The in basket: Leroy McVay of Poulsbo writes, “Washington State
Ferries provide six cameras showing traffic line-ups for
the Edmonds ferry. They provide four cameras for Kingston but
only one for the Bainbridge ferry. When our family comes
over, we can check the Kingston ferry backup but we can’t
check the line for Bainbridge.
“Is there a valid reason they don’t provide cameras for the
Bainbridge ferry backup?” he asks.
Monthly Archives: October 2007
Must WSP troopers wear their hat?
The in basket: I was motoring along Highway 16 in Gig Harbor
recently when I noticed a State Patrol speed enforcement going on
across the median,
“Hey,” said my wife, The Judybaker, “that young officer just got
out of his car without his hat on. That’s against regulations.”
I asked WSP Lt. Ken Noland if she was correct.
Scrubbing edge line could make common turns legal
The in basket: James Cardwell thinks it would be helpful if the state erased enough of the white edge line on westbound Sedgwick Road at the on-ramp to go toward Gorst on Highway 16 that the drivers who now cross it illegally to get past cars waiting at the red light could do it legally. Hundreds of cars do cross the line to make that turn every day, but their drivers risk a ticket when they do it.
WSP patrols away from state highways
The in basket: Ryan Rees of Mile Hill Drive in South Kitsap said a State Patrol trooper appeared to be conducting a speed enforcement on that county road on Oct. 9. The officer stopped at least three cars near the Woods Road intersection, Ryan said. He wondered why they’d be doing that other than on a state highway.
School zone signs in the summer and weekends
The in basket: Three people – Brian Muhleman, Jen Degnan and
Margaret Lentz – have asked whether the school zones speed signs
limiting enforcement to certain hours, which replaced many of the
“when children are present” signs last school year, are in effect
during the summer, or on weekends and holidays, for that
matter.
Jen adds, “What about other schools that still have the “When
children are present” signs? Even though school is not in session,
if there are children playing…I assume we still slow
down….correct?”
Confusion at Blaine and Bucklin Hill Road
The in basket: Shortly after a fatal pedestrian accident where Blaine Avenue intersects Bucklin Hill Road in Silverdale, Bob Hoag suggested that the line separating the two westbound lanes there should be extended east of the intersection. If it was, cars waiting on Blaine to turn right can see if an approaching car from the east is changing lanes, he argued.
Are bridge toll avoiders adding cars in Belfair?
The in basket: Greg Tyree thinks traffic through Belfair and
Allyn has increased due to the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the $3
toll.
“Many people from the counties north of Mason have started using
this route if they are heading south to Olympia, Portland etc.,”
Greg wrote. “The travel time from Gorst to Olympia is close to the
same if you go through Tacoma or through Belfair/Shelton,
only minus the $3 toll.”
Sign approaching Narrows Bridge may be incorrect
The in basket: Greg Iverson of Manchester writes, “Last time I approached the new Tacoma Narrows bridge the initial sign about the Good To Go! lanes said to use the two left lanes. Since the extreme left lane is a HOV lane I wrongly assumed it was one of the two lanes being referred to. Actually if one counts the HOV lane, three lanes are GoodToGo lanes. , I unnecessarily moved left.”
Is access road from Belfair Bypass really needed?
The in basket: Greg Tyree writes, “Part of the holdup on the Belfair bypass is where to put an access road to Belfair from the bypass, and my question/concern is why have one, especially at $10 million-plus. I feel access to Belfair could be served by the existing routes currently in place. Use the millions proposed for an access road to lower the total cost.”
Avanti Drive and Ridgetop Boulvard – again
The in basket: Keith Van Hook writes, “On the northbound side of
Ridgetop Boulevard in Silverdale, at the intersection with Avanti
Drive, there is a stop sign that has been there since Ridgetop was
a dirt road (around 1983). This stop sign seems to be
inappropriately placed and serves no purpose other than to impede
the northbound through traffic on Ridgetop, while allowing a free
left turn for southbound traffic from Ridgetop onto Avanti. Avanti
is a side street with its own stop sign onto Ridgetop.
“The crosswalk and Kitsap Transit bus stop are a block further
north with no stop sign,” Keith said. “One does not seem necessary
there. Why is the stop sign still in place?”
