HomeMy WebLinkAbout021223 FW_ URGENT!! Summer 2023 Hood Canal Bridge Closures - IMPACT ON PORT TOWNSEND TOURIST TRAFFIC
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From: Shira Goodman
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2023 7:05:27 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: orfeedback@wsdot.wa.gov
Cc: dfaber@cityofpt.us; citycouncil@cityofpt.us; Greg Brotherton; Kate Dean; Heidi Eisenhour; PTPC@cityofpt.us; artscomm@cityofpt.us; director@jeffcountychamber.org; jmauro@cityofpt.us;
Verraes Teresa; info@centrum.org
Subject: URGENT!! Summer 2023 Hood Canal Bridge Closures - IMPACT ON PORT TOWNSEND TOURIST TRAFFIC
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URGENT LETTER TO THE WASHINGTON DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION
REQUEST TO RESCHEDULE PLANNED CLOSURE OF THE HOOD CANAL BRIDGE - SUMMER 2023.
I am a resident of Port Townsend. While planning my son’s wedding for this coming August, I became aware of the DOT’s plans to shut down the Hood Canal Bridge for four consecutive weekends
this summer, including our wedding weekend.
While this had caused some initial concern for our wedding guests to be able to get to our venue, my bigger concern is for the City of Port Townsend and its much-needed summer tourist
revenue.
As you know, Port Townsend’s economy is largely tourist based, and we rely heavily on weekend guests who come to enjoy the multitude of Summer Festivals that our city holds every summer.
Revenues over the last 3 summers have suffered greatly due to the pandemic, with only some of the events and businesses beginning to open up in 2022.
The Summer of 2023 is the first summer in 3 years that we will be able to be fully open for the public to come and enjoy our weekend festivals again. And the DOT has decided to shut
down the main artery to this region on four of those weekends!
The impact of the DOT’s decision will be huge. Practically speaking, most people from Kitsap County and South, to the entire greater Seattle region, will be discouraged from attempting
to pop over to Port Townsend to attend our many events. Port Townsend businesses, from restaurants to hotels, street merchants to art galleries, will all suffer greatly because of lower
tourist turnout. Losses may end up being millions of dollars. In fact, my husband is scheduled to have his art shown in two art exhibits in galleries this August. With fewer tourists
from Seattle and other areas, my husband’s chances of being able to sell his art are greatly reduced.
And Port Townsend isn’t the only economy that will be affected. Every place west of us will also be great affected, including Sequim, which has its own Summer Festivals, Port Angeles
and access to the Black Ball Ferry to Victoria, and further to the coast. Even access to the Olympic National Park. In addition, all of the people planning and working these events
will have reduced access to their vendors and suppliers on the eastern side of the bridge during this busy season.
I don’t think the DOT gave proper consideration to the devastating effects their decision could have on our local economy before choosing the height of our tourist season to shut down
the bridge. I implore the DOT to reschedule their planned Hood Canal Bridge renovation for a time that will not severely impact the City of Port Townsend and our neighbors on the Olympic
Peninsula.
Sincerely,
Shira Goodman
34 Ridgeview Dr
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(626) 318-9317
From WSDOT Website:
“Travelers can expect up to four total weekend closures of the SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge. These closures are currently scheduled for 11 p.m. Friday night to 4 a.m. Monday on the following
weekends: July 28-31, Aug. 4-7, Aug. 11-14 and Aug. 18-21. Crews will also require a series of night intermittent closures to all travelers.The closures require good weather and calm
tides, so they may be rescheduled. All closures will be announced in advance.”
Cc: Governor Jay Inslee
House Representative Derek Kilmer, 6th District
Mayor David Faber, Port Townsend
Port Townsend City Council
Greg Brotherton, Chair, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
Kate Dean, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
Heidi Eisenhour, Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
John Mauro, Port Townsend City Manager
Port Townsend Planning Commission
Port Townsend Arts Commission
Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
Teresa Verraes, Director Northwind Art, Port Townsend
Centrum.org <http://Centrum.org> , Multi-Discipline Creative Arts Organization at Fort Worden
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