Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESPlanned Future Roadway ImprovementsAnalysis of future conditions assumes the completion of transportation improvement projects to whichcommitment has been made by the implementing agency. The reason for this is that if committed capacityimprovement projects are not assumed in place, potential exists for future impacts to be over-predicted. For theanalysis presented in this SEIS, future improvements were identified for county roadways and state highways asdescribed below.• County roadway improvements were identified if they are included in the County’s TIP and had committedfunding in place.• State highway improvements were identified if they were included in the WTP.The following improvements to State and County Roadways that are assumed in place for the 2035 transportationmodel analysis that would affect the Gorst UGA:• SR 3 and SR 304 interchange assume an additional lane is in place on SR 3. WSDOT is currently studying thisinterchange to finalize the improvements need to this interchange.• SKIA Connector from Lake Flora Road to SR 3 – New 2 lane roadwayThe assumed transportation improvements needed to meet the adopted Kitsap County roadway segment LOS asshown in the Kitsap County’s Capital Facility Plan in the Gorst vicinity include:• Belfair Valley Rd (W), Mason County Line - Bremerton City Limits Widen to undivided four lanes: 2019-2025• Belfair Valley Rd (W), Bremerton City Limits - Sam Christopherson Ave W, Widen to undivided 4 lanesThese improvements are not in the base model but were developed as mitigation measures for the Kitsap CountyComprehensive Plan amendments in 2012.The Washington Department of Transportation Bremerton Economic Development Study has developed a numberof transportation improvement projects along SR 3 and SR 16 within the Gorst area. While these projects were notincluded in the County Transportation model many of them are or will be included in the PSRC Transportation2040 plan and amendments. The following are a summary of these projects:• SR 3 from Belfair to Gorst: Widen to four lanes with inside and outside shoulders. Widening will also includeimproved intersections and access management.• SR 16/SR 3 from Sedgwick Road Interchange to Loxie Eagans Boulevard Interchange: Widen to provide a sixlane, divided, limited access highway with HOV lanes. Improved access management will be includedthroughout this segment.• Sam Christopherson Avenue/SR 3: Construct a four lane bridge with shoulders over Sam ChristophersonAvenue.• As part of the improvements for the SR16/SR 3 intersection area, WSDOT is in the process of evaluatingwhether a roundabout would be feasible at this location to eliminate the existing merging, weaving, andaccess issues.ImpactsMethodologiesTravel Demand ForecastsThe Kitsap County travel demand forecasting model was updated in 2011 using TransCAD software. The model wascalibrated using 2010 data. A primary goal of the Kitsap County model has been to maintain the highestcompatibility with the PSRC regional travel demand forecasting model. To achieve this goal, the core structure ofDraft | June 2013 3-164