Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Washington state transportation employees are roundabout-mad.
So, it was only a matter of time before that unwanted madness was injected into Colfax.
At issue is whether the two U.S. Highway 195 bridges at the north entrance to town should be replaced by a new bridge and roundabout. Let that sink in for a second – rather than just replace the bridges, the state wants to add a roundabout.
With our recent coverage on the state’s push, we’ve received a lot of telephone calls from Colfax and other Whitman County residents who are strongly opposed to the idea of a roundabout at that narrow interchange where U.S. 195 and state Highway 26 come together. Many are concerned about the width, truck and farm implement traffic and impact on local businesses.
Many residents believe the state is forcing the roundabout plan on the community.
For its part, the state Department of Transportation would have residents believe they have to accept a roundabout to get funding for bridge replacement.
State employees would have residents believe it’s a take it or leave it scenario. They would also tell the general public that local officials and residents have all signed on.
Those assertions are simply not true.
Let’s go over a couple of the state’s talking points.
Sidewalks and bike paths are non-issues. Sidewalks and bike paths can be built with or without a roundabout, and still be in compliance with state requirements for them.
The discussion of “two bridges” is also a non-issue. If the state has enough space to build a roundabout, then there is enough space to replace the two existing bridges with a single, modern, multi-lane bridge – one that includes pedestrian and bicycle access.
The state could also look at designating and building a “truck route,” allowing tractor-trailers and farm implement traffic to bypass the downtown corridor. There’s been little-to-none public discussion of that, even though the state keeps adding passing lanes to rural highways, including state Highway 26 west of Colfax.
Simply put, the state does not have to replace the two existing bridges with two new spans or a roundabout.
Transportation employees say they have had multiple meetings over the last few years to discuss their roundabout plan. And they say at least 60% of attendees prefer the roundabout.
But is that figure accurate.
Just walk around Colfax and talk to residents about the proposal. Few will tell you that they support it; most say they feel like they are being “forced” to accept a roundabout so the bridges on the state and federal highway can be replaced.
In Colfax, that feeling of being forced by a government agency to do something doesn’t sit well with folks.
The bottom line is that if residents don’t want a roundabout here, Transportation employees should stop pushing it.
Twelve years ago, the state attempted to push a roundabout on the city of Okanogan, claiming it was needed for easier access from U.S. Highway 97 into the city. Residents and local officials concerned about the truck and farm traffic, told the state to go pound sand. With the pushback, the state abandoned the idea and added much less expensive turn lanes.
If Okanogan residents can halt the roundabout madness in their city, Colfax residents can do the same.
A roundabout is not a done deal.
But residents will have to stop complaining about the state’s push to their friends and neighbors. Residents need to let transportation officials, Colfax City Council and Whitman County commissioners know a roundabout is simply not acceptable. Then the community will have to decide how best to replace the aging bridges.
— Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Email him at [email protected].
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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