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Council hears case for Highway 507 safety upgrades, long-delayed roundabout
Summary
TRPC highlighted safety and delay improvements on Highway 507 and the long-proposed Center Street roundabout, saying the project could reduce delays and improve safety as traffic is routed during major I-5 incidents such as the Mounts Road derailment scenario.
Mark Dailiff of TRPC told the council that some roadways serving as main streets, including Highway 507, would benefit most from speed-control and access improvements and cited the long-proposed roundabout at Center Street as an example that would improve safety and access. "The idea is Center Street, which would have big impacts, big improvements on safety through this area and access," he said.
Dailiff said the emergency-detour modeling shows Scenario 1 closures — the kind that resemble a train derailment at Mounts Road — produce the largest traffic impacts on Rainier. He recommended the council consider investments that would both improve everyday safety and support detour performance during major incidents. The presentation framed the roundabout as a targeted safety measure that also shortens intersection delay and slows vehicles as they enter the city.
