The tribe is a "lead agency"?? The tribe is nothing but a corrupt organization that is killing clallam county !!! The so called leader of the tribe is a very irresponsible man who only cares about his pockets .. they have absolutely no rights to do anything to a United States highway. And good ol flip flop Ozias, only caring about his pockets as well.
1) The Tribe is a Sovereign Nation, not a Public Agency!
2) Why is a Roundabout necessary, except to drive more business for the Tribe, a Sovereign Nation?
3) Why and How would Taxpayers benefit from driving more business to this Sovereign Nation corporation?
4) The HW is US 101, not some insignificant county road. So the State must be the lead. Where are the traffic study results? Where are the environmental study results? Where are the financial analysis on slowing commerce results?
“This is the only commerce route we’ve got. This is the one that brings our heavy truck traffic… A roundabout is a permanent chokepoint.” All you have to do is travel though the new roundabout on this side of the Hood Canal bridge to experience how a tight roundabout slows truck traffic to a crawl and makes vehicle traffic dangerous as cars whiz by to pass the trucks heading up the hill to the west. The state has already pissed away hundreds of millions of dollars to "save the salmon" without making the highway safer. With the proposed John Wayne Marina area development looming that will surely increase Hwy. 101 traffic exponentially, if anything, the road needs widening to add additional lanes, not to give JKT another business advantage.
“connect tribal communities while preparing for climate resiliency.”
This kind of corporate/government crap language flows out of their mouths and yet if you ask them what it means you'll be met with a blank stare. Just say the words, and the funding will flow.
While US 101 is a federal route, certain segments in Washington are also part of the National Highway System and the Strategic Highway Network, which are designations that can involve federal funding and oversight for specific projects. So, while it's a federal route, the day-to-day maintenance and operations fall under the purview of the state.
We need to find a friendly federal entity to get involved here.
The following is a report developed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (Skagit County 2015) in accordance with a grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Using Flood Studies to Inform Transportation Asset Management FHWA Pilot Project Report WSDOT.
I only cut and pasted a tiny tiny part of the study.
Why shouldn’t the JT Tribe not work in coordination with WSDOT?
Creating a Resilient Transportation Network in Skagit County: Using Flood Studies to Inform Transportation Asset Management
Who should read this report?
Our main audience is other state DOTs, FHWA Federal Highway Administrat Offices of Environment, Planning and Realty, and the FHWA’s Office of Infrastructure Metropolitan Planning Organizations, TRIBES, rural and urban planners, public works staff, and POLICYMAKERS who want to get a jump-start on integrating adaptation strategies for transportation infrastructure by incorporating studies by other agencies or jurisdictions. This report gives practical, hands-on tips and lessons learned for how to use existing flood studies to identify “NO REGRETS” strategies. We hope that readers will learn from our experience and work with the wealth of flood hazard reduction information, so that transportation asset managers and flood control managers integrate flood hazard planning into their work.
4.1.4 Building the team
YOU NEED A STAFF ON YOUR TEAM WHO KNOW BOTH THE LOCAL AREA AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CLIMATE ADAPTATION WORK SO THAT LOCAL RESPONSES AND STATEWIDE POLICY CAN BE CONSIDERED IN YOUR STUDY.
4.2.1 What recommendations do we have for others to do this type of work?
COORDINATE: It would be helpful to coordinate with cooperating agencies EARLY IN THE PROCESS to ensure special data or model outputs are selected to avoid having to backtrack, redo, or rerun models to get that data.
Keep in mind two things: (1) MAKE SURE IMPACTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ARE CONSIDERED , and (2) PROMOTE YOUR DOT AS A PARTNER IN THE SOLUTION. (e.g., we should be partners, because what one agency does affects the other).
I just about choked on my coffee when I saw that WSDOT has made JKT the lead agency on this proposal. It’s such a bad idea that we need a new term for “bad idea.”
WTF for? Why spend $7.8 million tax dollars on $50K worth of concrete and $50K worth of labor? Oh yeah, so $7.7M ends up in the pockets of Tribes and politicians? Or should we spend $7.8M for a Hwy 101 overpass, with the nearest exit to Blyn being Quilcene or Sequim?
Seriously, that's $7.8m in WASTED tax money that's not necessary, solves no problems, and ONLY benefits the Tribe. This is a prime example of WASTE and most certainly, massive money laundering. Even if needed, a roundabout could be built for $100K, by hungry contractors, or $7.8M by greedy, corrupt, Tribal contractors. Better yet: Why at all? I say NONE OF THE ABOVE.
This city and our residents must contact absolutely every single state and federal agency, even remotely involved, to get this project STOPPED in it's tracks!! Climate resilience? That's BS. Connect the tribes? U.S. 101 already does that. The tribe is in control of the project? That's just plain WRONG. We, the taxpayers, will foot the bill for it? WRONG again.
Can someone on here please figure out who all to contact regarding this shit-show? Post the info. Perhaps Jeff...can also post a letter outlining all the points of the situation that we can download and add our own thoughts to.
If we all spread the word about this to others we know, who might not be a CCW reader, having a (snail-mail and email) list and letter ready to provide them, we might just have a FIGHTING CHANCE of stopping this roundabout from happening.
I will most definitely appreciate any assistance with making it easier to contact the right agency and/or person necessary. Thank you!!
What's the old saying, "You are either part of the problem or part of the solution." Let's see, Ron Allen, very wise, sets himself up to be the pinata, sort of like "take your best shot at me". Oh crystal ball (or the old game "Ask the 8 Ball?" Answer me, "Why has the funding for road work on 101 in the Sequim area been tabled in Olympia?" Answer me, "Why has the Sequim City Council placed the development of the John Wayne area under a moratorium?" Crystal ball, answer me, "Is the tribe looking to be the lead developer of the Marina property?" Answer me crystal ball, "If the roundabout is built in Blyn with taxpayer funds does this presage the ability of the state money to suddenly appear to build a roundabout at Whitefeather?" Answer me crystal ball, "Why is the great white father from Olympia coming to the 7 Cedars on September 6, 2025 - is it just a fund raising event for his party?" And besides a photo op, oh crystal ball, answer me, "What else did the I-5 governor discuss at the Elwha fuel spill? and with whom" Oh crystal ball, answer me, "Who the hell is the problem and who the hell is the solution? Oh crystal ball, was Pogo correct when he said, "we have met the enemy and it us?"
This has left an undesirable taste in my mouth against the bully in this situation; the tribal commission. Round abouts on highway 101 will do nothing but create bottlenecks and accidents. All you need to do is look at the round about on the Jefferson County side of the Hood Canal Bridge on a Sunday afternoon to confirm this. In addition, with the 101 roundabout and pedestrian/bike crossing(s), I see a whole new slew of accidents between cars, trucks and people. My final comment is that the tribe, which I always used to view with admiration, should not get to spend taxpayer money without taxpayer and local thorough involvement.
Very well stated. If anyone has ever been to Wickenburg, AZ, they have 7 roundabouts within a 5.4 mile span to slow the traffic down along Hwy 93, and it's a mess. Locals joke about leaving a wrecker posted 24/7 to handle the daily crashes. It's like clockwork.
This is a very important article. Thank you, Jeff! There is only one way and one way out of here: US HWY 101. Something happens and we're toast. Even the Tribe. I have had two personal experiences where I could NOT see a pedestrian crossing the opposite side of the round-about because of the plants in the center of it and my attention to on coming traffic from my right. Can you imagine the same scenario on a highway? Writing our representative would be a formality, but hiring the fastest ambulance chasing lawyer in the state would be the best route.
Let me see if I have this right. Washington State Department of Transportation says JST is to lead a project to install a roundabout at the entrance to their casino, gas station, and cultural center, with taxpayer money, while JST enjoys many tax exemptions. The proposed roundabout will slow truck traffic, which slows auto traffic creating anxiety for all drivers after traveling on a one lane highway for an hour or more already. We rely on this route to supply us with needed goods and emergency vehicle access. Impeding traffic flow solely for the benefit of a sovereign nation does not benefit the general public. Then the State adds insult to injury by ceding leadership to the sovereign nation to lead the project. I guess adding a toll booth at the roundabout is the next step. I’m sure its in the JST plan already.
I'm not sure how traffic circles are technically helping climate resilience. I understand that supposedly it's less emissions to get up to speed, but as we notice in the flow of traffic at the hood canal, a long line of cars idling behind the cars that are navigating the traffic circle seems to kind of defeat the purpose. I imagine the idling will be worse through that section in Blynn if it does come to fruition
Once again remember that when they break out the BS language such as in this case climate resilience" it is a code language. It means they have no legit reason and therefore use some of the sacret cow words. Keep your eyes open for "Vital role, Foundation, Substainable, clear vision, and the like... (Going Forward)
The tribe is a "lead agency"?? The tribe is nothing but a corrupt organization that is killing clallam county !!! The so called leader of the tribe is a very irresponsible man who only cares about his pockets .. they have absolutely no rights to do anything to a United States highway. And good ol flip flop Ozias, only caring about his pockets as well.
Agents of fortune?
Thanks @Jeff Tozzer!!
A few points:
1) The Tribe is a Sovereign Nation, not a Public Agency!
2) Why is a Roundabout necessary, except to drive more business for the Tribe, a Sovereign Nation?
3) Why and How would Taxpayers benefit from driving more business to this Sovereign Nation corporation?
4) The HW is US 101, not some insignificant county road. So the State must be the lead. Where are the traffic study results? Where are the environmental study results? Where are the financial analysis on slowing commerce results?
**
“This is the only commerce route we’ve got. This is the one that brings our heavy truck traffic… A roundabout is a permanent chokepoint.” All you have to do is travel though the new roundabout on this side of the Hood Canal bridge to experience how a tight roundabout slows truck traffic to a crawl and makes vehicle traffic dangerous as cars whiz by to pass the trucks heading up the hill to the west. The state has already pissed away hundreds of millions of dollars to "save the salmon" without making the highway safer. With the proposed John Wayne Marina area development looming that will surely increase Hwy. 101 traffic exponentially, if anything, the road needs widening to add additional lanes, not to give JKT another business advantage.
“connect tribal communities while preparing for climate resiliency.”
This kind of corporate/government crap language flows out of their mouths and yet if you ask them what it means you'll be met with a blank stare. Just say the words, and the funding will flow.
While US 101 is a federal route, certain segments in Washington are also part of the National Highway System and the Strategic Highway Network, which are designations that can involve federal funding and oversight for specific projects. So, while it's a federal route, the day-to-day maintenance and operations fall under the purview of the state.
We need to find a friendly federal entity to get involved here.
Don’t count on our congresswoman, Rep. Emily Randall. She’s about as far left as they come and I’d bet she’s already in their pockets.
Yea, she's being groomed by her handlers. I'm talking about someone within the the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Time to write some more letters.
Where should I send my letter Mr. Worthington?
I posted an address and an email here on the thread.
I'm sure that you'll be sharing your knowledge who to write to.
MK, does this work?
The following is a report developed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (Skagit County 2015) in accordance with a grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Using Flood Studies to Inform Transportation Asset Management FHWA Pilot Project Report WSDOT.
I only cut and pasted a tiny tiny part of the study.
Why shouldn’t the JT Tribe not work in coordination with WSDOT?
https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/protecting-environment/climate-change-transportation/climate-resilience
Creating a Resilient Transportation Network in Skagit County: Using Flood Studies to Inform Transportation Asset Management
Who should read this report?
Our main audience is other state DOTs, FHWA Federal Highway Administrat Offices of Environment, Planning and Realty, and the FHWA’s Office of Infrastructure Metropolitan Planning Organizations, TRIBES, rural and urban planners, public works staff, and POLICYMAKERS who want to get a jump-start on integrating adaptation strategies for transportation infrastructure by incorporating studies by other agencies or jurisdictions. This report gives practical, hands-on tips and lessons learned for how to use existing flood studies to identify “NO REGRETS” strategies. We hope that readers will learn from our experience and work with the wealth of flood hazard reduction information, so that transportation asset managers and flood control managers integrate flood hazard planning into their work.
4.1.4 Building the team
YOU NEED A STAFF ON YOUR TEAM WHO KNOW BOTH THE LOCAL AREA AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CLIMATE ADAPTATION WORK SO THAT LOCAL RESPONSES AND STATEWIDE POLICY CAN BE CONSIDERED IN YOUR STUDY.
4.2.1 What recommendations do we have for others to do this type of work?
COORDINATE: It would be helpful to coordinate with cooperating agencies EARLY IN THE PROCESS to ensure special data or model outputs are selected to avoid having to backtrack, redo, or rerun models to get that data.
Keep in mind two things: (1) MAKE SURE IMPACTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ARE CONSIDERED , and (2) PROMOTE YOUR DOT AS A PARTNER IN THE SOLUTION. (e.g., we should be partners, because what one agency does affects the other).
Are you saying that the fix is in, and the JST is just following the playbook?
How can we set up a peninsula wide survey for residents to give opinion?
We can then see what the community commuters really think about the new roundabouts (Both Port Townsends/Hood Canal). Real feedback from real people.
Maybe a # where people can post videos/pictures and give a short statement on social media?
#PeninsulaRoundabouts or something similar?
If we can gain attention we can stop this terrible idea.
I just about choked on my coffee when I saw that WSDOT has made JKT the lead agency on this proposal. It’s such a bad idea that we need a new term for “bad idea.”
WTF for? Why spend $7.8 million tax dollars on $50K worth of concrete and $50K worth of labor? Oh yeah, so $7.7M ends up in the pockets of Tribes and politicians? Or should we spend $7.8M for a Hwy 101 overpass, with the nearest exit to Blyn being Quilcene or Sequim?
Seriously, that's $7.8m in WASTED tax money that's not necessary, solves no problems, and ONLY benefits the Tribe. This is a prime example of WASTE and most certainly, massive money laundering. Even if needed, a roundabout could be built for $100K, by hungry contractors, or $7.8M by greedy, corrupt, Tribal contractors. Better yet: Why at all? I say NONE OF THE ABOVE.
This city and our residents must contact absolutely every single state and federal agency, even remotely involved, to get this project STOPPED in it's tracks!! Climate resilience? That's BS. Connect the tribes? U.S. 101 already does that. The tribe is in control of the project? That's just plain WRONG. We, the taxpayers, will foot the bill for it? WRONG again.
Can someone on here please figure out who all to contact regarding this shit-show? Post the info. Perhaps Jeff...can also post a letter outlining all the points of the situation that we can download and add our own thoughts to.
If we all spread the word about this to others we know, who might not be a CCW reader, having a (snail-mail and email) list and letter ready to provide them, we might just have a FIGHTING CHANCE of stopping this roundabout from happening.
I will most definitely appreciate any assistance with making it easier to contact the right agency and/or person necessary. Thank you!!
Thank you, Jeff, once again for your hard work !
Maybe John Worthington has some info on who to write.
What's the old saying, "You are either part of the problem or part of the solution." Let's see, Ron Allen, very wise, sets himself up to be the pinata, sort of like "take your best shot at me". Oh crystal ball (or the old game "Ask the 8 Ball?" Answer me, "Why has the funding for road work on 101 in the Sequim area been tabled in Olympia?" Answer me, "Why has the Sequim City Council placed the development of the John Wayne area under a moratorium?" Crystal ball, answer me, "Is the tribe looking to be the lead developer of the Marina property?" Answer me crystal ball, "If the roundabout is built in Blyn with taxpayer funds does this presage the ability of the state money to suddenly appear to build a roundabout at Whitefeather?" Answer me crystal ball, "Why is the great white father from Olympia coming to the 7 Cedars on September 6, 2025 - is it just a fund raising event for his party?" And besides a photo op, oh crystal ball, answer me, "What else did the I-5 governor discuss at the Elwha fuel spill? and with whom" Oh crystal ball, answer me, "Who the hell is the problem and who the hell is the solution? Oh crystal ball, was Pogo correct when he said, "we have met the enemy and it us?"
This has left an undesirable taste in my mouth against the bully in this situation; the tribal commission. Round abouts on highway 101 will do nothing but create bottlenecks and accidents. All you need to do is look at the round about on the Jefferson County side of the Hood Canal Bridge on a Sunday afternoon to confirm this. In addition, with the 101 roundabout and pedestrian/bike crossing(s), I see a whole new slew of accidents between cars, trucks and people. My final comment is that the tribe, which I always used to view with admiration, should not get to spend taxpayer money without taxpayer and local thorough involvement.
Very well stated. If anyone has ever been to Wickenburg, AZ, they have 7 roundabouts within a 5.4 mile span to slow the traffic down along Hwy 93, and it's a mess. Locals joke about leaving a wrecker posted 24/7 to handle the daily crashes. It's like clockwork.
This is a very important article. Thank you, Jeff! There is only one way and one way out of here: US HWY 101. Something happens and we're toast. Even the Tribe. I have had two personal experiences where I could NOT see a pedestrian crossing the opposite side of the round-about because of the plants in the center of it and my attention to on coming traffic from my right. Can you imagine the same scenario on a highway? Writing our representative would be a formality, but hiring the fastest ambulance chasing lawyer in the state would be the best route.
“WSDOT will perform acquisition of non-tribal lands, as necessary.”
Can you imagine what would happen if WSDOT tried to "perform acquisition" of tribal lands?
$$$$$$$$$
Let me see if I have this right. Washington State Department of Transportation says JST is to lead a project to install a roundabout at the entrance to their casino, gas station, and cultural center, with taxpayer money, while JST enjoys many tax exemptions. The proposed roundabout will slow truck traffic, which slows auto traffic creating anxiety for all drivers after traveling on a one lane highway for an hour or more already. We rely on this route to supply us with needed goods and emergency vehicle access. Impeding traffic flow solely for the benefit of a sovereign nation does not benefit the general public. Then the State adds insult to injury by ceding leadership to the sovereign nation to lead the project. I guess adding a toll booth at the roundabout is the next step. I’m sure its in the JST plan already.
I immediately thought toll booth!
JKT only cares about the income it will receive from this project or any other,problems that occur will have to be dealt with by others.
I had no idea Sophus Road was so well travelled......oh! Wait, entrance and exit to the Longhouse market? Whaaat?
I'm not sure how traffic circles are technically helping climate resilience. I understand that supposedly it's less emissions to get up to speed, but as we notice in the flow of traffic at the hood canal, a long line of cars idling behind the cars that are navigating the traffic circle seems to kind of defeat the purpose. I imagine the idling will be worse through that section in Blynn if it does come to fruition
Once again remember that when they break out the BS language such as in this case climate resilience" it is a code language. It means they have no legit reason and therefore use some of the sacret cow words. Keep your eyes open for "Vital role, Foundation, Substainable, clear vision, and the like... (Going Forward)
All the more reason we need more than one way on/off the peninsula. We should have just used the buzzwords “climate resilience”