Skip to main content
King County Logo
Nov
22

Bridges and Roads Task Force

Final report

During the last six months, task force members studied the Road Services funding gap and the efficiencies we put in place to address the serious shortfall. Members initially generated 139 recommendations. They discussed them in large and small groups, and then created short and long term solution lists.

The Final Report and Recommendations are posted below. The last Task Force meeting was January 20, 2016, where the report was presented to King County Executive Dow Constantine and staff.


Final Report

Appendices

Members of the Bridges and Roads Task Force approved, signed and presented their Final Report and Recommendations to Executive Constantine and Councilmember Lambert at their last meeting on January 20, 2016.

Task Force member Cecilia Mena, Union Representative from Professional & Technical Employees Local 17, signing the Task Force’s Final Report and Recommendations on January 20, 2016. Photo: Ned Ahrens.

Task Force member Cecilia Mena, Union Representative from Professional & Technical Employees Local 17, signing the Task Force’s Final Report and Recommendations on January 20, 2016. Photo: Ned Ahrens.

Task Force member Ashley Glennon, President of the Fall City Community Association, signing the Task Force’s Final Report and Recommendations on January 20, 2016. Photo: Ned Ahrens

Task Force member Ashley Glennon, President of the Fall City Community Association, signing the Task Force’s Final Report and Recommendations on January 20, 2016. Photo: Ned Ahrens

Overview

On August 12, 2015, a panel of regional leaders and community members began meeting to explore solutions for maintaining and preserving the aging bridge and road system in unincorporated King County. The Bridges and Roads Task Force membership includes neighbors, representatives from agriculture and recreation organizations, road experts and public policy leaders. Task force meetings are scheduled through January 2016. Along with providing vital opportunities for people in our communities – and those who use the roads – to be part of the solution, the formation of the task force will also:

  • Connect communities
  • Build partnerships
  • Encourage public stewardship

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Kathy Lambert at the last Bridges and Roads Task Force meeting on January 20, 2016

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember Kathy Lambert at the last Bridges and Roads Task Force meeting on January 20, 2016. Photo: Ned Ahrens.

Bridges and Roads Task Force meeting, Aug. 12 2015 First meeting of the Bridges and Roads Task Force on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at the Mercer Island Community Center.

First meeting of the Bridges and Roads Task Force on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at the Mercer Island Community Center.

 

King County maintains about 1,500 miles of roads and 182 bridges. More than one million trips are taken on the public roads that connect cities each day -– people traveling to work, school, and recreation; businesses and farmers delivering goods and services; and police and fire officials responding to emergencies. People from all parts of the county – and beyond – use them. About half the trips on the high-volume roads originate not only in cities, but in other counties. In addition, the road right-of-way serves as a pathway for water, sewer, storm water, energy, and communication utilities.

But the system for funding maintenance, operation, and replacement of bridges and roads in unincorporated King County hasn’t been revisited in nearly 30 years, and it no longer works. Nearly three decades of annexations, changes in property levies for roads, declining gas tax revenues, and the effects of voter initiatives have led to the chronic underfunding of today – where it is predicted that some bridges and portions of our roads may have to be restricted or closed as they become unsafe.

The current chronic underfunding of our bridges and roads is unsustainable. We must create a long-term regional solution to get our roads back on track.

 

Bridges and Roads Task Force - In this video, learn how King County is trying to save hundreds of miles of critical roads.

 

 

Many of King County's roads are falling apart and there's no funding to fix them. In the video above, King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert talks about saving our rural roads.

 

The Bridges and Roads Task Force will provide a constituency, momentum, leadership, and policy recommendations, both for the short and long term, to support regional leaders in addressing this challenge. Regional community membership will include experts, users, neighbors, and public policy leaders, with suggestions from council and the executive to create a diverse cross section of interested constituents.

Safety is our top priority - along with providing an efficient, effective and well-maintained infrastructure. We look forward to the Bridges and Roads Task Force bringing key stakeholders together to find sustainable solutions to connect communities and help keep the county moving.

The Stossel Bridge on Carnation Farm Road NE near Carnation is a fracture-critical through-truss bridge similar to the Skagit River Bridge.

The Stossel Bridge on Carnation Farm Road NE near Carnation is a fracture-critical through-truss bridge similar to the Skagit River Bridge.

 

Members

Bridges and Roads Task Force members along with King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert and King County Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi.

Bridges and Roads Task Force members along with King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert (first row, second from left) and King County Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi (third row, first from left).

 

Task Force Member Organization/Neighborhood Biography
Michael Gonzales Teamsters 174 Michael Gonzales is a life-long Washington resident. He is married to another native Washingtonian who works at the Boeing Company. He has been an active member of organized labor for 19 years and is currently employed by Teamsters Local 174 since 2007. He holds the positions of Senior Business Agent and Political Director for the Local Union. He is also an executive board member of the Martin Luther King County Labor Council.
Bryce Yadon Futurewise, State Policy Director Bryce brings many years of political experience to Futurewise. He began his career as an Associate Legislative Assistant to the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and then worked as Legislative Assistant to the House Housing Chair. He went on to work as a Government Affairs Associate at a local firm, where he represented both public entities such as the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities, and non-profit organizations, like the Washington Economic Development Association. Bryce has a Masters in Sustainable Environmental Management from Middlesex University in London and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Seattle University.
Rep. Luis Moscoso Washington State Legislature Representative Luis Moscoso represents Washington's 1st district, including parts of north King and south Snohomish counties. A Washington resident since the 1970s, Luis was the inaugural president of the first union for Community Transit bus drivers. Before being elected to the legislature, Luis served on the Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board, and in 2001 he went to work for Washington Public Employees Association/UFCW 365 to handle contract negotiations in various agencies and community colleges before becoming WPEA government relations director in 2006. In the Legislature, Luis sits on the House Transportation Committee as vice chair, and is also a member of the Public Safety and Government Accountability and Oversight committees. In 2012, Luis helped to found the Legislative Rail caucus, a non-partisan, bicameral group of legislators committed to improving to improving rail transportation outcomes in Washington. Luis and his wife have three grown children.
Josh Brown Executive Director, Puget Sound Regional Council Josh Brown is the Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Josh was elected to two terms as Kitsap County Commissioner. While Commissioner, he was active in regional issues and served as PSRC President for two years. Before serving as Kitsap County Commissioner, he worked as a commercial real estate broker. Josh attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree focused on city and regional planning.
Van Anderson Boundary Review Board Van Anderson is currently a member of the Boundary Review member. She is also the past President of the King County Association of Realtors and a past member of the Real Estate License Commission. She has lived in Washington her entire life. She was born in Tacoma and currently resides in Bellevue.
Louise Miller Former King County Councilmember and State Representative Louise started her political career in 1978 when she was elected a Woodinville Water/Sewer Commissioner. She then served 11 years in the State House of Representatives and eight years on the King County Council, retiring at the end of her second term in December 2001. Currently Louise is a board member of the Seattle Center Foundation, a vice president of the Seattle Opera Board of Trustees and a co-chair of the Mainstream Republicans. Louise Miller graduated with a B.A. in music from San Jose State University in 1966.
Blake Trask Statewide Policy Director, Washington Bikes Blake Trask serves as the state policy director at Washington Bikes, an organization that grows bicycling statewide through advocacy and education. At Washington Bikes Trask manages policy development and state and federal legislative relations, while also leading initiatives to promote increased safety, better data collection, as well as bicycle travel and tourism to grow local economies statewide.
Ron Paananen Parsons Brinckerhoff Ron Paananen has more than 34 years’ experience in design and management of transportation infrastructure, including ferry terminals, highway, and bridge projects. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Washington and received an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of Washington and a B.S. in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University. Paananen is currently General Manager of Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Seattle office. He was previously with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), where he oversaw projects including the Alaskan Way Viaduct, SR 520 Floating Bridge Replacement, and I-405 Corridor Program.
Sen. Joe Fain Washington State Legislature Senator Joe Fain is serving his second term in the Washington State Senate where he represents South King County. As vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee Fain co-sponsored and was a key negotiator of the transportation investment package passed in 2015. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served King County for more than a decade, most recently as chief of staff for District 7 of the King County Council. Fain earned his law degree and MBA at Seattle University after graduating from the University of Washington. He lives in Auburn with his wife Steffanie.
George Irwin King County Agriculture Commission George Irwin owns a purebred cattle operation in Enumclaw. He is Vice Chair of the County Agriculture Commission, sits on the board of directors of the King/Pierce County Farm Bureau, and is President of the King/Pierce Cattlemen's Association.
Janet Keller Keller Dairy Janet Keller has a BS from the University of Washington. She and her husband, along with her adult children, own a dairy farm in unincorporated King County. She brings a family farm perspective to the Bridges and Roads Task Force. Roads are vital to our dairy, and serviceable roads are a must for modern farming.
Hank Lipe Emergency Management Expert With a dynamic fire service career spanning over 30 years, Hank Lipe has served as Vashon Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director since 2008 and resides on the island. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology from the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. He has also earned the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. Lipe’s expertise includes EMS response, emergency management planning, and grants management.
Duana Koloušková Member, Transportation Concurrency Expert Review Panel Duana Koloušková is a partner at Johns Monroe Mitsunaga Koloušková PLLC, which represents a variety of private clients on land use, real estate, and construction issues. She represents developers, property owners, and developer/builder organizations in all phases of property development. Her work includes consulting on permit applications, strategy regarding major project development, and representing clients at a broad range of public forums, administrative hearings and judicial appeals. Ms. Koloušková is also the legal advisor to the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish County, Board of Governors.
Matt Larson Mayor, City of Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson is currently serving his third term as Snoqualmie's mayor. He has held many offices in Snoqualmie in the past including Mayor Pro-Tem, City Council member, chair of the Planning Commission, and Parks Board member. For two years he held the position of president of the Snoqualmie Valley Governments Association. He currently serves on the King County Flood Control District Advisory Board and serves as President of the Sound Cities Association Board of Directors. Larson is an Advanced Certified Municipal Leader -- a certification earned through the Association of Washington Cities.
Peter Eberle President, Four Creeks Unincorporated Council Peter Eberle is currently retired from the State of Alaska Department of Transportation, Alaska Marine Highway System. There he served as Chief Engineer aboard Mainline ferries MV Columbia and MV Kennicott. Currently he serves as President of the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council, a non-profit organization that serves the residents of unincorporated King County. He also serves on the board of directors for the Westport South Beach Historical Society where he is Chairperson of the Lighthouse Preservation Committee. He has been a resident of unincorporated King County for over 58 years.
Ashley Glennon President, Fall City Community Association Ashley Glennon is the president of the Fall City Community Association and is a seasoned veteran in the wireless communications industry. Ashley spent more than 23 years at T-Mobile managing, creating, launching and marketing new consumer facing mobile products and services. Ashley has award-winning coaching, collaboration and communication skills and has a reputation for passionately and enthusiastically driving initiatives forward. Ashley presently works at Strong-Bridge Consulting--still serving the wireless industry--and has a natural energy level that is contagious.
Bob Harrison City Manager of Issaquah Bob Harrison has served as City Manager for the City of Issaquah since 2011. Prior to this position, Harrison was city manager of Wyoming, Ohio, a suburb north of Cincinnati for 12 years. Harrison has a master's in public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a bachelor's degree from Marquette University.
Andra Kranzler Community Economic Development Manager, Skyway Solutions Andra Kranzler is currently managing the community led planning efforts with Skyway Solutions in Skyway-West Hill (an unincorporated area of Martin Luther King Jr. County). She has a Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law and an Urban and Regional Planning degree from Eastern Washington University. Prior to joining Skyway Solutions, Andra was a civil rights attorney and community economic development law fellow.
Cecilia Mena Union Representative, Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 Cecilia Mena has been a Union representative for a little over 7 years covering retail, healthcare and Public employees. She has been with PTE Local 17 for a little over 6 months. She has approximately 200 members working in Roads.
Amy Ockerlander Councilmember at City of Duvall City of Duvall Councilmember Amy Ockerlander took office on January 1, 2010. Ms. Ockerlander serves on a number of regional and statewide committees representing the council and assisting with policy formation at the county, state, and federal levels. She earned a Certificate of Municipal Leadership through the Association of Washington Cities in 2011. Ms. Ockerlander has a Bachelor's of Interdisciplinary Studies from Eastern Washington University and is employed as a Public Services Coordinator in Snohomish County's Department of Public Works, Surface Water Management Division, managing state and federal legislative coordination and special projects.
John Bloomer Firefighter/EMT, King County Fire District 28/Enumclaw Fire John Bloomer has been employed as Firefighter/EMT with King County Fire District #28/Enumclaw Fire Department for eight years. He resides in rural King County, grew up on a dairy farm not far from the city of Enumclaw, and is a 4th generation resident of the Enumclaw Plateau. John earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Oregon University.

Resources

Reports

Questions & answers

Presentations

Meeting agendas

Meeting minutes

 

Meeting dates and locations

 

Meeting Date/time Location
#1 Aug. 12
3-6pm		 Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040
#2 Sept. 16
3-6pm		 King Street Center, 201 S Jackson Street, 8th Floor Conference Center, Seattle, WA 98104
#3 Oct. 14
2:30-5:30pm		 King Street Center, 201 S Jackson Street, 8th Floor Conference Center, Seattle, WA 98104
#4 Oct. 28
2:30-5:30pm		 Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Room, Mercer Island, WA 98040
#5 Nov. 12
2:30-5:30pm		 Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th Street, Mercer Room, Mercer Island, WA 98040
#6 Jan. 20
2:30-5:30pm		 King Street Center, 201 S Jackson Street, 8th Floor Conference Center, Seattle, WA 98104

 

Getting to the meetings

Road Services background

 

Outreach

Presentation to the South County Area Transportation Board (SCATBd)

On March 15, 2016, King County Road Services Deputy Director Jay Osborne and Bridges and Roads Task Force member Bryce Yadon of Futurewise provided a final report of the Task Force’s recommendations to SCATBd. During the presentation they shared the strategies recommended by the Task Force and addressed questions from the Board. Through 2016, County leadership and Task Force members will continue to meet with regional boards, cities and community groups to build partnerships and find solutions for maintaining and preserving the unincorporated road network in King County.

 

Presentation to the King County Council Committee of the Whole

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, King County Road Services Director Brenda Bauer and Deputy Director Jay Osborne, along with Bridges and Roads Task Force members Louise Miller and Van Anderson, provided a final report of the Task Force's recommendations to the King County Council Committee of the Whole. During the presentation they shared the policy and fiscal strategies recommended by the Task Force to sustainably maintain and preserve the unincorporated road network and answered the committee's questions.

Click on the image below to watch the presentation.


 

Former King County Councilmember and State Representative Louise Miller.

Boundary Review Board member Van Anderson.

 

Contact us

Questions or feedback? Contact King County Road Services.

 

News

In the media

 

Related topics

Road Services

Access services provided by Roads in unincorporated King County

24/7 Road Helpline

Call us for help with road maintenance and traffic safety issues
expand_less