Laserfiche WebLink
1 INTRODUCTION <br />Working in partnership with the Washington <br />State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), <br />the Kittitas County Public Works Department <br />(County) has undertaken this feasibility study <br />as an initial step in a planning and design <br />process for improvements within the 1-90 <br />corridor in Upper Kittitas County. <br />1.1 Study Area <br />Kittitas County is located at the geographic <br />center of Washington State, midway between <br />the heavily populated Puget Sound region and <br />the eastern rural areas centered around Moses <br />Lake. More than half of the County is covered <br />by forests, while less than two percent (2%) of <br />the County is in urban development. <br />The study area is a 15-mile section of 1-90 <br />located in Upper Kittitas County beginning in <br />Easton at milepost (MP) 70.3 and ending at the <br />1-90/State Route 970/903 interchange at MP 85 <br />in Cie Elum, as well as the surrounding local <br />roads and populated areas located north and <br />south of 1-90 in this area (Figure 1-1). <br />Within the study area, directly along the 1-90 <br />corridor are the communities of Easton, Cie <br />Elum, and South Cie Elum. Other communities <br />north of 1-90 include Ronald and Roslyn. <br />Numerous recreational areas serve residents <br />and tourists, including the Palouse to Cascades <br />State Park, Washington State Horse Park, <br />Memorial Park, and the Sun Country Golf <br />Course. Both the Yakima and Cie Elum Rivers <br />run through the study area. <br />Besides 1-90, key transportation facilities in <br />the study area include the BNSF Snoqualmie <br />Pass main line, and SR 903 serving Roslyn <br />and Cie Elum. 1-90 in the study area is a <br />designated scenic highway and is also part of <br />the Mountains to Sound Greenway (National <br />Heritage Area). <br />1.2 Purpose of This <br />Feasibility Study <br />Feasibility studies are used to determine <br />the practicability, constructability, and level <br />of impact of a proposed project. Based on <br />stakeholder and community feedback, the <br />conceptual alternatives that could potentially <br />reduce or alleviate the concerns or issues at <br />VOLUME 1: FEASIBILITY REPORT 1-90 Corridor Easton to Cle Elum Feasibility Study I 1 <br />