Public Works outlines HSIP safety-plan priorities, seeks March HSIP application

Public Works presented a biennial safety plan that will guide Kittitas County’s applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Cameron Curtis of Kittitas County Public Works told commissioners the safety plan uses crash history and county data to prioritize projects that can compete for HSIP grants. “Funding is a pretty important funding source for public works,” Curtis said, noting the county is already using HSIP funds for an unceded guardrail Phase 1 and a countywide horizontal-curve data-collection effort.

Curtis highlighted projects likely to rise in the HSIP application: intersection improvements at a high-crash intersection on Highway 6 and Road 6 (data show crashes are down but remain significant), a second phase of the Hunsinger guardrail project (including signing and striping), a countywide corridor-improvement program to address run-off-road crashes on higher-volume roads (possible countermeasures include shoulder improvements and rumble strips), Denmark Road corridor improvements (Joessen Road to Fort Paribell Road) and bridge/structure improvements to address narrow lane widths and lack of hard rail on several structures.

Curtis said WSDOT has issued a call for HSIP projects with applications due March 15 and that the county’s safety plan will be placed on the March 4 agenda for board review before applications are finalized. He noted HSIP has historically been a percentage-based funding source that has not required a county match, provided the county obligates and spends construction funds within the required period.

Commissioners did not take action at the briefing; staff will return with the final safety plan and any HSIP applications on the March 4 agenda.