What was the study process?
The project team started with a baseline scenario and four themed scenarios:
- Baseline: Complete the fully funded projects within the study area
- Transportation System Management and Operations (TSMO): managing traffic with existing infrastructure; complementary multimodal projects
- Centers: Making key connects to regional destinations and centers; multimodal connections to and within centers
- Express Toll Lanes + Transit: Building SR 167 dual express toll lanes with expanded transit; complementary multimodal projects
- Strategic Capacity: Refreshed look at the 2008 Corridor Master Plan including an additional general purpose lane with complementary multimodal projects
The team organized the 200-plus projects identified in earlier phases into scenarios to test outcomes and progress toward the SR 167 Master Plan goals under different investment decisions; understand the types of projects and combinations that transform transportation in the corridor; and provide information to help refine to a smaller set of scenarios that were subject to more detailed analysis.
While the team analyzed the themed scenarios, we also solicited feedback from the community at events such as fairs and festivals, co-creation workshops, and our first online open house (refer to Summer Outreach and Engagement Summary section). Key feedback we heard from this work included capacity expansion for SR 167, improved connectivity to I-5, I-405, SR 18, SR 512, and other interchanges, expanding transit services, and support for planning for the future.
We also gathered feedback from the Technical Advisory Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and Equity Advisory Committee on our themed scenarios. The project team moved from themed scenarios to three refined scenarios.
- Scenario A: focuses on extensive transit infrastructure investments and leveraging transit agency partners and their plans along with a second express toll lane and strategic interchange improvements along SR 167.
- Scenario B: focuses on investments along SR 167 that includes multiple interchange improvements and a second express toll lane to help address traffic back-ups, improve access to regional centers, and support more frequent bus service along SR 167.
- Scenario C: focuses on investments to improve the movement of freight trucks on the SR 167 corridor from SR 512 to SR 18.
Based on the analysis of the three refined scenarios and feedback from our partners and community members, the team is ready to introduce a draft recommendation. This recommendation will include projects and strategies from each scenario that will benefit all communities along the corridor.
Scenarios
The SR 167 Master Plan Study team looked at three refined scenarios. Each scenario tested different combinations of projects and strategies.
All three scenarios included a base set of projects and strategies that are fundamental improvements based on what we heard from the community. These projects will be in the final recommendation.
Scenario A: $5.0-5.5 billion
Scenario A has key transit investments, complete streets improvements on parallel arterials, and a substantial amount of Transit System Management and Operations (TSMO) improvements. This scenario also has Bus Rapid Transit on SR 167 that can use direct access ramps in Sumner, Auburn, and Kent transit centers.
Key Takeaways: This scenario evaluated the benefits and tradeoffs of greater investments in transit and local streets. The scenario helped the team understand the benefits of expanded transit access throughout the study area connecting equity priority areas (a geographic area that has a higher concentration of vulnerable or overburdened populations) and community identified destinations, such as key shopping and cultural centers. Lastly, the scenario evaluated the benefits of a greater investment in multimodal connectivity particularly in regional growth centers, manufacturing industrial centers and equity priority areas.
Scenario B: $5.5-6.0 billion
Scenario B scales back on transit investments in the study area and provides more investment directly on SR 167. This scenario focuses on interchanges and traffic back-ups brought up as issues by the community. Some notable projects for this scenario include interchange reconstructions along the corridor. Additional reconstruction will occur at the SR 18/SR 167 interchange to improve the short weaving sections and other slowdowns that may present safety issues. Scenario B also provides direct access ramps from SR 167 to the transit centers, but focuses on three point-to-point frequent transit routes as opposed to the SR 167 Bus Rapid Transit improvement proposed in Scenario A.
Key takeaways: This scenario evaluated the benefits and tradeoffs of greater investments at SR 167 interchanges to access regional growth centers and manufacturing and industrial centers. It addresses traffic and freight bottlenecks identified by the community and local agency partners. It evaluates more direct transit connections to regional destinations rather than a bus rapid transit system on SR 167.
Scenario C: $4.5-5.0 billion
Scenario C focuses on freight with a truck only lane from SR 18 to the SR 167 extension in Puyallup. This improvement in Scenario C trades a second Express toll lane for a truck lane to help with truck travel time reliability. This scenario includes multiple interchange improvements at arterial streets and major highways like SR 18 and SR 410/SR 512.
Key takeaways: This scenario evaluated the benefits and tradeoffs of a dedicated freight lane from SR 512 to SR 18 to access Auburn and Sumner manufacturing and industrial areas.