Preferred Alternative with form – West Kitsap Way Planning Study

Study Alternatives We Considered

The study evaluated how many lanes Kitsap Way would need in the future based on regional growth traffic forecasts for the area. The study determined that Kitsap Way has excess capacity, and changing from four lanes to three lanes would meet future vehicle demand, improve corridor safety, and allow space for non-motorized users (like people walking, biking, or rolling).

Using community input from the first open house, the study team developed three alternative concepts for the Kitsap Way corridor. The study team developed these alternatives as cross-sections to understand the look and feel of the corridor. These preliminary alternatives include vehicle travel lanes, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, landscaped areas, intersection control, and property access treatments.

We used the following design criteria to develop the alternatives for Kitsap Way:

Safety: address existing and potential deficiencies.
Pedestrians and bicycles: provide low “level of stress” facilities for all ages and all abilities.
Traffic operations: support future volumes and operations.
Transit operations: accommodate corridor bus operations.
Vehicle access to properties: provide property access and parking.
Property impacts: minimize the number of property impacts and right of way required.

Preliminary Corridor Alternatives

The study team developed the preliminary alternatives to provide a range of options that best met the design criteria.

Alternative A included improvements to the corridor at a lower cost.
Alternative B provided additional features with more cost.
Alternative C had more improvements but also higher costs.

These alternatives were reviewed and refined by working with City staff, the project’s Steering Committee, and the Complete Streets Committee. The study team presented them to the public for review and comment at the second open house. To learn more about the preliminary design alternatives and the analysis we conducted as part of early study phases, please see the archive of our June 2023 Online Open House here.

Preferred Alternative

The preferred alternative represents this study’s suggested concept for the Kitsap Way corridor. After we incorporate the feedback received from this open house, we will assemble the final preferred alternative along with background information, cost estimates, and an implementation plan into a report. The City Council will consider, with public input, the adoption of the preferred alternative. As the City moves the project forward, additional design efforts will be conducted with future opportunities for public input.

Input gathered from community outreach, the Steering Committee, and the Complete Streets Committee informed the development of the preferred alternative, which is a mix of the three corridor alternatives. The preferred alternative will reduce serious crashes and improve safety and comfort for people driving, walking, and rolling along the corridor. This page illustrates the features of the preferred alternative, divided into three segments for ease of understanding.

The preferred alternative’s level of design is very preliminary (about 10 percent design). This means additional design will be needed in the years ahead.

Segment 1: Kitsap Junction

The northwest portion of the study area between Northlake Way/Chico Way and Harlow Drive is the primary commercial area of the corridor.

Segment 1 Improvements

The study proposes the following improvements within Kitsap Junction:

Roundabout at the Northlake Way/Chico Way intersection. This roundabout:

Slows down speeds entering Kitsap Junction.
Reduces serious crashes.
Provides opportunities for pedestrian crossings.
Is compatible with future traffic growth projections of the neighborhood.

New parking aisles and shared use pathways within Kitsap Junction. These additions:

Maintain good access for businesses.
Minimize impacts to the existing parking.
Consolidate business access points to improve safety.
Improve comfort for people walking and rolling.
Improve the look and feel of the Kitsap Junction business area.

Roundabout at the Harlow Drive and Kitsap Way intersection. This roundabout:

Improves left turn access from Harlow Drive to Kitsap Way.
Slows down vehicles entering Kitsap Junction from the east.
Provides pedestrian crossings.
Reduces serious crashes.

“The Red Apple and business district are underutilized now. Investing in this area with vision will bring revenue and increase safety for walkers, bikers, and other rolling devices. Even cars.”

– Online open house comment, June 2023

Segment 1 Aerial View

Segment 1 Cross-Section View

Segment 2: Kitsap Way Between Harlow Drive and Austin Drive

In this segment, improvements focus on shared use pathways, redesigning the corridor as a three-lane roadway, and a new roundabout on Kitsap Way at Austin Drive and Lyle Way.

Segment 2 Improvements

The study proposes the following improvements within this segment:

Shared Use Pathways on Both Sides of the Road. These improvements:

Improve comfort for people walking and rolling.
Include street trees in a buffer area to separate people using the pathway from moving vehicles.
Allow crossing opportunities at the Lakehurst Way and Austin Drive intersections.

Three-Lane Roadway. This improvement:

Includes left turn lanes at Lakehurst Drive.
Provides a center left turn lane for access to properties.

Roundabout on Kitsap Way at Austin Drive/Lyle Way. This roundabout:

Slows down speeds at the mid-point on the Kitsap Way corridor.
Reduces serious crashes.
Provides opportunities for pedestrian crossings.
Accommodates left turns to and from Austin Drive.

The design of this roundabout works well with the offset alignment of Austin Drive and Lyle Way, reducing right-of-way costs and property impacts.

Redesigning the corridor in this segment from four to three lanes increases safety by eliminating vehicles turning from travel lanes. With a 3-lane section, we can add non-motorized facilities with minimal impacts on adjacent properties reducing the cost of the project.

Segment 2 Aerial Views

Click here to open larger aerial image in a new tab.

Segment 2 Cross-Section View

Segment 3: Kitsap Way between Austin Drive and SR 3

In this segment, the shared use path on the west side is divided to create a downhill bike lane, left turn lanes are added at intersections, and changes are made at SR 3 and Auto Center Way intersection.

Segment 3 Improvements

The study proposes the following improvements within this segment:

Shared Use Pathways on Both Sides with a Separated Downhill Bike Lane. These improvements:

Address pedestrian safety and concerns about fast bikes on the downhill portion of Kitsap Way.
Include a street tree buffer area to separate non-motorized facilities from vehicle traffic.
Provide a transition to match existing bike lane facilities near the SR 3 interchange.

Three-Lane Roadway. This improvement:

Includes a crosswalk and northbound left turn lane at Burchfield Drive. The study proposes only allowing right turns from Burchfield Drive to Kitsap Way to address sight distance issues.
Provides a center left turn lane for access to properties.
Adds two-way left turn lanes to provide access to properties.
Adds left turn lane and a crosswalk at Crawford Way.
Adds a northbound left turn lane and improves the alignment of the Wilmont Drive intersection.
Transitions to four lanes as it approaches SR 3 and Auto Center Way intersection to provide additional capacity.

SR 3 and Auto Center Way Intersection Improvements. The improvements at this intersection:

Reconfigure the southbound off-ramp to optimize intersection efficiency to better handle the traffic flow.
Improve the pedestrian crossing of the west leg of the intersection.

“Love the idea of landscaping separating the pedestrian/bike paths from cars!””

“Downhill raised bike lane a good idea.”

– Quotes from Online Open House, June 2023

Segment 3 Aerial Views