Planning study news
Executive summary and study report documents added, the study has been completed.
Purpose
Emergent Needs funds were used for this study. The study documents community feedback related to challenges when crossing the highway, including concerns about driver yielding behavior at crosswalks. The City of Raymond requested that WSDOT evaluate potential improvements on US 101. This evaluation supports Raymond’s Comprehensive Plan goals to provide a safe and efficient transportation system for all users.
Current areas of focus:
-Sidewalks that are not consistent with current WSDOT or ADA guidelines
-No dedicated biking facilities
-Crossing distances and exposure to vehicles
-Lane drops at US 101/Heath St.
The project limits are from Franklin Street at milepost 58.95 to the intersection of Heath Street at milepost 58.57. The primary purpose of this project is to create a plan with community input to reduce crash potential and functionality of US 101 that travels through Raymond in Pacific County. This plan will include short-term and long-term concepts.
The City of Raymond is working with Washington State Department of Transportation Active Transportation through their Assistance Program to identify Safe Routes to School Program projects and developing a high priority safe route to school project.
US 101 through Raymond is a five-lane road, with two lanes in each direction and a center lane for left turns. Wider roadways increase the exposure time and distance of those walking, biking, and rolling to moving vehicles in comparison to shorter crossings. The roadway has more lanes than needed for current typical traffic volumes and for what is expected in the future. Roads that are too wide can encourage higher vehicular speeds. There are sidewalks on both sides, but they do not meet WSDOT standards of 5 feet minimum or ADA requirements. With narrow sidewalks and fast-moving traffic, there are enhancement opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists that use the facilities in the project area.
As a partial control limited access highway, US 101 in this section has no business or residential driveways; access is only available via at-grade crossings at five intersections: SR 6, Heath St, Commercial St., Duryea St., and Franklin St. While the highway includes shoulders that are greater than 10 ft in most areas, street parking is prohibited due to its limited access designation (RCW 47.52.120).
The area west of US 101 is predominately zoned as retail core surrounded with general commercial zoning. East of US 101, the land uses are a mix of general commercial and residential. There are no existing wetlands or flood hazards on US 101 in the study area.
Please see the existing conditions report (PDF 3.1MB) for additional information.
