Why did the elk cross U.S. Highway 12? To get to the lawn beside the museum after it had enough library-adjacent grass.
Like Packwood’s elk, residents must cross the road all the time, be it to get from cars to businesses or from the coffee shop to the library.
“The most immediate issues from the subarea plan (a community-headed vision map) are affordable housing … and traffic. Specifically, pedestrian safety,” said Lewis County Long-Range Planner Mindy Brooks to federal representatives this summer. “It’s frustrating to get the brush-off when we have so many cars and people (on U.S. Highway 12), particularly in the summer.”
With two commissioners expressing agreement in its establishment and the third a Packwood resident himself, the Board of Lewis County Commissioners is likely to pass a resolution on Tuesday funding the establishment of the Packwood Corridor Plan.
If the county applies for a federal grant establishing the plan provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation called “Reconnecting Communities,” the state’s department (WSDOT) is likely to help them come up with a one-dig plan for increasing community safety along the highway town.
Brooks hopes this can ensure when Packwood finally undergoes the installation of sewers — which will require tearing up the concrete — the road will be put back better than it is now. The grant requires a $300,000 local match, according to the resolution, but Community Development staff will be seeking other funding to offset that cost.
Brooks told commissioners Monday the funds cover transportation analysis, intersection analysis, evaluations and identifying funding sources for construction.
“(The plan is) going to be necessary, it sounds like, for getting any work done on 12 through Packwood. So it would be short-sighted to turn this down,” said Commissioner Lindsey Pollock.
Her seatmate Sean Swope added, “Very.”
