Previous Meetings We Have Had

MEETINGS WITH PIERCE COUNTY

Transportation Advisory Commission

We continue to have representation at the monthly Pierce County Transportation Advisory Commission TAC.  They have been making recommendations on development transporatation mitigation policies and ranking upcoming transporation projects.  The February 25, 2021 meeting ranked an alternate SR162 corridor (122nd Ave E) on South Hill Puyallup and Military Road corridor from SR162 to Shaw Road as one and two on the priority list.  Just possibly influenced by our meeting and behind the scenes work.

 

Pierce County Executive

On February 22, 2021 we had a Zoom meeting with County Executive Dannmier, valley council members, and public works.  A presentation of our recommendation to extend 128th St E (Tehaleh highway connection) west up to South Hill (see more HERE).  We also renewed our concerns to proceed with Military Road improvements along with an alternate corridor.  We stressed the importance of raising the priority of transportation projects in this area because of the Tehaleh highway timeline, knowing how long it takes to build out a project.

 

Pierce County Economic Infrastructure Development Committee

We made a formal presentation to the County Economic Infrastructure Development Committee (committee that brings funding issues to the full Council) on July 14.  They were very receptive and they offered their support /to our recommendations.  We hoped to meet with the full council but it was suggested that we consider waiting for the newly elected members. Our push is to recommend actions the County can take to reduce the impacts to farming, businesses, and commuters due to the additional traffic on SR162 from the new Teheleh highway.  We are also connecting with candidates running for County offices to make them aware of our efforts.

 

County Council Chair

Four members of our steering committee met wih Pierce County Council chair, Doug Richardson on July 2, 2020.  We made a full presentation to him regarding the impacts the Teheleh highway will have on the farming/commuting SR162 corridor and what action we feel the County is obligated to take to minimize those impacts.  The meeting went very well and he felt that the County could respond to our requests. 

 

Pierce County Public Works

MEETING WITH PIERCE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS - On Monday, June 3, we had a very good meeting with transportation planning, and engineering for the county. The exchanges were informative and provided us an opportunity to discuss our concerns and recommendations in finding solutions for the transportation issues in East Pierce County. Subjects discussed were the SR162/128th St E intersection, design of Tehaleh highway, county corridors paralleling SR162, Military Road improvements, alternate County north/south corridor, and public transportation possibilities.

 

HERE ARE SOME MEETING OUTCOMES       

  1. SR162/128th St.E. intersection - Governor's veto leaves it as a roundabout. That still needs an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). It is our plan to participate in that study. We will learn more about the procedure and time line of that study as we proceed.
  2. Design of Tehaleh highway - An outcome of this meeting is a follow up meeting with Brian Johnston (County designer) to review and discuss in detail the design as it currently stands and how it can be changed to meet the stated vision of the Alderton-McMillin Community Plan: (retain the image of a rural hillside, containing light and noise, and replanting trees and shrubs).
  3. County corridors paralleling SR162-The county is aware of the burden of traffic that will be on the Riverside Drive/McCutcheon Road corridor and are trying to find ways to accommodate it, at least improving some safety factors of that corridor. Further, we will be investigating the 122nd St/Military Road/Shaw Road corridor as an alternate north/south corridor which would remove plateau commuters from using SR162.
  4. Military Road improvements - The county is considering whether a two-way turn lane or a climbing lane would be the better discision and if considering both are possible. An engineer's study is yet to be done for that and is in discussion at the county currently. We propose a new corridor connecting 128th St E (Tehaleh highway) westward up the slope to 144st E on the South Hill plateau.  This proves a second east/west corridor for Tehaleh residents and removes the demand to widen Military Road from SR162 to South Hill.
  5. Public Transportation possibilities-This has been discussed at several meetings. Pierce Transit has told the county there is no evidence that it is warranted or that it could be afforded. There are no funds availbale to expand their service area. We have yet to address that. With the expanding developments in Orting and to the west of Orting, it would seem that commuters to King County and even to Tacoma could benefit from a shuttle from a Park and Ride in the south valley area for service to the Sounder station or other bus terminals to meet the commuting needs of this area of the county.

     

Over the years and continuing today, we have had numerous one-on-one discussions with the decision makers in public works.  They have been more than helpful answering our questions, listening to our positions, and responding to our requests.  Our group leader has created a effective working relationship with this department and we appreciate their responses.

 

Pierce County has been very receptive to hearing us.  We have met with many departments and council members to voice our concerns and recommendations to mitigate the impacts of the new Tehaleh highway.  Pierce County Planning and Public Works department has been extremely helpful and receptive to our concerns and ideas.  The County is listening and responding and that is good news.

 

County Council Meetings

We appear at all relavant County Council and committee meetings.

 

County Agriculture Advisory Committee

Our members have attended numerous meetings to share the impacts of SR162 issues on the farming community in the Orting Valley.

 

 

WA STATE MEETINGS

WSDOT

We have had numerous meetings with WSDOT on the issues of both roundabouts and widening SR162 due to the overwhelming impacts of the Tehaleh highway on this corridor.  Most have been unproductive as WSDOT refuses to discuss impact issues and will not provide supporting data to their decisions to install roundabouts on SR162. 

 

State Election Candidates

We met with most of the candidates running for legislative for the three legislative districts impacted by SR162 and Tehaleh.  We introduced ourselves, educated them on the issues we have and requested their support.

 

New House and Senate Members

After the election we contacted all of the new members to both House and Senate in these districts requesting their support on the issue of roundabouts and the impacts of the dramatic traffic increase projections to SR162 from the Tehaleh highway. 

 

Members of Congress

We continue to have personal contacts with House representatives and Senators to update and request their continued support.  We are asking them to force WSDOT to perform the required environmental impact study on the proposed roundabout at 128th St E on SR162.

WSDOT has deferred that study to a County impact study that did not meet state requirements.   We feel that this study will bear out our opposition to this and all roundabouts considered for SR162.

 

TEHALEH HIGHWAY DISIGNER MEETING - t We mewith Brian Johnston, the County roadway engineer regarding the design of the Tehaleh highway.  Unfortunately many of our concerns have come too late in that the EIS for the highway has been completed and designs are based on that.  We are pursuing the possibilities with Tehaleh and the County to plant more trees on the downslope of the highway to grow and hide the roadway and vehicles lights.  Also, we learned more on compression brake restrictions on this roadway.

 

                                               

PLACE HOLDER