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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: May 8, 2017 <br />TOPIC: Exit 701-90 <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Informational <br />LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Encourage staff to continue developing possible solutions mitigating adverse impacts <br />resulting from WSDOT I-90 closures at Exit 70 for state legislative consideration. <br />BREWING SUMMARY: <br />• Large trucks are the primary issue <br />• Lack of law enforcement is also a reality <br />• Exit 70 interchange cannot be used to redirect traffic when the lanes are blocked <br />by large trucks <br />• A new rest area is unlikely owing to current state funding levels <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Several weeks ago, Commissioner Osiadacz and PW staff met with WSDOT staff <br />discussing adverse impacts to Exit 70 residents resulting from seasonal closures of I-90. <br />WSDOT staff stated that the biggest problem is tractor -trailer rigs and their unwillingness <br />to turn around during an extended closure of 1-90. Sanitary conditions are a concern for <br />area residents as it is common for those in the closure to relieve (bodily functions) <br />themselves where -ever possible along the interstate. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />It is quite common today for trucking companies to compensate drivers on a per mile <br />basis. Drivers are unwilling to lose "headway" and their place "in line" owing to and <br />extended closure of I-90. WSDOT staff believes that fines for failure to "turn around" <br />would likely not be successful and that driver's would simple take the fine rather than <br />tum around. The lack of law enforcement is also stated by WSDOT as being <br />problematic. WSDOT staff also states that constructing a rest area in the vicinity of Exit <br />70 is highly unlikely owing to current budget constraints supporting transportation <br />improvements. <br />Public Works recently revisited WSDOT staff and requested planning support from the <br />South Central region. Specifically, we are requesting that WSDOT quantify the likely <br />numbers of tractor -trailer rigs associated with a 72 hour 1-90 closure. Once we have an <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />