Traffic Impact Fees and Purdy Drive

Two important updates for transportation improvements on the peninsulas

Highways 16 and 302

We completed the work of the Highway 16 Congestion Study. As a member of the Executive Committee I was disappointed that the initial draft conclusions, while including a number of recommendations in the vicinities of Olympic, Hunt, and Wollochet, left out what I saw as a critical connection on Hwy 302/Purdy Drive.

Backups to stemming from the Purdy Bridge in the afternoons can push all the way onto Hwy 16. Needless to say we pushed back and made a number of improvements.

In our area, there are recommendations for improvements at Olympic, Wollochet, Hunt, and Hwy 302.

More specifically, the recommendations in Purdy are to:

• Improve the intersection at the Purdy Bridge
• Improve the intersection at Goodnough/Purdy Drive
• Add a second lane all the way from Hwy 16 through the intersection at Purdy Bridge
• Finish the Environmental Impact Statement for replacement of the Purdy Bridge selecting a preferred alternative

Transportation Impact Fees

Generally speaking, I support the use of construction impact fees to help pay for the burdens growth can put on our infrastructure. I have also generally felt that Pierce County’s were clearly too low. In the last few years I sponsored an increased for both parks and school impact fees, the latter failing on a 4–3 vote in large part due to opposition from industry interests. That vote occurred while the Transportation Advisory Commission was working on a proposal to increase fees for transportation.

This presented a difficult choice for me. I prioritize kids over cars and it’s clear our schools need the help. However, it's also clear the votes are there. As a result, I proposed an amendment increasing the fees for new construction on the peninsulas to the same level as the urban communities of Pierce County (Parkland, Spanaway, South Hill) we could afford a sizable contribution towards the improvements I described above in Purdy. It was clear in discussions with WSDOT that local contributions would help move up the timeline on these vital projects. As a result, I voted yes in committee and will likely support it at final before the full Council.

In short, we’ve taken a big step toward vital improvements in Purdy which will benefit people on both the Key and Gig Harbor Peninsulas.