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HomeMy WebLinkAbout110711_ca17 Department of Public Works . 0 Consent Agenda Page 1 of 2 Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Agenda Request From: Board of Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator Frank Gifford, Public Works Director ~.f)J To: Agenda Date: November 7, 2011 Subject: Comment to Coast Guard regarding 2011 temporary deviation from normal drawbridge operations of Hood Canal Bridge Statement of Issue: State Senator Phil Rockefeller and Representative Christine Rolfes communicated a request to the United States Coast Guard that the operating regulations of the Hood Canal Bridge be changed In order to provide relief to road traffic on State Route (SR) 3 and SR 104. The regulation provides the right-of-way to marine vessels requiring drawbridge openings over vehicular traffic on SR 104. This past summer the Coast Guard conducted a temporary deviation, restricting openings between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM every day from May 27 through September 30 to Navy operations only. The Coast Guard is accepting comments on this test deviation through November 30, 2011. The agency may elect to pursue a permanent change through a formal rulemaking process. Analysis / Strategic Goals / Pros 8: Cons: As of October 5, the Coast Guard has received 26 comments, nearly all of which were positive toward modified regulations that would restrict openings for recreational vessels, thereby improving predictability and mobility for vehicle traffic crossing the Hood Canal Bridge. The Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization will this month consider submitting comments that are positive to the temporary deviation and suggest that the Coast Guard pursue permanent rulemaking that restricts openings for recreational vessels during the morning commute hours as well as the afternoon/evening period. As Jefferson County residents, visitors and freight- operations are directly affected by Hood Canal Bridge operations, comments by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners are appropriate. Fiscal Impact / Cost-Benefit Analysis: The cost to consider and submit comments is minimal. Traffic operations on Hood Canal Bridge impact economic activity In Jefferson County. Restrictions to Bridge openings that limit openings to certain hours of the day are unlikely to result in Department of Public Works o Consent Agenda Page 2 of2 significant economic impacts to marine-based freight operations. Many vessels including barges are able to pass under Hood Canal Bridge without requiring a drawbridge opening. During summer 2010, there were 23 openings for sailing vessels and 19 for military shipping. During the temporary deviation of summer 2011, there were no openings for sailing vessels and 12 for military shipping. There were only four denials to sailing vessels during the temporary deviation and one of these was able to fit under the east transition span, according to Washington State Department of Transportation officials. For context, 16,000 vehicles cross the Bridge each weekday and 20,000 each weekend day. Recommendation: Public Works recommends that the Board sign the attached comment letter and mail it to the address provided, providing a signed copy to the Department for the file. Department Contact: Reviewed By: Monte Reinders, P.E., County Engineer,38S-9242 ~//v . Date 1820 Jefferson Street P.O. Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 PhIl Johnson, Dlstrlct 1 David W. S1IIUvan, DIstrict 2 John AustIn, Dlstrlct 3 November 7, 2011 Docket Management Facility (M-30) U.S. Department ofTransportation West Building Ground Floor, Rm W12-140 1200 New Jersey Ave SE Washington DC 20590-0001 Re: Docket Number USCG-2011-0314 - Hood Canal Bridge Temporary Deviation 2011 Dear United 5tates Coast Guard Officials: The Hood Canal Bridge connects Kitsap County and Jefferson County, Washington. Naturaily, Jefferson County is one of the local jurisdictions most affected by Bridge operations. We are pleased that the Coast Guard undertook a temporary deviation from standard drawbridge regulation this past summer, enabling a 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM restriction on openings other than for Navy-reiated marine traffic. Our understanding from communications with the Washington State Department of Transportation and from reviewing the comments submitted to date to your agency is that the temporary deviation has been a success. While acknowledging that vessels that require Bridge openings must be provided with opportunity for passage at some point during each day, it is sensible that the needs of the drivers of the 16,000 vehicles per day (and 20,000 per day on weekends) that cross Hood Canal Bridge on State Route 104 would be weighted appropriateiy. Bridge openings during vehicle commute hours for marine traffic that is military or freight-related is understandable when necessary. Hood Canal Bridge openings for recreational sailing vessels should be scheduled or directed via regulation for off-peak vehicle hours in order to lessen the impact on SR 104 travelers and freight We encourage you to seek a permanent rule for the afternoon and early evening hours, as weil as the morning commute hours. Ensuring predictability and mobility for SR 104 is important to our local economy and quality of life. Thank you for your willingness to consider changes in drawbridge operations for the Hood Canal Bridge. Sincerely, John Austin, Chairman Phil Johnson, Member David Sullivan, Member Phone (360)385-9100 Fax (360)385-9382jeffbocc@co.jeft'erson.wa.us _...~ ~~.? 26162 Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 88/Friday, May 6, 2011/Rules and Regulations At all othsr times the draw shall open on signal if at least four hours notice Is given, as required by 33 CFR 117.189[a). Navigation on the watsrway la commsrcial and rooreationa1. Th. dmwspan will be secured In the c1osed-to-navlgelion position from 8 a.m. through 11 a.m. on May 29, 2011 to allow the community to parliclpate In the Hop. Foundation walk event ThIs t.mporary davlalion has been _ coordinated with watsrway users. ThIltB ere no scbednIed river boat cruises or anticipated levee maintenance during this devlelion psriod. No objeclions to the proposed temporary davlelion were raised. Vessels that can transit the bridge, whlle In tha c1osed-to-navlgation position, may continu. to do so at any tim.. In casa of emergancles tha draw can opan with 15 minutes advanc. notice. In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to Its ramllar operating schedulelnnnediately at tb.e end of the dasignated time psriod. ThIs davielIon from the operating regulations Is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35. Dated: Apr 22. 2011. DXSu10ult District Bridge Chief, Eleventh Coast Guard Ilistrkt. (FR Doc. 2.011-11058 FIled5-5-1t: 8:45 am} 81L1JNQ CODS 8110-0c.-p DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 117 [Docl<et No. USCG-2011-(13141 R1N 1625-AA09 Drawbridge Operation ,Regulations; Hood Canal, WA AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. AcnON: Nolice of temporary devlalion from l'OgU!alions. SUMMARY: The r.mnmAnder, Thirteenth Coast Guard District has Issued a temporary davielIon from the regulation govsrnlng the opsralion of the Hood Cana1 floaling drawbridga near Port Gamble, Washington to test an opsralional change and seek public comment regarding that change In ordsr to evaluate the need for a permanent change. The daviation establishes a re8trlcted period from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week from 3 p.m. May 27,2011 through 8 p.m. on September 30. 2011. DA1E8: ThIs rule Is effective from 3 p.m. May 27, 2011 through 8 p.m. on September 30, 2011. Comm.n18 and related matsrIaI must be received by the Coast Guard on November 30, 2011. ADDIlEllSE8: You may submit comman18 IdanlifIed by docket number USCG- 2011-0314 uslog eny on. of the fullowinR methods: (1) Federal Rulemsking Portal: http://www.regulationa.gt1V. (2) Fax: 202-493-2251 (3) Mail: Docket Management Fecllity. [M-30), U.S. D.partment of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.. WashIogton, DC 20590- 0001, (4) Hand delivery: Sam. as mall address above, betwaen 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Monday through FrIday, except Federal holidays. The telephone nurriber Is 202-388-9329. To avoid duplicalion, plll8B8 use only one of these four m.thods. See the "Public Participation and Request for Comments" porlion of the _ SUPPl.EIIEIITARY INFORMA1lON seclion below for instructions on submitting comments. - FOR FIIllTHEIllNFORMA1lON CONTACT: If yon have queslions on this proposed ruI., cali or a-mall Commandsr Daryl Peloquin, Chief, Watsrways Management Branch, 13th Coast Guard Dis.trIct; telephone 208-220-7273, a- mall dazyl.r.pe1oquin@uscg.mJl. If you have queslions on vlewIog or submitilng materIa1 to the dockBt, cali Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-388-9828. SUPPl.EMENTARY INFORMA1lON: Public Pertlclpalion and Request for Cnn'lllUmb: W. encourage yon to participate In this rulamsking by submitting comm.n18 and related materla1s. All commen18 received will ba posted, .without change, to http:// www.regulations.govand will inc1ude any parsonallnformalion you have provided. SubmiWng C'.nmnumhl If yon submit a comment, pleasa inc1ude the docket number for this T"lAmA1ch1g (USCG-2011-o314), Indicate the specific section of this document to which each connnent applies. and provId. a reason fur each suggeslion or recommendation. You may submit your comm.n18 and matsrla1 online [http:// www.reguIations.golll, or by fax, mail or hand delivery. but pl.... us. only one of these means. If you submit a comment onlin. vie http:// www.regulations.gov, It will ba considered es havlog been recalv.d by the Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment If yon fax, hand- d.llver, or mall your comment, It will be considered as haviog been received by the Coast Gusrd when it Is received at the Docket Manag.ment Facility. We recommend that you inc1ude your naine and a mal1Iog address, an .mall addrass, or a phone number In the body of your document 80 that we can contact you if we have queslions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov.cIick on "submit a comment" box, which will th.n become highllghted In blue. In the "Keyword" box inssrt "USCG-2011- 0314", click "Search", and then click on the balloon shapa In the "Aclions" column. If you submit your commen18 by mail OT hand delivery, submit them In an unbound furmst, no largsr than 8'12 by 11 Inches, snttsble for copying and electrontc fl1Ing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know thet they reached the Facility, pleasa anclose a stamped, self-addressed postl:ard or envelope. We will consldsr all comments and material received during the comment period and may change the ruI. based upon your comments. Vlewing ('.nmmAnto and Documents To view comments, as well as documents mentioned In this preamble as balog aval1able In the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gt1V.cIick on the "read commen18" box, which will than become higbIIghted In blue. In tha "Keyword" box inssrt "USCG-2011- 0314" and click "Search." C1ick the "Open Docket Folder" In the "Aclions" cofumn. You may also vIaIt the Docket Management Facility In Room Wl2-140 on the ground-floor of the Department of Transportalion Wast Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washingtou, DC 20590. betwaen 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through FrIday, except Federal holldays. W. have an agreement with the Department of Transportalion to use the Docket Management Facility. Privacy Act Anyone can search the electronic form of commen18 received Into any of our dockets by the name of the Indivldnal submitting the comment (or sigolng the comment, if submitted on behalf of an assoclslion, hosiness. labor union. etc.). You may review a PrIVacy Act nolice regarding our public dockats In the January 17, 2008, Issu. of the Federal Reglster (73 FR 3318). Federal Reglster/Vo],' 76, No. 88/Friday, May 6, 2011/Rules and Regulations 26183 , .\ , Pnblic Meeting We do not now pian to hold a puWic meeting, hut you may submit a request for one ustog four methods speclfied under ADDRESSES. Please exp1ain why one would be beoeficlal. n we determine that one would aid this rulemaklng, we will hold one at a thue and place announced by a latar notice In the Federal Register. Basis end Purpose Senator Phi! Rockefeller and Repr<llllllrtatlve ChristIne Rolfes of tha Washington State LegIs1atore have requested that tha operating regnletions of tha Hood Canal Bridge be changed In order to try to provide BOme relief to road traffic on State Routes 3 and 104. Traffic queues south of the eestern end of tha bridge can be long durlog and after openings of the drawspan. The stopped road traffic on this two-lane highway blocks access to intersecting _alongthe~. The operetlng iegnlations currently In effect for the brldgs ere found at 33 CFR 117.1045. These state that tha bridge sba1l open on slgnallf at least one hour notice Is provided and that the draw sba1l be opened hnr1zontally for three, hundred feat unless tha maximum opening of 600 feat Is requested. The cnrreut regnletinns remain In effect except for the estehUshment of the restricted period. Navigatfon on the waterway consists of commercial tugs with tows, recreational vessels of various sizes, commercial fiBbIng vessels, and U.S. naval vessels with escort vessels including those of the U.S. Coast Guard. ThIs change will not effect nava1 vessels or vessels In service to the Navy. Un1lke many other restricted or closed periods In effect for certstn drawbridges, this restriction will not goarantee the complete absence of Interruptions to vehlcu1sr traffic In the designated hours. At best it would nfmfnf.h openings Without e1lm!nstlnll them entlrely durlog the effectedhours. Approximate!y, one ba1f of all openings of the Hood Canal draw ere for the paessge of Navy ships, suhmerines, and Other vessels In service to the Navy. The movement of vessels for national security purposes or emergencies cannot be impeded hy drawbridge operating 1'lll!1llations. , "kecreational vessels too tell to pass under the llxed spans of tha bridge generally ply Hood Canal seasonally. Most of this teller recreatlonal traffic occurs from June through September. These ere tha only months subject to . this test deviation. The 'openings for tha foll width of this floating drawspen ere mnch slower than for a typical bascule type of draw. While some openings and closings have been completed within 20 minutes or less, Others have !ssted fer longer than 30 minutes increasing traffic queues on the road. Traffic has genara1ly exceeded 1200 vehicles per hour throughout the week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, peak traffic loads ere not discernable for the morning hours as far the afternoon hours. Draw openings can occur at any lime and do. A further difficulty is that this variability makes it difficult to IUlltch waterway traffic to peak road travel thnes. For example In June 2010 draw records show that the Hood Canal Bridge opened a tota1 of 29 limes Including one movemant that was for testing the draw. Of these 16 were for plessure crsfl and the rest were for military vessels. There were ouly five days with more than one opening per day. July 2010 was busier than June. In July 43 openings occurred. Five of these were operational tests. It opened 22 limes for plessure craft, twice for commercial vessals and 19 limes for the Navy. For tha hours affected by these test devIatlon, In July 2010 ~ere were 5 openings for the Navy, 2 for sailboats, and one for a tug with tow. The Coast Guard will evaluate public comments from this Test Davlation as wall as draw records and road traffic dstaafierthe end oftha test period. We may seek to make this change permanent far tha following year or modify it via a Not!ce of Proposed Rnlemsklng, or maintain the current regnletions basad on the effect!veness of this test for bath navigation and road traffic. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day from 3 p.m. on May 27 through 6 p.m. on September 30, 2011, the drew need not open for vessels 'lther than those of the , U.S. Navy or vassals attending the . mlsslons of the U.S. Navy. The estehlished regnletions found at 33 CFR , 117.1045 remain In effect with that exception. ThIs test dsvIation is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35. In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), tha Hood Canal Bridge will return to its regu1er operetinns at the and of the designated lime period. DalBd: April 25, 2011. G.T. Blare, Bear Admiml, U.s. CoastGuard. Commander, Thiitetinth Coast Guard District. . lFRDoc. 2011-1'1059 F1led 5-5-11; 8:fi mn1 BO.lJNQ COOE 911l).-(J4-p DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Parl165 ~ No. USCG-2011-0297) R1N 11l26-AAOl1 Safety Zone; Repair of HIgh Voltage Transmission Unes to Logan International AIrport, Saugus RIver, Saugus, MA AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. AC110N: Temporary final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is eslRbH.hfng a temporary safety zone on the Sengus River, Lynn, Massachusatts, within the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston Zone to allow for repair of high voltage transmission Unes to Logan Airport. ThIs safety zone Is required to provide for tha safety of life on navlgshle waters durlog the repair of high voltegs trsnsmisslnn Unes. Entering Into, trens!tlng throuRh. mooring or anchoring within this zone . Is prohlhlted unleSB authorized by the COTP. DAlES: ThIs rule Is effect!ve from 9 a.m. on May 7, 2011, to 9 a.m..on May 9, 2011. The regnletion will be enforced from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily on May 7, 2011, and May 8, 2011. ADDRESSES: Comments and IUllterisl received from the public, as well as documents mentinned In this prasmhle as being available In tha docket, ere pert of docket USCG-2011-D297 and ere aveilable ou1lne by going to http:// www.regnlations.gav, Inserting USCG- 2011-0297 In the "Keyword" box, and than c1lcklng "Search." ThIs materlalls also aval1able for inspaCtlon or copytug at the Docket Managemant Facility (M- 30), U.S. i1<lperlment of Transportation, West Bulldlng Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey A vanue, SE., Washinghm, IX: 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidsys. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this temporary rule, call or e-mail MST1 David Labadie of the Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston; teleph()Jle 617-223-3010, e-mail david.jJabadle@uBcg.mO. n you have questfnn. on viewing material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9626. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: