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Home My WebLink About101226 - Public Comment re: East Quilcene Road pu,121,(c.Ominterth- to((�?,c, PETITION TO JEFFERSON COUNTY goCL DATE: October 1,2026 RE: Deteriorating Condition of East Quilcene Road TO: Board of Jefferson County Commissioners CC: Jefferson County Administrator and Department of Public Works We,the undersigned residents and owners of property accessible via East Quilcene Road,respectfully petition the Jefferson County Commissioners to take action to address the deteriorating condition of East Quitcene Road and the serious consequences of failure of the roadway. Background and Concern Over the past decade,residents have noted and expressed concern about the increasingly deteriorated condition of East Quilcene Road,particularly the section between miles 3.4 and 3.6 where erosion appears most severe.See photos attached. This section of roadway is the only vehicular access to approximately 41 privately owned residential properties located farther south along East Quilcene Road.If this portion of the road experiences a major failure or becomes impassable, residents to the south would lose their only means of ingress/egress of their properties.Many are in special jeopardy by reason of age,limited mobility and serious health issues. Such a failure could also prevent or substantially impede access by fire,medical,law-enforcement,and other emergency services.Because the roadway serves what is in effect a linear neighborhood with no alternative vehicular route,a catastrophic failure could leave residents effectively stranded while repairs are underway. Many here recall the mudslide at 3239 East Quilcene Road in the early 2020s. Although the slide was quickly cleared,those of us to the south learned how quickly and completely we can become isolated. We understand that Jefferson County faces significant limitations in road funding and staffing,and that the Public Works Department must address numerous competing road and bridge priorities.We are not asking the County to disregard those realities.We are asking that the County take reasonable advance measures to reduce the consequences and liabilities of a foreseeable roadway failure. Request#1: Inclusion in the TIP We respectfully request that East Quilcene Road be included in Jefferson County's 2027-2032 Transportation Improvement Program(TIP). We recognize that placement on the TIP does not guarantee that construction will occur within the six- year period covered by the updated TIP. However,inclusion is an important step toward establishing the project as an identified transportation need,and positioning it to receive funding that may become available through County,regional,state,or federal transportation programs. We therefore ask the County to: • Include the deteriorating section of East Quilcene Road in the 2027-2032 TIP; • Identify the nature and urgency of the roadway deficiencies; • Continue diligent investigation of potential funding sources,including County Road funds and appropriate regional,state,and federal transportation programs;and • Develop,as resources permit,the engineering,cost estimates,and other information necessary to pursue such funding when opportunities arise. Request#2: Emergency Alternative Access Route 1 We also respectfully request that Jefferson County investigate and establish a feasible route for residents and emergency vehicles to reach properties rendered inaccessible should East Quilcene Road fail. Residents are aware of possible routes onto the ridge of Bolton Peninsula and ultimately toward Lindsay Hill Road,Song Dog Hollow,or Mountainview Road. However,these routes are not presently established as vehicle-accessible emergency routes and are not adequate substitutes for a passable roadway. A more practical option may involve the existing Rayonier logging road that begins its ascent toward the ridge near 3790 East Quilcene Road.That road is presently gated and therefore unavailable to residents. We ask the County to: • Examine possible emergency vehicle routes that could provide access and egress if East Quilcene Road becomes impassable; • Determine which route or combination of routes would be most feasible,safe,and practical for emergency and resident access; • Engage with the Rayonier company, if appropriate,regarding use of its existing logging roads as part of an emergency access route; • Determine what improvements,agreements, permissions,or maintenance arrangements would be necessary to make an emergency route operational;and • Establish a plan that would provide continued vehicle access to affected residents during an extended period of East Quilcene Road repair. If the most feasible emergency route requires access through the Rayonier logging road,we respectfully ask the County to explore an agreement under which the County would assume responsibility for ensuring that necessary gate(s)remain accessible during an emergency and throughout any period in which East Quilcene Road is impassable. Request#3: Keep residents informed We further ask that the County communicate with affected residents regarding the status of these efforts and the steps being taken to address both the long-term roadway problem and the immediate emergency-access risk. We recognize that the County cannot eliminate every risk associated with aging infrastructure and limited transportation resources. Nevertheless,we believe that the foreseeable consequences of a failure of this portion of East Quilcene Road warrant advance planning. We appreciate the difficult transportation funding and maintenance decisions facing the County.Our purpose in bringing this petition is to encourage County officials to act proactively before a catastrophic roadway failure forces an emergency response under much more difficult circumstances. Respectfully submitted by the undersigned residents and property owners of the lower East Quilcene Road community. Signatures By signing below, I affirm that I support this petition and its requests to the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners and Department of Public Works 2 Accompanying Photographs showing East Quitcene Road condition between miles 3.4 and 3.6 and steepness of adjacent ground a- '`�. tr I • .) 1 • . r s r•; :`r ♦mil a,� w ♦ %'• •- . ., •`."..r :► e 6'3"Person 0 ' +I standing . •: 0 t i �,4 . q 4. ti M ', 4 va fiGi 6