gravel shoulder, said Sandy Fischer, of Fischer Bouma Partnership, the workshop presentation team.

Kuzma identified safety as the number one priority, but also sees potential to meet other community needs.

The project also presents opportunities to improve the community character, for access control and parking reorganization, and for better roadway delineation through speed control, striping and turn lanes, making a better experience for visitors and residents, he said.

“If nothing else, the project can improve safety for both the school and the community. If it accomplishes that, I believe it is a success,” said Kuzma.

“That said, I think it is possible to build community and a better sense of place around an invigorated ‘town center.’ If by slowing traffic and creating a place that encourages only a fraction of the traffic to stop, the project possesses the potential to stimulate economic growth and create jobs,” noted Kuzma.

Each alternative included variations on crosswalks, sidewalks, travel and turn lanes, school area improvements, access to Center Road and Church Road, and transit stops.

Rumble strips are not allowed on Highway 101, noted Jeff Bouma.

“It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” commented landowner Wally Pederson. “They want people to slow down, but don’t want to put in anything to slow them down.”

Quilcene resident Linda Oen said she liked the flashing speed limit signs to be installed at each end of town and near the school.

Mike Hughes, owner of Quil Bean Espresso, said limiting Church Road access would negatively impact his business, and others nearby.

“Please keep us rural,” said 80-year resident Quilcene resident Lorna Ward.

Roundabouts are too expensive, too much maintenance, and too urban, said Fischer.

In response to concerns about the budget, Scott Sawyer, civil engineer with SJC Alliance, said elements not built now could be planned for future construction, much like planning for an addition to a house.

“The goal is to get something everyone can live with and meets the criteria,” said Kuzma.

The next step is to come to a preferred alternative, and get feedback on that, said Kuzma, but the exact path to that goal has yet to be determined.

The project deadline is not fixed, said Kuzma.

“Summer construction makes sense but we can’t do it this year,” he said.

Work could be scheduled for next summer, given a plan.

The project could potentially be built in summer 2017, affirmed WSDOT’s Dale Severson.

“The design goes through my office,” he said. “We’re listening.”

Information is available online at the county’s website and in hardcopy at the Quilcene Community Center and on the Jefferson County Library Bookmobile.

According to the WSDOT's 2014 traffic report, average daily count at Maple Grove Road in Quilcene is 3,700 vehicle units. The average daily count is 12,000 on Highway 101 at the Jefferson-Clallam county line at Gardiner, and 1,900 at the Jefferson-Mason county line.