The South Shore Road Advisory Committee (SSRAC) met Wednesday at the Church from 4:30–5:45. Attending were Paula Dekker, Tony Maggi, Edith Walden, Darcy Daniells, Win Anderson, Bruce Rooney, Carl Meinzinger, Sally Smith, Connie Snell, David McKibben, and Anne Casperson. Absent were Roz Glasser, Jim Nichol, Marc Caputo, Susan Ferrell, Dennis Wyatt, and Jon Prescott. Susie Fox attended as a visitor.

Bruce Rooney chaired the meeting in the absence of Jim Nichol. The minutes were adopted with a note that Torey Nelson had corrected his estimate of the cost of road construction from $400 per linear foot to $500 per linear foot.

David McKibben showed photographs [below] he had taken from the shore of numerous erosion sites, drainage treatment, and illegal dumping of trash and brush on the bank along South Shore Road. The extent of erosion is sobering.

Bruce Rooney presented his analysis of the traffic-count data from last week, estimating that 381 cars going both ways along South Shore Road would average out to 27.2 cars per hour or one car per 2.2 minutes Monday through Thursday; 23.1 cars per hour or one car per 2.6 minutes on Friday and Saturday; and 31.75 cars per hour or one car per 1.9 minutes on Sunday, based on the hours the ferry operates each day. Members of the committee pointed out that traffic tends to group around ferry arrivals rather than spread out evenly throughout the hour or day, and that the data did not reflect summer traffic patterns.

There was a discussion about speeding that had been documented during the traffic count (instances of speeds exceeding 70 mph recorded by the County’s equipment). Further discussion of speed bumps, a speed-reporting camera, and other enforcement measures followed.

Bruce estimated that the cost of constructing a new road from Guemes Island Road to the S curve (approximately .7 miles) at $500 per linear foot would be $1,848,000. The cost from Guemes Island Road to the chicken-foot intersection (approximately 1.5 miles) would be $3,960,000. A question arose about whether the County was obligated to provide a road at all. Edith Walden reported a conversation she had with Jeff Miller (now interim Director of Public Works) in June, 2008 in which he stated his understanding that the County was not legally obligated to provide a road.

The committee began to prioritize the previously identified issues. Three categories emerged: short-term issues, long-term issues; and issues requiring public education.

Public education issues include the erosive effects of trimming and removing vegetation along the bank and the erosive damage incurred by dumping vegetation and trash over the bank.

Of critical concern to the committee is preventing further deterioration, especially protecting the south lane of the road. The committee agreed to pursue solutions to the identified short-term issues first:

• Vehicles going the wrong way
• Speed limits
• Lack of barriers, rails, and signage at danger spots
• Bollards placed too close to mailboxes
• Drainage problems

Forrest Jones from Public Works had indicated on February 4 that Chris Seidel, District 1 Road Manager, would visit the island by the end of February to address drainage issues, especially the failed culvert near the Snell home. Bruce Rooney volunteered to contact Chris Seidel to determine if he had come to the island and if a drainage plan had been initiated.

Agenda items for next week include follow up of questions to Public Works about speed bumps; one lane, two-way traffic; determining right-of-ways; road construction possibly compromising the bank; and contact with Chris Seidel about drainage. In addition, the committee will begin to propose solutions to the short-term issues.

The meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by Edith Walden

Dumped debris:

Uncontrolled runoff:

Another way: