No big surprise here: Most of those who answered a recent survey on Highway 305 said traffic tie-ups are a continuing problem.
But what’s to blame for the persistent gridlock, and how to solve the mammoth motoring mess?
On those points, Bainbridge Islanders and others who use Highway 305 want to go in different directions. That’s one of the big takeaways from the hundreds of comments heard by local, regional and state transportation officials during the recent public outreach effort to get opinions on Highway 305.
Looking for answers
Talk about fixing the traffic snarls on 305 gained traction last year, when the state Legislature set aside $38.6 million for safety and other improvements on the highway as part of the Connecting Washington Transportation revenue package.
And in March, the Washington State Department of Transportation kicked off a $3 million road improvement project to relieve congestion at the Highway 305-Suquamish Way Northeast intersection and installed a new separated right-turn lane for northbound drivers turning onto Suquamish Way Northeast. Other changes included moving the Kitsap Transit bus stop near the casino and a new traffic signal to help buses merging into traffic.
The cities of Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo, along with Kitsap County, Kitsap Transit, the Suquamish Tribe and the Department of Transportation, are continuing their work to size up the key problems, and possible solutions, for freeing up travel along Highway 305.
Transportation officials hosted three open houses devoted to 305 early last month, and just-released results of a survey of highway travelers — combined with written comments sent in by locals who use the highway — show few areas of agreement on how to improve 305 for the thousands who use the highway.
Survey says
State transportation officials estimate that roughly 4,600 vehicles travel in each direction every day on the two-lane highway across Bainbridge between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
A total of 1,222 people took the recent Highway 305 survey, and most, 43 percent, live on Bainbridge. (Approximately 39 percent of those polled live in the greater Poulsbo area, with 11 percent calling Suquamish, Indianola, Kingston and Hansville home.)
Most of those surveyed, 44 percent, said they travel on 305 every day. Roughly 30 percent were occasional travelers on the highway, and 22 percent were commuters who traveled the island’s main transportation spine on their way to and from work three or more days a week.
A huge majority, more than 86 percent, said they drive alone for most of their trips. (High occupancy vehicles accounted for just 15 percent; bicyclists, 7.4 percent; and pedestrians, 2.7 percent.)
Those polled pointed to slow-downs, safety, traffic signals and turning off the highway as crucial concerns for 305.
There was wide agreement that speed and travel times on the highway were issues; 90 percent of those surveyed agreed.
People were split, however, on how frequently they encounter those problems. A little more than 50 percent said speed and travel times were an issue morning through night, while 42 percent said those problems happened at specific times or places.
More than 75 percent said safety was an issue on Highway 305.
Another large majority, 69 percent of those surveyed, said traffic signals along the highway were an issue.
Making left turns on the highway — which involves crossing against oncoming traffic — was cited by 60 percent as problematic.
And again, a majority said it was a problem everywhere on 305, with 58 percent saying it was a problem day and night.
Access to the highway from side streets was a major concern for 70 percent.
People who answered the survey were also strongly united in what’s not an issue on 305: transit service. A total of 70 percent said bus service on the highway was not a concern.
And on bicycle access, 51 percent said it wasn’t an issue, while 48 percent said it was.
Pedestrian access was seen as even less of a concern; 60 percent said it wasn’t an issue. (Seventy-nine percent said they didn’t use 305 for walking or biking.)
A search for solutions
Kitsap residents who offered input for improving 305 had ideas that spanned the range from routine to radical.
Those proposals included:
• Have police direct traffic at the intersection near the casino;
• Increase bus service;
• Add turn lanes along the highway on both sides of the Agate Pass Bridge;
• Have police crack down on speeders, or drivers going under the speed limit;
• Make the red light signal last longer for traffic exiting the casino;
• Add a reversible third lane for commuters;
• Put a roundabout at the 305-Suquamish Way Northeast intersection;
• Construct a “cloverleaf” intersection at the casino instead;
• More bike lanes;
• Put tunnels under 305 at certain intersections so bicyclists and walkers can cross the road;
• Build a separated and isolated hike-and-bike trail parallel to 305;
• Construct a ferry terminal and start service from Suquamish to Seattle, and reduce ferry service on Bainbridge to one boat every two hours;
• Install a light rail from the Bainbridge ferry terminal to Poulsbo;
• Build a monorail from the ferry terminal to Poulsbo; and
• Put in a double decker bridge for each direction.
Many called out the traffic signal at the casino and nearby gas stations and highway-oriented businesses for “the Suquamish slowdown.”
“All the traffic lights seem to entice and/or benefit people going into the casino and not to move people north/south on the 305 corridor,” wrote one commenter.
“The Suquamish casino intersection light has some fishy timing — one car coming out of the casino is held above hundreds of people trying to get to and from vital jobs and school,” offered another. “Why is it that hundreds of people are made late because a few people want to get out of the casino fast? This bad timing creates an effect where the backups are magnified by the light, creating hour-long commutes when it used to take only 10-15 minutes to travel from the bridge to the ferry.”
“I’ve been traveling this route for 25 years. The casino light is the main source of traffic slow-down,” another person wrote. “This intersection must be turned into a large roundabout. I believe roundabouts at each intersection from Hostmark (Street) to ferry terminal would solve the majority of the traffic slowdowns.”
Many suggestions for improving traffic included a roundabout or overpass for traffic at the casino.
The bridge
And many of those who offered written comments on Highway 305 problems pointed to the Agate Passage Bridge as one of the factors for traffic snarls.
Some said the bridge should be expanded to four lanes, or said another bridge should be built nearby.
The suggestion for a new or enlarged bridge was often made with another suggestion: adding more lanes to 305 across Bainbridge.
The push for expanding the highway ranged from adding one lane to rebuilding the roadway into a six-lane freeway.
“305 needs to be at least four lanes wide. The Agate Pass Bridge is a bottleneck — a bigger bridge is needed,” wrote one highway user.
Some favored adding a middle lane that commuters would use to drive south in the morning and north in the afternoon.
Others said turn lanes were needed at key intersections on both sides of the bridge.
And still others said the highway should be expanded to four or six lanes. Many called for visibility improvements along 305, and said trees should be taken down and streetlights installed up and down the highway.
Pointing fingers
Some commuters also said islanders were much to blame for the traffic problems.
They go too slow, or clog up the highway by driving their kids to school. For some, it was a major problem. Several people suggested adding more passing lanes.
“Biggest issue is vehicles traveling well below posted speed limit and slowing down all traffic. Road should be widened to allow passing, and enforcement of slow vehicles would improve conditions.”
“People do not drive the speed limit! It will be 50 and a lot of drivers drive 35-40mph,” wrote another commuter.
“Major contributors to the traffic situation are contractors starting work simultaneously with school starts, as well as BI students driving/being driven to school,” added another.
“Parents driving their kids to and from school cause absurd traffic,” agreed another 305 driver. “Take the bus, kids, that is what we pay for!”
Some faulted Bainbridge for residents’ reluctance to have the highway expanded.
“I wish the greenaholics on Bainbridge would allow the highway to be widened rather than accept vehicles idling for hours on end during ferry traffic. OR CONSIDER BUILDING AN OVERPASS for through traffic!” one 305 traveler wrote.
“This should be a three-lane wide one direction (six lane total) highway,” added another. “Engineers and workers are coming over. Businesses are coming. Where is the infrastructure? Stop living in the ’60s Bainbridge!”
Others said the existing speed limits were too low. And many mentioned that an expanded police presence on the highway would keep things moving.
BI says no thanks
Many islanders, however, told transportation officials they weren’t interested in expanding the highway.
Adding more lanes would be a temporary solution, as added capacity would eventually be filled by more cars and trucks. Traffic was heavy, some said, but manageable.
“I do not support widening of the corridor on Bainbridge Island nor further separation of the highway from side streets. I would support possible reduction of speeds to 45 mph,” wrote one islander.
“I don’t want to see 305 widened on Bainbridge as it is in Poulsbo. That would totally change the character of the island,” added another.
“I do not want State Route 305 widened. When Highway 90 was constructed, I understand that great care was taken to keep it green and scenic and so was 305. Keep 305 green!”
Some Bainbridge residents said expanding the highway would further split the island in half and ruin its character. Some said that tree canopy and wetlands along the highway needed to be preserved, and overpasses for wildlife to cross the busy roadway should be built.
“Please do not widen 305! The main reason my husband and I moved to Bainbridge was that it is not as disfigured by multi-lane highways as many other communities,” wrote one resident. “Let’s explore other solutions to the traffic problem — small buses that run more frequently and stop at different locations, a pedestrian ferry to Indianola, improved bicycle lanes to encourage more bikes (as things stand I am too scared to walk or bike on 305).”
Some favored expanding the highway, with limits.
“Please do not widen 305, unless it is for a new lane for light rail or bicycles, NOT FOR CARS. Please do not add a bridge unless it is only for transit and/or bicycles ONLY!”
Added another: “Do not widen the bridge or 305 on Bainbridge. Find better ways to encourage car pooling, more information on how to do that to regular riders, i.e. websites that people can sign onto to see if others close to them would carpool.”
Others agreed, or suggested sending commuters elsewhere.
“Do not widen. If people complain they can move. This is not Mercer Island. It is an island. Access will always be a challenge. Promote other access points for off-island commuters such as Bremerton or Kingston.”
Wrote another Bainbridge resident: “Don’t widen 305. It will only address congestion temporarily, and then it will invite more traffic. We moved from the north end of the island to Winslow to avoid the increasing traffic; we need to encourage others to do the same.”
Making waves
Some suggested adding a new ferry terminal somewhere north of Agate Passage would lessen traffic on Highway 305.
“Ferry commuter traffic from off Bainbridge should be rerouted to another pick-up location like Suquamish. Bainbridge is used twice a day in mass quantities by commuters that never have any business on the island. It’s just a highway that cannot be expanded at the bridge,” one commuter noted. “The casino backs up traffic nonstop and should help pay for an overpass. We need another ferry location or a second Agate Pass bridge with an overpass at the casino.”
“I believe the state ferry needs to move,” another 305 traveler agreed. “Bainbridge Island is unwilling to work to support expansion of 305 to help traffic. The ferry terminal has to move off BI to the Suquamish side.
“Enough with BI! We cannot continue with little patches. We need a permanent solid fix that meets the current needs and needs of the future. My husband is stuck on 305 from the bridge to High School Road for an hour each way every day. ENOUGH with BI, get it off that stupid island.”
Some islanders concerned about clogs on 305 also raised worries about drivers who take short cuts through neighborhoods on the north end of the island in an attempt to get around traffic.
And one islander said the problem was bigger than the highway.
“We have to stop being a fossil fuel dependent and car-based society. You brought Walgreens here and it’s done nothing for us,” one wrote.
Some who offered comments on improving 305 traffic called for greater restrictions on how the highway could be used.
One person suggested requiring carpools during peak traffic, and handing out tickets to solo drivers: “Ticket SOVs during peak traffic.”
Others suggested tolls for solo drivers or tolls on the Agate Pass Bridge.
One suggested regulations that would make businesses that have work shifts set up carpools for their employees in Poulsbo, with one vehicle for four-to-five employees.
More police were also needed, and not just for car drivers.
“Bike riders who insist on ignoring traffic laws morning, noon and night are an issue,” one person wrote.
“Design a walking/biking safety campaign and teach the ignorant what the laws are,” added an island resident. “THEN, hold them to the laws! The freeway isn’t a place for people to walk! Grew up on BI, we walked the side roads and ONLY CROSSED the freeway! Duh! It’s FOR vehicles!”
Critics abound
For seemingly every idea offered for 305, there was a critic.
Some complained about suggested improvements for bicyclists, and noted that no fees are collected from them that would help pay for the cost of fixes.
“Not everyone can ride their bikes to and from work, transport children to school and after-school activities or get to the doctor or ferry,” added another. “Many of us who are aging and have medical issues to cope with can not hop on a bike and get where we need to go. Neither can we strap our children on our bikes and transport them. Biking is OK for those who want to brave the horrible rainy season and dangers of riding a bike at night but most people who dress up for work have distances to travel for our jobs or have physical limitations do not like to hear about biking as a solution or a substitute for reasonable bus services 24/7.”
And for those asking for greater transit service as a way to reduce traffic, others responded that bus service was very limited.
“There is basically no transit service on the weekends. Saturday hours are ridiculous and of course Sunday is non-existent. There also needs to be one more bus for the next ferry in the evening on weekdays.”
“There is never enough public transportation,” added another. “I will not use it, at all, as it is too far between stops, too much time in between bus arrivals and departures and it takes inordinately long to get anywhere.”
The idea for a roundabout also drew criticism. While some said it would make traffic move even slower, others with homes on Bainbridge’s north end said they’d never make it out of their driveways without the gaps created by the casino traffic signal.
The idea of HOV lanes was also suspect for some. One noted that the HOV lanes in Poulsbo “serve no valuable purpose.”
“An HOV lane is a waste of money because it attempts to create behavior that doesn’t exist; educating drivers on how to merge, how to pay attention at the traffic lights, and how to cede the right of way for faster drivers will do a great deal to help congestion if we get a second lane in each direction,” one commenter said.
