2024-09-09-minutes-public-works-and-cds-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9, 2024 TOPIC: Upper County Traffic Calming - Gates ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Joshua Fredrickson RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to investigate gate installation on upper county roads. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Fehr & Peers identified and evaluated possible traffic calming devices for various County roads in Upper County in 2021 • Over forty traffic calming measures or roadway modifications were discussed during the process • Gate installation at locations are being requested for consideration on County roads • Provide for limited local access, limiting I-90 bypass traffic BACKGROUND: In 2020 Public Works solicited for professional services supporting transportation planning. Public Works solicited the planning firms to inventory County roads impacted by I-90 weekend traffic and identify various traffic calming measures or roadway modifications on these corridors. Fehr & Peers was selected to perform said work within Upper County, with a final memo provided in 2021. Recommendations have been implemented as possible, with additional traffic calming resources being considered. DISCUSSION: Fehr & Peers 2021 traffic calming device report included a review and recommendations of multiple traffic calming devices. Recommendations included items such as signing and pavement markings. Recommendations were focused on traffic calming, and not specific to reducing traffic volumes. The installation of gates was not considered as part of the traffic calming report. Traffic from I-90 continues to seek bypass routes when I-90 becomes congested or stopped. Gates and local access only restrictions are occasionally used on roadways during severe weather or emergency situations. Exploring their use on a regular basis on public roadways, to identify if feasible and practical. Topics to consider