In early February, we met with Senator Betsy Johnson, Commissioner Mark Labhart, Mark Gervasi and Don Hurd about the project. They requested we consider an additional option in the Environmental Assessment along with the other two. This option would extend Pacific Avenue northbound through the existing Mar Clair Inn property and run parallel to U.S. 101, north over the Hoquarten Slough. However, we have not explored this option much beyond marker lines on a map.

Today, our team of engineers met and reviewed the suggested option for fatal flaws. A fatal flaw is an aspect of an alternative that makes it un-buildable or not feasible. In this case, an example of a fatal flaw is if we cannot provide access to the Hoquarten Slough Trail, something we must do under federal law.

Upcoming

By April, we should be able to provide more information about the feasibility of this third option and outline what our next steps will be.

We hosted several meetings over the last two months and received a lot of great information from the community about the two bridge options. To everyone who attended, e-mailed us comments, or gave us a call, thank you so much, your input helps us make better-informed decisions.

Special Update

At one of the meetings, we heard concerns about local businesses’ ability to compete for state contracts. At ODOT, we are committed to helping Oregon’s small business community overcome barriers to participating in the state’s extensive public contracting procurement programs.

Contact Jerry Hoffman at (503) 986-3016 or e-mail him at gerald.hoffman@odot.state.or.us for more information about available assistance.

Project Status

We heard a lot at the meetings. Some of the most helpful input came from someone who told us Hoquarten Slough does not see a lot of debris during floods. He asked if we could lower the bridge height on the second bridge design concept because of the lack of debris.

If you recall from our first update, one of the reasons we designed the bridge so high was so debris wouldn’t damage it during a flood. We talked to our local bridge crew and they confirmed the information from the meeting. During floods, they don’t see a lot of debris in Hoquarten Slough either. Our hydraulics engineer analyzed the issue and concluded we don’t need the additional two feet of clearance for debris on the second bridge design concept.

This means the concept that maintains Front Street’s connection with U.S. 101 will only need to be about five feet higher than the existing bridge, rather than the seven feet we originally thought. It does not mean we can build a new bridge at the existing bridge’s height. The new bridge still must meet the design requirements to accommodate anticipated floods and protect the bridge’s lifespan.

Upcoming

For all proposed projects receiving federal funding or federal permitting, we must assess the effects of the project on the natural and human environment. This study comprises the next stage of the project and happens through a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA).

Work on the environmental study began in January. Nearly complete, the U.S. 101/ OR 6 Alternatives Study recommended two alternatives, including two new bridge options for further analysis in the environmental study. The environmental study will also look at what would happen if we did not construct anything, which we call the no-build alternative.

We expect the environmental study to take about 2 years. You will want to look for the Environmental Assessment document, available in late 2010 or early 2011, for public review. The document will summarize the impacts and benefits of constructing one of the alternatives compared to a no-build, or do nothing, alternative. The summary will cover a wide range of topics, everything from impacts to wetlands, to impacts to businesses.

Once the document is available, you will have 45 days to review it and provide ODOT with comments. We will accept comments by e-mail, mail or at a public hearing.

The project team will then evaluate and respond to comments and revise the document to capture anything we missed or anything that changed. The project team will then select a preferred alternative. Once the revised document is completed, ODOT will receive a decision from the Federal Highway Administration. That decision is based on the assessment of impacts. If there are no significant environmental impacts and the decision is to construct the project, Federal Highway Administration will give the team permission to move forward with developing a final design and constructing it.

Remember, we won’t make a decision until the completion of the environmental study process. We will provide many opportunities for input before we make decisions. We are very early in the environmental study at this point. For more information on transportation decision-making take a look at Federal Highway Administration’s online guide here, information about environmental studies begins on page 21.

Project Status

On Dec. 15, we talked with Front Street property owners and downtown business owners about bridge options for Hoquarten Slough. We heard concerns about the overall project, lost parking, access to the highway, the impact of construction on stores, and new structures making flooding worse. We also heard concerns about heavy volumes of traffic through Tillamook in the summer, especially large trucks and motor homes.

It’s our goal to minimize impacts to businesses while addressing congestion on U.S. 101 and OR 6 in a way that does not make flooding worse. We want the outcome of our project to improve Tillamook for the community and anyone who travels through the area.

We will present your feedback from our December 15, 2009 meetings to the Stakeholder Advisory Committee on January 13, 2010. Then, we will discuss the options with the community at an open house on January 27, 2010.

Our current options are the following:
• New Bridge Alternative 1 - about 12 feet higher than existing bridge, underpass for Front Street;
• New Bridge Alternative 2 - about seven feet higher than existing bridge, maintains Front Street’s connection with U.S. 101, raises Front Street seven feet beginning at Ivy Street.

We just began looking at the lower bridge option in October 2009 and we will continue to develop the design more fully as the project progresses. However, here is what we know so far. If we don’t build a new bridge, the intersection of 1st Street and Main will not work in the future. Traffic won’t be able to go north on U.S. 101 and will back up in downtown. This blocks other intersections, creating gridlock and delaying travel.

If we do build a new bridge, it must be above the 100-year flood plain elevation. Which means we have to change how Front Street and some driveways intersect with U.S. 101. We know that these changes will impact businesses and property owners. However, the intersection will work well and traffic will get around and through Tillamook for years to come.

We’ll discuss these options and any more concerns you may have at the next Open House – please plan to attend! We know these won’t be easy decisions; however, we need your continued input to identify the best option.

Upcoming Meetings

Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting
5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 13
Oregon Department of Forestry, Conference Room
5005 3rd Street, Tillamook

Open House
5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 27
Tillamook Library
1716 3rd Street, Tillamook

What's New?

Based on our discussions with the community and our technical analysis we will recommend an alternative(s) to study in more detail. That closer look happens in a National Enviromental Policy Act (NEPA) Enviromental Assessment process required by federal law.

The National Enviromental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements create better informed decision-making and ensure citizens are involved in the decision process. You can find more information about the National Enviromental Policy Act (NEPA) online in the Citizen's Guide.

For all projects that receive federal funding or federal permitting, we must assess the effects of the project on the natural and human enviroment. We will use the assessment to aid in selecting the least damaging practicable option (alternative) for downtown Tillamook.

Get to know us and the work we are doing!

Staff from Tillamook County, the City of Tillamook, and ODOT make up the U.S. 101/OR 6 Alternatives Study project team. We are working together on transportation issues in downtown Tillamook and we are hearing your requests for regular project updates.

If you would like to receive a monthly e-mail with an update on the work we are doing, sign up using the comment form. Please encourage friends or neighbors to sign up to recieve these updates too.

Project Status

Over the past year we’ve narrowed a wide range of options to two alternatives for further study:

• Alternative 1 - One way traffic on 1st and 3rd Streets, a new four lane bridge across Hoquarten Slough and wider lanes on Main and Pacific (previously called Alternative C1).
• Alternative 2 - Two way traffic on 1st Street, a new four lane bridge across Hoquarten Slough and wider lanes on Main and Pacific (previously called Alternative C4).

We recognize both options have serious trade-offs related to costs, business access, congestion relief, construction issues and how well the project fits with the community. Alternative 1 removes less parking, however, Alternative 2 will improve traffic flow more over the next 20 years. Both alternatives are an improvement over building nothing which we expect would result in severe congestion and safety problems over the next 20 years.

We continue to discuss both options. We are learning more about the benefits and drawbacks through our conversations with the community and through technical analysis. We don’t always agree on everything, which is a good thing because it helps us have more meaningful discussions and make better informed decisions. We all are committed to a final decision that will be the right one for Tillamook and Oregon.

Upcoming

Since August, we‘ve been developing bridge ideas for Hoquarten Slough. The new bridge will be higher than the existing bridge because the existing bridge is below the 100 year flood elevation. The new bridge must be constructed above the 100 year flood elevation, so:

• the bridge doesn’t displace flood water; and
• the flood water can’t push debris up against the bridge and damage it.

Building a bridge above the flood elevation will change U.S. 101‘s height at Front Street. The change in bridge height would affect the U.S. 101/Front Street intersection and business access. Based on discussions with property owners, we have developed two bridge design options, one is 12 feet higher than the existing bridge and one is 7 feet higher. The lower bridge option maintains the intersection of U.S. 101 and Front Street, although it would be higher than the existing intersection. The higher bridge option would create an undercrossing of U.S. 101 for Front Street to provide access to the trail parking lot and the motel.

On Tuesday, December 15, we will talk with Front Street property owners and downtown business owners about bridge options and trade-offs. We will host an open house in January to continue the same discussion with the broader Tillamook community.