2017-2037 Comp Plan Update Enabling Ordinance with Exhibit A

Home Browse Search

Kittitas County December 2016 Comprehensive Plan 6.1.1 Pass Closures and Pass Access Interstate 90 was closed 66 times between the summer of 1996 and the summer of 1997 alone. Forty five of these closures where due to an avalanche or avalanche control. While recent closure numbers have been down, some of the closure durations were very significant. I-90 road closures are determined and regulated by (WSDOT) in coordination with the Washington State Patrol (WSP). WSDOT and WSP will close I-90 when there is a serious safety concern for the motorist. Typically, closures occur all the way from North Bend to Cle Elum, but each situation is evaluated to determine the level of closure required. Closure of the road has an economic and social impact on the Pass community, and is particularly frustrating to skiers and residents alike when eastbound traffic is prohibited from reaching the summit when the safety hazards occur east of Exit 54. While WSDOT and the State Patrol may allow access during closures, there is no adopted plan or policy that accommodates Pass residents and businesses. While such a plan would not eliminate all future inconvenience, it would provide some certainty of access for Pass residents. In the meantime, Pass residents have established a good working relationship with a member of WSP, who helps residents get home, when it is safe, during I-90 closures. The residents meet in North Bend, and then are led by caravan to the pass by uniformed officers. This was a new arrangement in the winter of 1998/1999. However, one officer cannot be on duty at all hours. WSDOT should work with the community, through SNOPAC, and WSP to prepare a Closure/Access plan which includes a system whereby residents can be identified easily and allowed access to at least Exit 52 (eastbound) when safe. 6.1.2 Transportation Study A transportation study was prepared as part of this planning effort and is available as a separate document. The study includes background information and descriptions of existing conditions, and includes trip generation based on the allocation of land uses for the years 2005 and 2015 as briefly described in the Land Use section. This section presents a summary of the transportation findings for future conditions, recommendations for improvements that may be necessary to mitigate growth impacts, and improvements that could presently be made to mitigate existing problems. The computer traffic model used in analyzing conditions at the Pass distributes and assigns traffic to area intersections and roadways. The modeling program is supplied the trip generation information, through-traffic volumes on area roadways (in this case, I-90), information on relative land use locations, and "network” information - capacity, where the roads are, and how many lanes per road. The model programmer also provides information on average observed speeds, congestion points, stop sign or signal locations, and other data needed to run the traffic model. For this project, the program also included information to restrict traffic flow due to adverse weather conditions. This is done by reducing the capacity (ability of cars to flow) on each road