Those who have sat endlessly in traffic jams caused by “improvements” know just how irritating all that construction can be, but those who have missed being broadsided by inches from someone driving too fast on SR 203 know how crucial those highway improvements are.

Recent growth means more cars on Highway 203 and more cars means more accidents and fatalities.

According to the Puget Sound Regional Council, between 7,000-13,000 cars drive on Highway 203 daily. This number will increase to an estimated 20,000-plus by the year 2020.

In the past, solutions to increasing congestion were to widen the road as much as possible, and allow better access. However, in many cases, this destroyed the historical and cultural character of the towns and surrounding areas.

The Puget Sound Regional Council is a regional planning agency, funded mainly by state and federal grants, whose primary purpose is to serve as a forum for local governments, ensure that state, regional and local transportation plans are consistent and maintain regional transportation improvement programs. The council is also responsible for distributing about $160 million in Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration funds that support the region’s long-range transportation plan.

In the fall of 2002, the Puget Sound Regional Council created the Rural Town Centers and Corridors Project to better plan for future growth on rural highways. After an extensive study, the council approved a set of recommendations for the project and federal funds can now be requested.

While still at the conceptual stage, a pilot study was done to identify local needs for improvement strategies along the 203 corridor. All were discussed during the August 11th work session and ideas, concerns and suggestions were recorded.

Bike paths, speed limits, high accident areas, congested areas, pedestrian crossings, school bus routes and local businesses were all discussed. Many different solutions are being considered, with councils, cities, engineers and transportation planners from Monroe to Fall City all involved.

“The hope is that the ideas to come out of this can lead to real planning,” stated one Puget Sound Regional Council member.

More work study sessions will be scheduled to continue planning. More information can be found by going to the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Web site at www.psrc.org.