Three lifesaving events in a week for Mukilteo/Clinton ferry route crews

 By Bryn Hunter

Hardcore Halloween fans spend October getting ready for the spookiest night of the year. But for our Mukilteo/Clinton ferry route employees, the week before the holiday was truly scary.

Thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of our crew and terminal staff, three lives were saved in one week.

Halloween heroics

Early on Oct. 31, Able-Bodied Sailor Steven Overa saw a crash at the I-5/I-405 interchange in Lynnwood on his way to work in Mukilteo. A vehicle had flipped over and caught fire. Steven pulled over, used his own fire extinguisher to help put out the flames and stayed until emergency crews arrived.

Weekend water rescues

Just a few days earlier, our Mukilteo/Clinton route employees were busy with two water rescues in a single weekend. The same crew on Kitsap saved a person in the water and a kayaker in a span of 24 hours.

On Oct. 26, Mukilteo Ticket Taker Baylee Lane alerted the Kitsap wheelhouse that a woman was in the water near the ferry dock. Capt. Jeff Knaplund stopped the boat right away. Able-Bodied Sailors Collin Brasfield and Ian Fels then launched a rescue boat to help the woman. After about 25 minutes, with help from local police and fire department staff, the woman was safely brought onto the dock. It takes the entire crew, from the wheelhouse to the engine room, to stop a ferry that expertly. And it takes a lot of skill on the part of terminal staff to swiftly respond to an emergency.

Mukilteo terminal staff and local emergency responders wait on the dock while our crew aboard Kitsap rescues a woman in the water on Oct. 26. (Photo courtesy Mukilteo International Association of Firefighters Local 3482)

Then, on Oct. 27, Chief Mate Kevin Simmons saw a kayaker in trouble who couldn’t get back into his kayak. After notifying the Capt. Knaplund, the same two crew members from the day before launched a rescue boat. They pulled the kayaker and his gear from the cold water and brought him to safety. Once on the ferry, Able-Bodied Sailor Elbert Johnson kept an eye on the man until he was handed over to emergency responders on shore.

Able-Bodied Sailors Ian Fels and Collin Brasfield pull a kayaker out of the water and into a rescue boat off Mukilteo on Oct. 27

.We have immense pride in our work at Washington State Ferries and these lifesaving events exemplify the finest ideals of the maritime profession. The safety of our passengers and those we assist in distress is part of our mission. So do not be afraid, Washington State Ferries is looking out for your safety.

In case you can’t tell, we’re really excited about our new roundabout on SR 203

By David Rasbach

Our new compact roundabout along State Route 203 at the intersection with High Rock Road and 203rd Street Southeast south of Monroe is unique, to say the least. With a long, skinny island separated from a circular island by a pass-through lane, even our designers don’t know of any similar roundabouts this small.

From above, it looks like an exclamation point, but we hope people who travel through will come to think of the roundabout as more of comma – a place to slow, take a pause when needed and then proceed on your travels.

A new roundabout opened along SR 203 in late June south of Monroe at the intersection with High Rock Road and 203rd Street Southeast.

Think of it as two roundabouts nested together, and the rules are the same as any other roundabout we’ve built:

• Slow to 15 to 20 mph as you approach.
• Move counterclockwise around the roundabout.
• Yield to vehicles approaching from your left already in the roundabout.
• Larger vehicles may drive over the center islands for tight turns.

Drivers going northbound on SR 203 traffic may need to yield twice – once when entering the roundabout and again if traffic is passing between the two islands. If you think about it, that’s just following the same rules a second time.

If you travel through the area, you may want to check out our video about driving this roundabout.

The SR 203 roundabout slows vehicles that used to approach the High Rock Road intersection at 55 mph.

Roundabouts calm traffic, improve flow and reduce the chances of serious T-bone and head-on crashes. These effects all apply to this stretch of SR 203.

Making a roundabout for everyone

OK, so why does it look so different from any other roundabout?

The design accommodates large vehicles and farm equipment making left turns, fits the existing space and avoids the nearby hill and protected wetlands.

Our engineering team found the unique design was needed to accommodate all the different vehicles that travel through this intersection.

When we began planning, our designers considered a roundabout shaped like a dog bone – long and skinny with “knots” on the ends. They quickly realized that wasn’t going to work.

A lot of large vehicles and farm equipment make left turns from 203rd Street Southeast to northbound SR 203. With a dog bone design, the turn at the southern end would be too tight for these vehicles to make.

Unlike most compact roundabouts, the new roundabout along SR 203 features two center islands with a lane passing between them.

Fitting a roundabout in a tight space

Why not build the center island bigger to create better turning angles for those larger vehicles?

In a word – geography. The new roundabout needed to be built in the same space as the old intersection.

To the east is a steep hill. To the southwest there are protected wetlands. There wasn’t space or budget to mitigate the potential impact in either direction.

With a hill to the eastside of the intersection and protected wetlands just to the southwest, engineers came up with a unique design to help improve safety and traffic flow at the SR 203 intersection at High Rock Road and 203rd Street Southeast.

Making SR 203 safer

We hope people traveling through the new roundabout will adapt quickly to the unique design and follow the same rules they should use at every roundabout. The new intersection is already performing its No. 1 goal of reducing chances of crashes that can lead to serious injuries or worse.

Before construction started, cars flew along this busy rural section of SR 203 between Monroe and Duvall at 55 mph. The intersection is on a curve, adding to the risk people turning from High Rock Road or 203rd Street Southeast could have been hit. SR 203 drivers turning left also faced challenges judging oncoming traffic speed.

National studies have shown that roundabouts create a 37% decrease in overall collisions, while reducing injury crashes by 75% and fatal incidents by 90%.

Despite its unique design, drivers using the new SR 203 roundabout at High Rock Road should follow the same rules in place at any roundabout.

We always monitor and evaluate all changes we make. This new roundabout is no exception, so we’ll be sure it’s working as designed.

Yes, we know – not everybody loves roundabouts. This one requires adjustment, just like any change. But please give this unique little roundabout a chance. Slow down and follow roundabout rules and signs on the road. Make sure you stay distraction free as you drive through the area (and everywhere). And please have patience with others still learning.

We believe you’ll soon enjoy improved safety and traffic flow in the area.

Updates on the new US 2 Trestle PEL study

By: Jennifer Rash

Last summer, we launched a study about the US 2 trestle. We’ve studied this trestle in the past, but this study is different because we’re looking at connections from the trestle to other highways, like I-5. The study will also consider how to improve bike, transit and freight trips around and across the trestle.

Expanded study area that includes the US 2 trestle and other connecting highways, including I-5.

This kind of study is called a PEL—that stands for Planning and Environmental Linkages. One of the most important benefits of this type of study is early input from agencies, tribes, and community members so we can get thoughts on issues and priorities before we develop plans. In fact, we recently collected input from the public and others just to write the study Purpose and Need statement.

What is a Purpose and Need statement?

This statement does two things. First, it explains why we are studying improvements at this specific location. That’s the “purpose” part. Second, it explains the issues that need to be fixed. That’s the “need” part. A bonus benefit is that this Purpose and Need statement can be re-used for the environmental review. That review starts right after the PEL is complete, and having the Purpose and Need statement pre-approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) can speed things up.

Public input informed the final Purpose and Need statements

This spring, we hosted an online open house and survey to gather feedback on the draft Purpose and Need statements. Through survey responses and comments, we learned more about how the community travels on or near the trestle.

Over 10,000 people visited the online open house website, and the survey received nearly 4,000 responses. The following graphs and statistics represent a small sample of the data collected. The full online open house and survey summary is available in the study document library.

Most people (around 70%) in the survey said they live on the east side of the trestle.

Most people said they use the trestle to access essential services like grocery shopping and medical visits. Commuting to work was the fourth most popular type of trip.

We wanted to learn about the biggest challenges to traveling on or around the trestle. Traffic back-ups and unreliable travel times were the biggest issues. Lack of detour options and safety were also common answers.

We then asked folks to review the draft Purpose and Need statements. Over 70% of people supported the statements as written. Some people gave us feedback that led to edits. For example, some people were confused about how we used the word equity. People also wanted to include more eastbound trestle concerns. We revised these statements before sending them to FHWA for approval, acknowledging that public input influenced these revisions.

You can view the draft and final Purpose and Need statements in the study document library.

Feelings about tolling

One of our big takeaways was community opposition to tolling, with 75% of survey takers against it. Many were concerned that tolling could negatively affect the cost of living in communities on the east side of the trestle. Around 15% of survey takers supported tolling the trestle, with some saying it could encourage transit use and others that users should pay for improvements to the trestle—as long as the toll is reasonable.

We will consider tolling as a way to address study needs, though we don’t know yet what types of tolling or the potential toll rates we’ll study.

In general, WSDOT is involved in planning, construction, and operations of tolling projects. The Washington State Legislature authorizes toll facilities and determines how to spend toll revenue. The Washington State Transportation Commission sets toll rates and exemptions with an extensive public input process.

What’s next?

We will work with FHWA and our PEL Study advisory groups to develop a list of possible improvements. We’ll start with a lot of ideas and whittle them down to a few concepts to study in the environmental review. The concepts are first evaluated at Level 1. If they meet the Purpose and Need criteria, as well as more detailed criteria, then they are evaluated in Level 2. We plan to share concepts between Level 1 and Level 2 for public comment in early 2025.

To follow along with the study, consider signing up for the WSDOT Snohomish County Newsletter email updates. We also regularly update our study web page and document library. Thank you again to everyone who participated in our online open house and shared their thoughts with us!

Training for success: employment training program for people living on state rights of way is rebuilding lives, boasts 80 percent graduation rate

By: Tina Werner

People often dream about the day they graduate high school, complete a trade program or head off to college. They want to pursue their passions and provide a better life for themselves or their loved ones. They want a future.

For people who are experiencing homelessness, though, that dream isn’t a reality.

People living unsheltered are often concerned with where their next meal will come from, let alone entry into the workforce. Many times, they lack basic items needed for work. Applying for a job requires a permanent address for applications and personal identification. People need computer access to learn about or apply for jobs. A “ just get a job!” approach doesn’t solve those challenges.

That’s where our job training programs come in.

Through the state’s Encampment Resolution Program, we partner with service providers and the state Department of Commerce to transition people living unhoused on state rights of way into safer options . The initial work is happening in King, Pierce, Thurston, Snohomish and Spokane counties. The program includes identifying people’s needs and housing to allow for long-term success. (You can read more about the overall program in a previous blog).

In King and Spokane counties we’ve also added job skills training for some former encampment residents.

State Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar poses for a photo with Jomo Trice, a graduate of the “Tools for Success” training program for people living in encampments in King County. Jomo now works in adult care services and has moved into permanent housing.

Skills and life lessons learned along the way

This training isn’t for everyone living in an encampment. Participants are assessed based on needs and readiness for training. This helps ensure the training will be helpful at this stage of their life.

But the people who have graduated recent programs say it’s invaluable.

“This (program) taught me I have more to offer than what I am giving myself credit for,” said Joshua Price. Price graduated from the Pre-Employment Preparation Program after living in the “Camp Hope” encampment in Spokane. He learned not only job-specific skills but ways to be more stable and successful in other parts of his life. “I gained knowledge and refocused on bettering myself,” he said.

Joshua Price (back row, first from left) stands with fellow Pre-Employment Preparation Program g raduates in 2023. The graduates were previously living unhoused in Camp Hope, one of the state’s largest encampments in eastern Washington. In addition to housing, these graduates obtained job readiness training, identification, case management and mental health support.

Price now works in construction. He is living in emergency housing in Spokane. With a job and place to live, he is focused on improving his relationship with his daughter.

“This class opened my eyes and challenged me for better outcomes,” he said.

Students in the job readiness program receive certifications in OSHA regulations, First Aid and CPR. Students are also trained in forklift operations and flagging (traffic control). This training can allow them to apply for construction or road work jobs. The training is an important step in connecting graduates to potential employers, including us or other local jurisdictions.

Recent Tools for Success students in King County learn the basics of forklift operations as part of their job skills training.

The training programs are delivered by service provider i2 strategies. The program is paid for by our agency as part of the overall Encampment Resolution Program efforts, including funding through the WSDOT Office of Equity and Civil Rights.

In addition to job-specific skills, the program helps students address barriers to employment. Examples include:

• Driver licenses – both written and driving testing or help reissuing lost cards
• Obtaining GED transcripts/documentation
• Addressing mental or behavioral health challenges
• Partnering with local pre-apprenticeship and training programs for employment preparation certificates
• Employment preparation training (workplace expectations, communication skills, resume workshops, interview preparation, etc.)
• Case management support, including tips on how be successful after finding employment.

A job training student selects work boots. All students receive boots upon graduation. Work shoes and professional attire are an essential tool in being able to perform tasks and secure a job.

The training program helps people re-enter the workforce with pride. For some, they have faced years of disruption and now hope to be successful in their first jobs. Students receive help to identify potential careers and interests, prepare for interviews and more. There also is ongoing analysis of the training and student needs after graduation.

Success – by the numbers

These programs have started small to be sure there was enough support for each student. Initial results and individual successes have been encouraging.

In addition to an 80 percent graduation rate, many program graduates have found jobs and are in more safe and secure housing. These successes help stabilize their lives.

2023/2024 job training data for Encampment Resolution Program sites:

• 106 total assessments – individuals’ assessment for program readiness, potential job interests and other job-related barriers that may be present
• 157 service connections – connections include offers of housing, substance use disorder services, GED, behavioral health and legal services.
• 47 people graduated – includes graduates from two pre-apprenticeships in Spokane County, one flagging course and two job readiness courses in King County.
• 80% graduation rate (47 graduates/59 people enrolled)
• 26 graduates employed – total people employed in apprenticeship, flagging or other fields
• 14 graduates living in permanent house
• 15 graduates living in emergency housing
• 7 graduates living in local congregate or other nightly accommodations

*Data provided by service providers as of Aug. 1, 2024. These numbers are specific to King and Spokane County ERP sites.

And the support doesn’t end at the graduation ceremony. Our service providers continue to work with graduates to address challenges like not yet finding a job.

Ongoing support needed to address homelessness

Service providers say flexibility and a safety net of support are keys to helping build more stable lives.

The largest need is for more temporary and long-term housing. Washington’s Encampment Resolution Program works to safely and humanely close sites. This means moving people into secure housing and reducing safety concerns that come with people living along state highways. With our partners we’ve identified strategies that work. These strategies include housing and the job readiness training programs.

This work comes at a cost. We and other state partners do not have unlimited funds to address this need. We continue to share these concerns with lawmakers who set our priorities and budgets.

Our service providers see firsthand how employment training opportunities help people gain self-sufficiency. These programs offer long-term stability, a helping hand and restored dignity to our most vulnerable populations.

And everyone, regardless of their situation or dreams, deserves a chance for a brighter future.