WSDOT chief speaks about local roads

State Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond joined newstribune.com readers Monday morning for a live online chat. Here are some of her responses to reader questions. For more of the discussion, see the archive of the Q&A on the Lights & Sirens blog at blog.thenewstribune.com/crime:

Question from “Guest”: There appears to be a lack of management accountability at the WSDOT. As the chief executive of the agency, what steps are you taking to improve this perception?

Paula Hammond: Thanks for this question. The recent communication and design error on the Sprague Avenue ramps was not WSDOT’s finest hour. To address the error in design and the fact engineering checks did not find it, we have put new review and design processes in place. Humans do make mistakes, but transportation projects can’t cost the taxpayers any more than they should. We will work hard to not let design errors make their way into our projects. As far as the communication issues – we have always said we’ll tell the bad news with the good news. This didn’t happen on SR 16, and we have recommitted that it won’t happen again.

Question from “Freddie”: Is there any way to improve the merge from Highway 16 onto northbound Interstate 5 at the Tacoma Dome? It’s always backed up, car accident or not, because people don’t know how to merge. There has to be a way to fix this.

Paula Hammond: The problem you are experiencing is the result of the interchange being partially constructed. The merge won’t improve until the next stage of I-5 is constructed. With this complex SR 16/I-5 reconstruction, we have had to build it in stages, so we can keep the traffic moving while we’re under construction. The next stage of I-5 construction will begin in May 2012. We have had to pace the stages of construction with the work going on in the Nalley Valley Viaduct area. Altogether, the state is investing $1.6 billion on reconstructing the Pierce County freeways of SR 16 and Interstate 5.

Question from “Guest”: What vision and strategies does WSDOT have to improve general congestion along the I-5 corridor? With the population growth it doesn’t seem to be reasonable we can continue to expand the freeway network to accommodate.

Paula Hammond: Our vision for attacking congestion and emission reduction is a three-part strategy: Efficiently operate the system to make the best use of the existing pavement (think more technology and traveler information); manage demand by offering reliable trips on HOV lanes, accident clearance, travel options such as vanpools and transit; and finally, strategically add capacity (such as finish the HOV system to Thurston County and on SR 512, 167 corridor connection to Port of Tacoma, finish I-405, SR 520 and Alaskan Way corridor improvements, and the list goes on.)

Question from “Jeff”: I’ve noticed on the DOT website the plan for “Smart” Highways. I think it’s a great plan, especially for improving the safety of the I-5 corridor. My question is, what else is DOT doing to improve my commute?

Paula Hammond: Smart Highways are what we’ve coined many of the new technologies we’re using on the freeway system. On Aug. 10 we’re turning on the signs by Boeing Field that will regulate and pace traffic on the freeway through variable speeds in the event of an accident or stop and go traffic. This is where we have higher accidents caused by the back-ups. We expect 30 percent fewer accidents from this technology. Also, collection of tolls through 100 percent electronic means on SR 520 will enable traffic to flow at freeway speed. We have a lot of freeway techniques in use now for traffic management and traveler information, and we will continue to expand these in the future.

Question from “Kevin”: Could you elaborate on where mass transit fits into the redesign of the I-5/SR 16 interchange and how WSDOT will accommodate that?

Paula Hammond: Mass transit, such as Sound Transit’s light rail, commuter rail, and express bus service; Pierce Transit’s local service, and the partnership we have with businesses in Pierce County for commuter options are all part of our integrated strategy for managing the available highway space for a growing population. Highways and transit are both essential elements for moving people and goods in our state’s economy.