South Pierce Multimodal Connectivity Study

The study, which was funded during the 2021 and 2022 Washington State legislative sessions, assessed the need for additional connectivity in the areas between SR 162, SR 7, SR 507, and I-5 in south Pierce County.

This study sets a strategic vision for south Pierce County. It provides strategies for state and local roadways to better connect communities. The study also looked at ways to improve safety and reduce congestion for all transportation modes. These strategies also took into account freight access, resiliency, environment and climate change concerns, and health and mobility disparities of the area.

Strategic Vision Package

The study team developed a Strategic Vision Package, which is a mix of projects and policies to address the problem statement. The Strategic Vision Package recommends the following actions:

• Intersection improvements, roundabouts, and signal upgrades.
• Safety improvements, such as turn lanes, paved shoulders, and improved lighting.
• Access management.
• Pedestrian crossing improvements.
• Active mode improvements including new sidewalks, shared use paths, and multiuse trails.
• Transit improvements, including new routes and increased service.
• Capacity and connectivity improvements on county roads.

The Strategic Vision Package will require additional planning and engineering, funding identification and allocation, agency partnerships, and strong project development and delivery to be implemented over the next few decades.

Community engagement

As part of the study, WSDOT hosted an online open house and questionnaire to engage the community and collect input to inform the recommended strategies that will result from this study. In December 2022, 5,356 individuals visited the online open house and 1,574 people completed the questionnaire. Several priorities, challenges, and possible solutions have emerged from these community suggestions.

We invite you to read the online open house and questionnaire report summarizing the community input received.

The study was shaped by two stakeholder advisory groups and a robust community engagement process. Thank you to the study partners and community members who contributed to this study.