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City staff press WSDOT for bike access as Mile Hill roundabout nears 60% design
Summary
City staff told the transportation committee that WSDOT's Mile Hill roundabout design stays within its project footprint and will not include a continuous multimodal cross-section, but staff are pushing for improved crossings and future bike-lane transitions and may use city striping to add lanes if needed.
City staff told the Port Orchard Transportation Committee on April 28 that Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) plans to build a roundabout on Mile Hill but will not extend a full multimodal cross-section beyond the intersection footprint.
"They said, well, we're not gonna go that far out," Chris Hammer, the city's engineer, said of WSDOT's response when staff asked for expanded bike and pedestrian facilities. Hammer said WSDOT cited project definition and budget limits but has accommodated better sidewalk crossings and a future transition to bike lanes on the approaches.
Council members pushed back, citing safety and connectivity. "We're gonna see more and more people using bikes," Council member Scott Deener said, noting rising costs of car ownership. Hammer said the roundabout will give cyclists two options: ride through traffic or use an off-ramp and continue as a pedestrian. "So that's how this one's set up," he said.
Staff warned the corridor's topography and existing right of way limit the footprint: the high school side has a steep slope that constrains widening. Hammer said the design is about 60% complete and construction is not expected this year; earlier comments indicated work might occur next year but timing remains uncertain.
If WSDOT holds to the current project limits, Hammer said the city could pursue a local road-diet and restriping to create bike lanes on the approaches. "We could add a little money to our annual road striping budget," he said, describing that as a contingency if state partners decline fuller multimodal features.
Why it matters: committee members said adding or reserving space for bicycles at Mile Hill is important for long-term network continuity and safety, particularly at mall ingress/egress points where staff warned a short right-turn lane could create conflict and weaving.
Next steps: staff said they will continue to press WSDOT's non-motorized staff and escalate the request as needed, including involving the mayor and higher-level contact at the agency. The committee did not take a formal vote; staff will report back on further coordination with WSDOT and potential city-led striping options.
