Transportation on Cooper Point
* April 2007 * Cooper Point Assn.
Newsletter Article
by Chuck McKinney, CPA President
On February 28, the Daily Olympian ran an
article about the West Olympia Access Study. This article and the following
early March workshop sponsored by the City of Olympia and Washington State
DOT raised some important questions for the residents of Cooper Point.
The southern part of Cooper Point is booming
with residential and commercial development. Large residential developments
in our southern border include 122 homes in Magnolia (between 20th, 14th and
Cooper Pt. Rd.), 150 homes in Evergreen Hills (14th and Kaiser Rd.), 189
homes in Bay Hill (on Mud Bay Rd.), and 382 homes in College Station
(between Mud Bay Rd and US 101).
With an average of two vehicles per household,
the developments under construction on the Westside will add a minimum of
two thousand more vehicles. The intense commercial building activity in the
Harrison Ave/Cooper Point Rd/Black Lake Blvd triangle will bring in many
more thousands of vehicle trips per day to the Westside traffic grid.
Some short term relief is in sight with the
Harrison Ave improvement scheduled for 2008/2009. This project converts Mud
Bay Rd. to Harrison Ave. by widening it to five lanes between Yauger Way and
Kaiser Rd, and adding a traffic signal at the Kaiser Rd/Harrison Ave
intersection. There is no current funding to continue the widening of Mud
Bay Rd/Harrison Ave to the Evergreen Parkway and/or widening Kaiser Rd from
the new traffic light to US 101.
The Cooper Point Association is actively
involved in this important study. The study will identify specific
improvements for US 101 and the Westside arterial roads for the next 10 to
20 years. The study will challenge community members to seek the greater
good versus personal or special interests.
-> One example is the Southwest Olympia Neighborhood Association’s
opposition to connecting 16th Ave. SW and Decatur St SW to the Auto Mall.
Although their opposition is understandable, the congestion at Black Lake
Blvd/Cooper Point Rd intersection would be lessened with the connections.
-> A second example is the Yauger Way Extension Project which is favored by
commercial and city interests. Their plan is to change the west bound exit
of US 101 at Black Lake Blvd. by building a bridge over Black Lake Blvd and
looping a road behind Top Foods to Yauger Way at Capital Medical Center.
This bridge would improve the Cooper Point Rd/Black Lake Blvd intersection,
but does it improve access to US 101?
It is clearly evident that the West Olympia
Access Study is complex with multiple issues, interest and perspectives. We
understand that a major concern for all Cooper Point residents is access to
US 101 and points beyond. Many residents currently choose the Evergreen
Parkway over the Black Lake Blvd. Surely the Parkway interchange will see
increased use with over 1000 new homes, a major theater complex and more
retail shopping being added to the Westside.
-> Should the State DOT invest in the Yauger Way Extension Project or
improve the Kaiser Rd/Evergreen Parkway exit in a fashion similar to the
Sleater Kinney/College St interchange?
-> Will bus services be improved on the Westside?
-> Finally, will the missing arterial links be completed on the Westside
such as Kaiser Rd south to a new US 101 interchange or widening Harrison Ave
west to Evergreen Parkway interchange providing a real option for Cooper
Point residents?
Make your voice heard by participating in the
West
Olympia Access Study. Go to the study’s web link and click the "Stay
Informed" button to receive their newsletters.
Email the CPA < > with your views and concerns,
or join us at a meeting.
Together we can work for improved transportation
for Cooper Point.
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