UPDATE 3/12/26

The proviso that we were able to get into both transportation budgets were removed by the committee.  According to a source, they removed all member projects.  That means no funding for improvements to the High Cedars intersection or any other part of the SR162 corridor.  It is a shame that there is not more concern for the safety on our corridor.  The only way we will see funding for transportation projects is to vote in legislators who make our transportation infrastructure a priority.  We must challenge candidates on this issue.

 

Next step is to start lobbying with WSDOT and transportation committee members for next years longer session.  We will be pushing for the near term projects recommended by the WSDOT study to include roundabouts at High Cedars (149th St E), McMillin Industrial Park intersection (136th St E), Alderton (96th St E), and Pioneer Rd intersection.  This should create a slower and more steady traffic flow and improve the safety of uncontolled access points.  We will be needing your support as we make this a big issue in Olympia next year.

 

2026 LEGISLATURE FUNDING REQUEST

We have been lobbying in Olympia during this short session to include in the supplementary transportation budget an emergency funding request for adding traffic control to the High Cedars intersection (149th St E).  This uncontrolled intersection has the greatest potential for severe injury or fatal collisions due to the number of access and egress traffic.  We were able to obtain a House proviso through Rep. Keaton and we hope a matching Senate proviso through Sen King for this corridor improvement.  The project estimated cost is $521,000. The proviso is in the amount $410,000, so the balance of the project cost will be contributed by the community and golf course. Approval is many steps away as of this writing but positive responses have been encouraging.  The WSDOT study improvement funding requests will be presented in the 2027 legislature.

 

FINAL STUDY REPORT RELEASED

The final report of the SR162 Center Lane Study has been released.  Are we happy with the outcome?  In some areas yes and others no, however the largest flaw is that the traffic numbers from the new Tehaleh roadway to 128th St E and SR162 were not included in the modeling process performed by WSDOT.  Why, we do not know, but hope to find out. It is a fatal flaw in this study.  You should take a look at the study on the following link, at least read the two page executive summary and chapter 5 & 6 (starting page 30). Then give us your feedback at the link on the bottom of this page.  WSDOT STUDY FINAL DRAFT HERE.

 

HOW WSDOT IDENTIFIES STUDY

The study of State Route 162 from SR 410 south to

the city limits of Orting, will look at existing conditions in the corridor and develop recommendations to improve safety, mobility, and decrease emergency response times.

 

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY STUDY

• Roundabouts improve safety by significantly reducing serious and fatal crashes

• Access management reduces conflict points

• Center Turn Lanes do not measurably improve safety performance for this type of corridor but are being considered

• Active transportation access to the Foothills Trail separates active transportation users from vehicle traffic

 

 

CONGESTION RELIEF UNDER CONSIDERATION BY STUDY

• Congestion occurs at intersections

• Roundabouts and signal modifications improve Level of Service (LOS)

 

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIMES REDUCTION IMPROVEMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION

• Roundabouts improve traffic flow and may improve response times

• Roundabouts also reduce severity of crashes/need for emergency response

• Wider shoulders allow for vehicles to pull off to the side

 

DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS (CORRIDOR SEGMENTS)

• The study divides the corridor into segments because the needs are different for each segment of the highway.  It also makes it easier to see what changes are being proposed where.

SR410 TO PIONEER WAY 

• 74th St E near SR410, turn restriction (RIGHT IN/RIGHT OUT)

• 80th St E just south of Puyallup River bridge turn restriction (RIGHT IN/RIGHT OUT)

• PIONEER WAY/SR162 intersection roundabout (provides turn around for above)

  • Provide path connection from SR162 to Foothills Trail on Pioneer

 

PIONEER WAY TO MILITARY ROAD

• 87th St E to 88th St E, center raised median

• 87th St E AND 88th St E, turning modification (RIGHT IN/RIGHT OUT)

• 96th St E (Alderton), intersection roundabout

• Connection to Foothills Trail

• Center turn lane, continuous from 100th St E to 110th St E

 

MILITARY ROAD TO ORTING CITY LIMITS

• 128th St E to 149th St E, raised center lane median

  • Access roadways all RIGHT IN/RIGHT OUT

• 136th St E, 144th St E, 149th St E, intersection roundabouts

  • Provides turn around for right in/right out roadways

 

SIDEWALKS AND MIXED USE PATH INCLUDED IN "URBAN AREAS" ALONG SR162

• 87th St E to 90th St E on east side

• 106th St E to 110th St E on east side 

• 112th St E to Military Road on west side

• 114th St E to Military Road on east side

• 128th St E to 138th St E on east side (sidewalk only)

• 140th St E/Foothills trail head to 149th St E on east side (sidewalk only)

 

 

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THESE PROPOSED CHANGES!

EMAIL US WITH YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS 
traffic@sr162traffic.org link below