ROUNDABOUTS SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED UNTIL CENTER LANE IS ADDED

• Roundabouts create a continuous flow of traffic along the corridor

• Left turns block traffic along the corridor (140 uncontolled connections on this corridor)

• Continuous flow of traffic will cause extensive traffic delays from left turning vehicles

• Center two-way turn lane removes left turners from the traffic flow

• Vehicles entering the corridor turning left onto the highway have a center lane to enter before merging into traffic

• Other Advantages

  • When school busses stop to pick up or drop off students, traffic in opposite direction is not required to stop

  • During gridlocked hours center lane allows emergency vehicles to pass through traffic

• Center turn lane must be added (with wider shoulders) BEFORE roundabouts are installed

 

WHAT IS NOT REALISTIC 

• SR162 between Sumner and Orting WILL NOT be widened into 4 lanes in our lifetime.
• This corridor in not even on the WSDOT horizon for such a major project in this small corridor.
  • Right-of-way purchase costs would be enormous. 
  • The cost of relocating utility lines would also be cost prohibitive.
  • Water retention issues may take more property acquisitions.

 

WHAT IS REALISTIC

• SR162, between Sumner and Orting CAN NOW BE widened to add a two-way turn lane and wider shoulders USING THE EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY and current UTILITY LINE LOCATIONS

  • Not only that, this corridor already has two-way turn lanes in a number of locations as the result of traffic mitigations for adjacent developments

  • The cost to accomplish this SR162 improvement redirecting current WSDOT funding

  • SR162, a two lane rural corridor will be trying to handle the same amount of traffic that SR410 to Bonney Lake, a four lane highway, is handling today.

• This corridor cannot absorb the additional traffic (1000 more cars per peak hour) without this minimal improvement.

• Wait until you see SR162 traffic volume when the new highway to Tehaleh opens.

  • AND YOU THINK YOU HAVE NIGHTMARES NOW!!

 

HOW DO WE MAKE IT HAPPEN?

• This is where you squeekie wheels come in.
• WSDOT needs to hear from you.
• Not just once, but periodically thoughout the year
• Share your NIGHTMARE commuting experiences along with recommending their support for funding to add a turn lane and shoulders to SR162.
• There are enough of us living through this traffic nightmare to keep this alive throughout the year.
• You can also send the same email/letter to numerous legislators, but for sure Transportation Committee members (as noted by red * next to names on Please Help page)
• Do you have 15-30 minutes once a month or quarter - to save you that much each commute
• • WSDOT has funds for smaller critical point projects
  • We need to show them the crisis

 

WE CAN MAKE YOUR WORK EASIER

• Our PLEASE HELP page has contact information for all area legislators and WSDOT leadership.
• Share your experiences on SR162 and request changes now

 

Important:  keep your emails/letters respectful because nothing discounts a movement like bad feelings

 

SPREAD THE WORD

• MAKE THIS TOPIC PART OF YOUR CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS.
• THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN YOUR LIFE, SO SHARE IT AND REQUEST THEIR SUPPORT.
• GUIDE THEM TO OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.
• WE CAN DO THIS!
• BESIDES, WHAT WILL WE GET IF WE DO NOTHING.........?