Camas Washougal Watch

At the 25 January City Council Workshop, a majority of council members indicated support for a scaled-down version of the E Street project that:

          1.  Deletes the roundabout at 17^th and E Streets.

          2.  Installs a better coordinated traffic signal at 17^th & E Streets.

          3.  Completes curbs and sidewalks along the length of E Street.

          4.  Improves school crossing safety at Hathaway School (20^th & E).

          5.  Delays a variety of storm water improvements along E Street.

          6.  Includes the E Street Road Diet for a minimum period of five years:

                    A.  Reduces four travel lanes to two (one in each direction).

                    B.  Adds a center turn lane for left turns.

                    C.  Adds bicycle lanes on each side of E Street.

          7.  Takes advantage of $6,000,000 in federal and state grants.

          8.  Limits city contributions to the project.

          9.  Still requires use of eminent domain to acquire project property.

As the lone council holdout vote in opposition to the Road Diet on E Street, I need your feedback.  Would you please send an email to my city account at dshoemaker@ci.washougal.wa.us telling me whether you:

          1.  Agree with the scaled-down E Street project, OR

          2.  Disagree with the scaled-down E Street project.

Although it is not absolutely necessary, it would also help if you would provide your reasoning for your position.  I want to understand.

The Council will be voting Monday 1 February to authorize the Director of Public Works to solicit construction bids.  Unfortunately, deleting the Road Diet from the project would result in the loss of over $2,000,000 in grant funding.  The Hathaway School crossing improvements have separate funding and would be completed no matter what the Council decides on the E Street Project.  I could use your best thinking on the issue.

Anyone wishing to address the Council on this issue will have the opportunity during the first public comment period of Monday’s meeting.  The first public comment period is early in the meeting, before the vote on the project.

-Dave Shoemaker   Washougal City Councilman   Position 6