Planning study news
Thank you for visiting the Planning and Environmental Linkages Study virtual public open house to view information and give us your feedback.
In 2018, the Washington State Legislature funded a corridor planning study of Interstate 5 between SR 121 in Tumwater (Exit 99) and Mounts Road near DuPont (Exit 116) to develop mid- and long-term strategies for improving the region's transportation system. That study is referred to as the Corridor Study and was completed in 2020.
The study strategies that were developed in the Corridor Study were further evaluated and refined in the Planning and Environmental Linkages Study (PEL Study).
Purpose
The "Planning and Environmental Linkages Study" (PEL study) built upon the goals and strategies outlined in the original 2020 Corridor Study. This PEL Study represents a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making that:
- Considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process
- Uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process.
As part of the PEL Study, a virtual open house was held March 14 through March 28, 2022. Highlights of the event are now available.
The PEL process outlines a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making incorporating community, economic, and environmental goals into WSDOT's Practical Solutions requirements. The PEL Study analyzes the strategies for environmental constraints; working with Thurston Regional Planning Council's traffic modeling team to determine individual strategy benefits to the transportation system; seeking affordable strategies easily implemented that improve person throughput.
Collaborating with local partners, WSDOT and Thurston Regional Planning Council developed strategies to meet study goals and support local agency plans while focusing on the legislative requirements:
- Identify strategies for regional congestion management
- Identify potential improvements for the US 101/I-5 Interchange
- Identify a strategic plan for the Nisqually River bridges that considers ecosystem benefits
In 2020, the Corridor Study held an online public open house and completed the Corridor Study report (PDF 10MB) which developed the mid- and long-range strategies.