Attention: Terry Lee, District 7 Date: October 15, 2009

RE: Community Council Review and Recommendations regarding Project CRP 5740 (Improvements to Key Peninsula Highway KPN/ Olson Dr KPN/Cramer Rd KPN

In April 2009, the Key Peninsula Community Council’s Transportation Committee began studying the planned Pierce County traffic signal project for Key Center. At the same time, we also started soliciting opinions and comments from local residents. In conjunction with the study of the planned traffic signal, the Committee additionally reviewed the Key Peninsula Comprehensive Plan to determine if the project was aligned with the goals set forth by that document. And finally, the Committee explored other options and amenities that were related to traffic flow through Key Center.

Following these initial actions, the Council held a neighborhood informational meeting on May 13. Pierce County project engineers presented a detailed project overview to the community. Comments from attendees at that meeting were solicited and noted. The project was now in the forefront of the community’s attention.

During the Community Council’s regular July 8 meeting, letters addressed to Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee and the Pierce County Public Works Department were unanimously approved and mailed. The Community Council then formed a special committee to consider further actions to take with regard to the traffic signal project. That committee subsequently met with Pierce County engineers on August 5, and with Councilman Terry Lee on August 27, to discuss the project in greater detail.

The September 9 Community Council meeting hosted a Town Hall forum to listen to what the residents had to say about the project. The public comment was evenly split among traffic signal, roundabout, and speed reduction. Also of major concern was the placement of a crosswalk and pedestrian safety.

Opinions and Recommendations of the Community Council

In the interest of continually improving our relationship with Pierce County, the Community Council offers the following opinions and recommendations on behalf of the residents of the Key Peninsula.

1. While there appears to be little consensus at this time that a traffic signal is the best option for the intersection at Key Center, the Community Council feels it is in the community’s best interests not to alter the basic premise of the project because so much of the preparatory work has already been completed.

2. The Community Council is of the opinion that the study and public comment period of this project did not gain the community’s attention until it was too late to provide input on the process. When the County held its first and only informational meeting, in December of 2008, the planning for the project had already progressed past the stage where citizen input could realistically have an impact. We feel the community and County would benefit from earlier and more vigorous dissemination of information about projects that are under consideration. For example, the following organizations could have been notified: Community Council, KP Business Association, KP News, Civic Center, the Library, the Lions, Peninsula School District, Key Pen Parks, Mustard Seed Society, and Peninsula Light Company.

3. The spirit of the community plan needs to be embraced and followed, rather than be viewed as an inconvenience. The Community Council would like the Pierce County Planning Department to recognize the unique characteristics of Key Center and other Key Peninsula Rural Neighborhood Centers and Rural Activity Centers.

4. The one message which the community has clearly expressed is a sense that traffic passing through Key Center is traveling too fast. Since this project will affect the speed of traffic, the Community Council feels that it is appropriate to consider a speed limit adjustment. A twenty-five mile per hour speed limit within the confines of Key Center proper, with driver feedback signs, should be included as a part of this project.

5. Should the project be jeopardized by lack of funding, we recommend, as a minimum, a scaled down version: develop just the southern portion of the intersection to include a left turn lane from Key Peninsula Highway to Olson Drive. The lack of the left turn lane is the single factor that contributes the most to traffic congestion at the Key Center intersection.

6. Based on discussions with the community and business owners in Key Center, the Community Council recommends an additional crosswalk, other than the one already planned for incorporation into the traffic signal intersection, be added to the project. This other crosswalk would be located approximately 600 feet south of the intersection, and should include a push-to-activate set of flashing lights embedded in the roadway surface. We recognize that the criteria for establishing a crosswalk have not been met but request it be installed regardless as it fills the needs of the community rather than just the abstract roadway model. If necessary due to cost considerations, this crosswalk could be added in lieu of the northern and eastern crosswalks at the intersection.

The Community Council strives to be a liaison between the people of the Key Peninsula and Pierce County. We have learned that the people recognize and expect it. But we have also learned that the staff of Pierce County does not. It is our hope this project has and will continue to bridge that gap and this will be the start of a successful and effective relationship between the County and the Key Peninsula community.

Presented to the Key Peninsula Community Council Annual Membership Meeting, October 14, 2009
Danna Webster, KPC President

For those interested in the link to the Pierce County information on the Olsen and KP Highway signal see signal website

I am becoming further obsessed with the signal issue in Key Center. Terry Lee recommended that the Community Council take the issue to the people. The Council’s idea was that we would have a Key Center forum and find out what the people think. One of my key contentions is that Pierce County is flying in the face of the Key Peninsula Community Plan. Someone suggested that the planners recommended a signal. Yet, I am unable to find any reference to a signal. In fact everything I read suggests anything but a signal. I have gleaned everything about traffic in Key Center in the Plan.

Page 61 regarding Key Center

Installation of gateways at either end of center
Requirement by Pierce County

Installation of pedestrian crosswalks and mid-block crossings
Requirement by Pierce County– update transportation plan

Installation of a roundabout
Requirement by Pierce County– update transportation plan

Installation of curbs, gutters and sidewalks
Requirement by Pierce County. Create development incentive

Installation of street trees and pedestrian lighting
Requirement by Pierce County

Installation of pocket parks/public commons
Work with property owners, developers, Pierce County, other agencies and stakeholder groups. Create development incentive

Encourage new retail uses to locate close to
KP Highway frontage
Work with property owners, developers, Pierce County, other agencies and stakeholder groups. Create development incentive

Encourage multifamily/senior housing
Work with property owners, developers, Pierce County, other agencies and stakeholder groups. Create development incentive

Encourage the development of an office park
Work with property owners, developers, Pierce County, other agencies and stakeholder groups. Create development incentive

Acquire and develop a public parking area that could accommodate
RVs. Include rest room facilities and Information kiosk.
Work with property owners, developers, Pierce County, other agencies and stakeholder groups. Create

Page 4

Key Center
Gateways to the center will be created by new street retail, located at key intersections, and a gateway marker. Both will act as entrance features and create community identity. Existing retail will be reinforced by new retail located close to the KP Highway frontage with new parking areas located behind. The new retail uses will be supported by an increase in density with the proposed cottage homes (multifamily or senior housing) and an office park proposed behind the retail core. Street calming and pedestrian friendly amenities have been included in the proposed design, including planted medians, crosswalks, mid-block crossings, sidewalks and roundabouts dispersed throughout the center. A public parking area, including RV parking and restroom facilities, is proposed.

Page 7

Rural Activity Centers
Provides areas where residents can gather, work, shop and entertain, and tourists traveling to recreational areas can obtain needed services. Provides a broad range of commercial, service and residential uses. These areas should have immediate access to state routes or major arterials, and should be configured to provide an alternative to the strip development usually found in these areas.

Page 48

Key Center
The design elements that were determined to be of importance to the design charette participants were in regards to traffic calming, pedestrian amenities and unifying the design elements of the center to create community continuity. The participants felt the entire area needs traffic calming measures. Other transportation improvements include the realignment of the intersection at Highway 302 and Olsen Road, entrance feeder roads into Key Center to take the pressure off of 302 and access across Highway 302. Each of the groups felt that further pedestrian amenities were needed such as pedestrian walkways and trails, streetscape lighting, landscaped medians, amenities such as benches and bike racks, bulb-outs, crosswalks and public bathrooms. It was also suggested that the parking lots be connected between the commercial uses. This will reduce the number of access ways to the street, and centralized parking areas are safer for pedestrians. Other comments for Key Center included uniform design elements such as landscaping, lighting of street and businesses and design guidelines. The Key Center Corral and facades of other buildings were also noted as needing an update to the appearance and improvements and possibly a theme is needed. Development and buildings should be away from the roadway, and more motels and lodging are needed.

Page 63

Traffic Calming
Work with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT ) to reduce the speed limit within the commercial centers along SR-302. Encourage Pierce County to create a landscaped island (center median) through the Key Center RAC when roadway improvements are implemented in the area. Undertake roadway improvements, such as pedestrian crossings, traffic circles, bulbouts, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and bike lanes within each center.

Tonight I will be asking Terry Lee about the traffic signal planned for Key Center. I have determined that the signal is the absolutely wrong solution for the traffic issue in Key Center. Sounds strong but I don’t take lightly the idea of turning around a million dollar project. I was excited about it at first but as I spent more and more time on it I realized that we need a different solution. The Key Peninsula Community Plan talks a lot about traffic calming in Key Center. A signal and wider lanes will result in the opposite. To calm traffic they narrow lanes and they plant medians. Google “traffic calming” and you’ll find no mention of traffic signals. A roundabout is much more fitting with the Community Plan. Or even a four way stop.

The signal will actually increase speeds through Key Center. A lot of people will speed up through a yellow light or trying to make a stale green light. Now you’ve got a car coming through Key Center at 45 mph hoping nobody is going to dart across the road. I suspect you’re familiar with the main reason roundabouts are so popular. They reduce the fatality rate to zero and also lower serious injury accidents. Choosing this signal over a roundabout will, without a doubt, cost someone their life in the next thirty years.

I’m afraid that the installation of a signal will set the stage for an irreversible development trend in Key Center. The people who participated in the development of the Key Peninsula Community Plan had a different vision for Key Center and I feel we owe it to them and the future of the key Peninsula to reconsider this plan for a signal.

Mike