WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Hood Canal Bridge pilot project could ease traffic congestion on SR 3 and SR 104

State Rep. Christine Rolfes, Sen. Phil Rockefeller say pilot should improve traffic predictability

OLYMPIA — Following nearly a year’s worth of discussions, the U.S. Coast Guard has announced a summer pilot project restricting the Hood Canal Bridge from opening from 3–6 p.m. every day. The measure is designed to improve road travel predictability in the region, as unannounced drawbridge openings have produced major delays and long vehicle queues that obstruct road access. U.S. Navy vessels are exempt.

Residents along SR 3 and SR 104 brought the issue to Rep. Christine Rolfes and Sen. Phil Rockefeller last spring, concerned that irregular bridge openings caused them to miss appointments and be late for work. When the bridge opens, some residents are trapped in their driveways as SR 3 and SR 104 are packed with waiting vehicles.

“This pilot is very welcome news,” said Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island. “The Coast Guard has listened closely to our concerns and is taking action. Having a three-hour window will help folks run errands, pick up their kids from school and drive home from work without such anxiety.”

“Approximately one half of all openings of the Hood Canal Bridge are for the passage of Navy vessels,” said Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island. ”This change will not affect their traffic through the bridge, but will drastically improve residents’ road travels.”

After meeting with local citizens and the Washington State Department of Transportation to generate ideas, Rolfes and Rockefeller sought help from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell last summer. Cantwell worked with the legislators and the Coast Guard to move forward on implementing the pilot project.

“I applaud the Coast Guard for taking this step towards a long-term solution that will improve access to Hood Canal Bridge,” said Cantwell, D-WA. “This pilot project should reduce traffic delays and improve travel predictability for Washingtonians.”

Under current operating procedures, the bridge must open for any vessel that provides at least one hour of notice. Last summer, the bridge opened 29 times in June and 43 times in July. Some openings last for more than 30 minutes.

The restricted period runs from 3 p.m. on May 21, 2011, to 6 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2011.

The Coast Guard is accepting public comment through Nov. 30, 2011. Per instructions printed in the Federal Register, to submit a comment online, go to www.regulations.gov, click on the ‘‘submit a comment’’ box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the ‘‘Keyword’’ box, insert ‘‘USCG–2011–0314’’, click ‘‘Search’’, and then click on the balloon shape in the ‘‘Actions’’ column.

Once the public comment period ends, the Coast Guard will evaluate the comments along with traffic data and drawbridge records to determine the next steps.

The notice published in the Federal Register is available here: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-06/pdf/2011-11059.pdf