HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of Support for SR20-Mill Road-Jacob Millert to Emily Randall - 051325 p- Board of County Commissioners
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Nc- O 1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
o Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
May 13, 2025
The Honorable Emily Randall
U.S. House of Representatives
1531 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
RE: Support for SR20/Mill Road/Jacob Miller Road intersection improvements
Dear Congresswoman Randall,
On behalf of Jefferson County and our partners and colleagues at the City of Port Townsend,The Port of
Port Townsend,Jefferson County Public Utility District No. 1, and the junior taxing districts, residents, non-
profits and businesses in Jefferson County I'm writing to convey our strong support for the proposed
improvements to the SR20/Mill Road/Jacob Miller intersection areas as displayed in the attached flyer.
As currently configured, we have a tremendously overburdened and dangerous entry into Jefferson
County's largest urban area. Seventeen thousand cars traverse this section of State Highway 20 daily.
Discovery Road and Jacob Miller Road feed traffic into this highway corridor which was designed ages ago
when traffic loads were a fraction of what we see today. As proposed the SR20/Mill Road Roundabout
project will reduce congestion, increase safety and improve access to key public service facilities, a working
seaport, a tourist destination, a ferry terminal and the Olympic Discovery Trail.This widely-supported and
collaborative project seeks a triple-bottom-line, with improvements to multi-modal safety at the region's
#1 traffic hotspot, positive environmental impacts, and enhanced access to major employers and growth
centers for industry and housing.
Jefferson County has been working collaboratively with the City of Port Townsend, and alongside WSDOT,
to advance this much needed improvement. This section of Hwy 20 is where Mill Road intersects with
many large trucks delivering raw materials to the Port Townsend Paper Company and transporting finished
products to customers in Washington and beyond. Mill Road is split between the City of Port Townsend
and unincorporated Jefferson County with Hwy 20 being the common denominator. Our residents struggle
daily with the current configuration and any transportation professional would tell you it is wholly
inadequate. As the community's main entrance and egress, the convergence of these conveyances as the
Gateway to Port Townsend is becoming increasingly challenging.
Phone (360)385-9100 jeffhocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
(Page 2 of 2)
This project will also address individuals and communities that have historically lacked access to resources,
including those who are living and will live in the Caswell-Brown Homeless and Housing Shelter only a few
hundred feet away from the intersection,those who are forced to travel in to the City of Port Townsend
due to lack of housing availability and affordability, and the workforce of larger employers like the Port
Townsend Paper Company (Mill) and Jefferson Healthcare (Hospital).
We are continuing to work with the City,WSDOT,and our community partners to secure funds and make
improvements to this key location where the state highway, city streets, and county roads converge—and
would sincerely appreciate any support you can lend.
n erely,o
i isenhour, Chair
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
C: The Honorable Senator Patty Murray
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Senator Maria Cantwell
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
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for construction for preliminary design, • Local funds
from WSDOT signal environmental review, • State funds 119
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replacement funds and right of way • Federal funds Highway Transportation Professionals,Washington,D.C.,(2010)
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solve significant regional problems. . ; .* -'` ` ,. information contact:
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SAFETY GOOD FOR THE ECONOMIC
• Fixes County's #1 traffic hotspot ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT
• Eliminates conflict points turning two
intersections into one roundabout • No electricity needed for a traffic signal • Improves access to growth centers for
• Improves safety at four intersections • No vehicles idling at red lights industry and housing
• Slows highway traffic before it • Promotes non-motorized transportation • Opens a gateway to historic
enters the city and access to regional trails Port Townsend
• Connects trails to marked crosswalks • Increases safety and mobility to a
major local job provider(paper mill)
These key intersections provide regional access to:
• Jefferson • Jefferson County Regional • Port of Port Townsend Boat Yard • Jefferson County Courthouse
Healthcare Transfer Station and associated Marine Trades • SR 20 Ferry Terminal
• Jefferson County Regional • Port Townsend Paper Mill • Fort Worden State Park • Olympic Discovery Trail Head
Fire Station
• Northwest Maritime Center