Day 2 - WSDOT Safety Rest Area Bus Tour & Exhibitor Showcase
Conference attendees were taken on an all day bus tour of three Washington Safety Rest Areas which was designed to experience the Evergreen State along the state highway system during one of the more colorful times of the year. The tour traveled over three mountain passes; Stevens Pass, Blewett Pass, and Snoqualmie Pass, while stopping for lunch at the Stevens Pass Ski Resort. The tour ended back at the hotel just in time for the Exhibitor Showcase.
| Begin | End | Activity |
| 6:30 | 7:30 | Breakfast |
| 7:30 | 3:30 | WSDOT Safety Rest Area Bus Tour Smokey Point Safety Rest Area Iron Goat Safety Rest Area Indian John Safety Rest Area |
| 3:30 | 4:00 | Break |
| 4:00 | 6:00 | Exhibitor Showcase |
WSDOT Safety Rest Area – Bus Tour
The Washington State Department of Transportation Safety Rest Area Program consists of 46 sites; 29 on the interstates and 17 on state routes which includes 693 acres of land and 92 buildings for an annual visitor use of 21 million persons. The program is also responsible for 25 viewpoints and 19 roadside parks. The SRA Bus Tour stopped at the following three sites:
Giant Arborvitae at Smokey Point Safety Rest Area
First Stop: The Smokey Point Safety Rest Area is located on I-5, Mile Post 207 and is one of the more utilized facilities in the state. The site was constructed in 1972 and is most known for the Giant Arborvitae, a historic marker which symbolizes the giant trees that once forested the area. Other site features include RV dump stations, traveler information displays, vending machines, potable water, picnic areas, public phone, truck parking, and ADA accessibility.
Iron Goat Safety Rest Area
Iron Goat SRA - Paved Trail
Iron Goat SRA - Gravel Trail
Second Stop: The Iron Goat Safety Rest Area is located on US-2, Mile Post 58. This site is the latest SRA constructed by WSDOT and was completed in 2007. The rest area and train engine is a historic interpretation of the Great Northern Railway, which is one of the most remarkable engineering feats of the nineteenth century. A partnership was established between WSDOT, King County, the Volunteers of Outdoor Washington (VOW), and the City of Skykomish to develop and maintain this site. WSDOT constructed the site with the help of VOW who constructed the ADA accessible trail and coordinated the installation of the Iron Goat. The City of Skykomish and King County are on agreement with WSDOT to perform annual maintenance. This is a limited service Safety Rest Area with only toilet facility and passenger vehicle parking that compliments the recreational trail access.
View from Stevens Pass
Stevens Pass
Third Stop: Box lunches were provided for the attendees at the Stevens Pass Ski Resort. Views of the area mountain ranges were on display during this lunch period.
Indian Hill Electronic Travel Info
Indian Hill RV Dump Station
Fourth Stop: The Indian John Hill Safety Rest Area is located on I-90, Mile Post 89 and is another heavily utilized facility within the state highway system. Construction of this site was completed in 1967 and the name is representative of the Kittitas Indian Chief who was well known in the area by settlers in the late 1800s. Other site features include RV dump stations, traveler information both electronic and kiosk displays, vending machines, potable water, picnic areas, public phone, truck parking and ADA accessibility.
