2011-2032 Regional Transportation Plan CHAPTER FOUR – THE REGIONAL MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INTRODUCTION The regional multi-modal transportation system consists of state highways, county roads, city streets, park-and-ride lots, pedestrian/bicycle facilities, transit facilities, airports, railroads, river transportation facilities, and pipelines (natural gas and refined petroleum products). This chapter will review and present information on the individual components of the regional transportation system. Roadways are a primary element of the regional transportation system. An inventory of the state highway system in the RTPO is presented. Components of the regional state highway system are part of various Federal or state system classifications, which are detailed following the inventory. Those to be addressed in this chapter include: National Highway System (NHS) - The interstate system, other freeways and expressways, select principal arterials, and access routes to major airports, ports, public transportation facilities, and inter-modal terminals. Scenic & Recreational Highways – Part of the National Scenic Byways system with emphasis on preservation, maintenance, and enhancement of heritage resources, access to those resources, and tourism. Highways of Statewide Significance (HSS) – NHS routes, rural highways serving statewide travel, urban links to rural HSS, long haul freight routes, and connections to ports. Freight and Goods Transportation System (FGTS) - The Washington State Freight and Goods Transportation System is used to classify state highways, county roads, and city streets according to the average annual gross truck tonnage they carry. Other classifications, such as the ones below, encompass multiple modes. These taxonomies will be discussed as well. Transportation Facilities & Services of Statewide Significance (TFSSS) – The interstate highway system, interregional state principal arterials that serve statewide travel, intercity passenger rail, intercity high-speed ground transportation, major inter-modal terminals (excluding airports), the freight rail system, the Columbia/Snake navigable river system, major marine port facilities, and high-capacity transportation systems serving regions. The Regional Transportation System – Defined by the Growth Management Act and designated by the MPO/RTPO for Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties, consists of all state highways, all local principal arterials, selected minor arterials and collectors, airports, transit facilities and services, railroads, port facilities and the Columbia/Snake navigable river system, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, park and ride lots, and major pipelines. Benton-Franklin Council of Governments Page 4-1 2011-2032 Regional Transportation Plan STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM The role and function of the various components of the state highway system in the RTPO are described below. Figure 4-1 shows the state highway system in the RTPO. The four interstate and federal routes referenced below constitute the east-west and north- south backbones of the three-county highway system. These routes carry the vast majority of freight and goods movement and auto traffic throughout the region. I (Interstate) - 82 is a freeway extending from I-90 near Ellensburg, Washington, to I-84 near Hermiston, Oregon. Interstate -182 is a 16-mile interstate spur route from I-82 west of the Tri-Cities to US 395, SR 397 and US 12 in Pasco. US 12 is a cross-state route extending from the Washington Coast to Lewiston, Idaho. The RTPO portion consists of 3.07 miles in Franklin County and slightly over 64 miles in Walla Walla County. US 395 is a Highway of National Significance (see page 4-8), extending from Mexico to Canada via eastern Washington. Within the RTPO, the road extends from Umatilla, Oregon to the Adams County Line. Daily traffic volumes contain 30-35 percent trucks through this region. The remaining state routes noted below are more of local significance, for the most part with lower traffic volumes, and transport less freight and goods. SR (State Route) 14 is an east-west route along the Columbia River from Vancouver to Plymouth in Benton County south of the Tri-Cities. This route provides a two-lane alternative to I-84 on the Oregon side of the river. A notable volume of truck traffic uses this route. SR 17 extends north from U.S. 395 at Mesa to I-90 at Moses Lake and beyond. This route serves through traffic as well as farm-to-market. Trucks constitute 30-35 percent of the daily volumes. SR 21 is primarily a farm-to-market route from Kahlotus north to Lind (US 395). The initial eight miles are in Franklin County. SR 22 from Toppenish (SR 97) to Prosser (I-82) primarily serves local needs. Less than seven miles are in Benton County. Some truck traffic utilizes this route in lieu of I-82. SR 24 extends from Yakima to SR 26 at Othello. A primary function of this route is access to the west gate of the Hanford site at the SR 24/SR 240 Junction. SR 124 extends east from US 12 at Burbank through Prescott, to US 12 at Waitsburg, a distance of 45 miles. SR 125 extends Oregon's Route 11 north from Milton-Freewater into Walla Walla and on to its junction with SR 124 west of Prescott. Through Walla Walla the route functions as a city street with numerous intersections, traffic signals and commercial activities. The inherent congestion and delay are not conducive to through travel, particularly for trucks. From Walla Page 4-2 Benton-Franklin Council of Governments 2011-2032 Regional Transportation Plan Walla north to SR 124 the route is a farm-to-market road. There have been discussions between urban area jurisdictions and WSDOT to transfer jurisdictional responsibilities for the existing SR 125 and the new Myra Road, which would become the new SR 125. SR 221 is a 26-mile local farm route from SR 22 at Prosser to SR 14 at Paterson, but attracts through traffic as well. SR 224 provides a 10-mile connection, from I-82 (Kiona/Benton City) through West Richland to Richland (SR 240). Traffic on this route is oriented to Richland and Hanford work sites and local freight movements. SR 225 extends from Kiona (I-82) through Benton City to SR 240 at Horn Rapids. DOE Route 10 extends on into the Hanford reservation. Hanford commuters dominate peak volumes on this two-lane roadway. SR 240 extends from SR 24 at the Hanford west gate to Richland and Kennewick (to a junction with US 395), a distance of 40 miles. In conjunction with SR 24 to Yakima and SR 243 north to SR 90 at Vantage, SR 240 carries regional traffic, including freight movements. It also serves as the primary route of the daily Hanford work-commute. SR 260 extends east from SR 17 to US 395 at Connell, to a junction with SR 26 at Washtucna in Adams County. Wheat hauling is a major activity on the route. SR 261 extends from SR 260, east of Kahlotus, to the Snake River crossing at Lyons Ferry, a distance of 14 miles. The route continues another 15 miles into Columbia County to a junction with US 12. Truck traffic constitutes about 20 percent of the daily volume. Some through travelers utilize this route as a shortcut to I-90 east of Ellensburg at Vantage. SR 263, a farm-to-market route with about 35-percent trucks extends from Kahlotus south 9 miles to the Port of Windust at the Snake River. SR 397 extends from I-82 at the Locust Grove interchange (exit 114) to the Finley area, then to Kennewick, across the Columbia River, and through East Pasco to the I-182/US 395 interchange. This route serves as freight access to the Port of Pasco, the Port of Kennewick and other industrial sites along the river. US 730 extends from I-84 at Boardman, Oregon, to I-82 at Umatilla, then continues along the Columbia River to a junction with US 12 in the southwest corner of Walla Walla County. Volumes on the six-mile segment from the Oregon line to US 12 at Wallula Junction are about 49 percent trucks. Benton-Franklin Council of Governments Page 4-3 2011-2032 Regional Transportation Plan Page 4-4 Benton-Franklin Council of Governments 2011-2032 Regional Transportation Plan Table 4-1 shows route mileage of the state highway system in the RTPO. TABLE 4-1: STATE ROUTE MILEAGE IN BENTON, FRANKLIN AND WALLA WALLA COUNTIES State Route Mileage in Benton County Route Beginning Ending Route Miles I-82 Yakima Co. Line West of Prosser Oregon State Line at Umatilla 57.23 I-182 Jct. I-82 West of the Tri-Cities Franklin Co. Line at Columbia Point 6.04 US 395 Jct. I-82 South of Kennewick Franklin Co. Line at the Blue Bridge 5.88 SR 14 Klickitat Co. Line Jct. I-82 at Plymouth 28.53 SR 22 Yakima Co. Line West of Prosser Jct. I-82 at East Prosser 6.76 Yakima Co. Line West of Hanford West SR 24 Gate Grant Co. Line at Vernita Bridge 12.80 SR 221 Jct. SR 14 at Paterson Jct. SR 22 at Prosser 25.95 SR 224 Jct. I-82 at Kiona Jct. SR 240 at Richland 10.18 SR 225 Jct. SR 224 at Kiona Jct. SR 240 at Horn Rapids 11.32 SR 240 Jct. SR 24 at Hanford W. Gate Jct. US 395 at Kennewick 40.22 SR 397 I-82/Locust Road Interchange I-182/US 395 Interchange 22.31 State Route Mileage in Franklin County Route Beginning Ending Route Miles I-182 Benton Co. Line at Columbia Point East of Jct. US 395/SR 397 at Pasco 9.15 US 395 Benton Co. Line at the Blue Bridge Adams Co. Line North of Connell 39.98 Walla Walla Co. Line at Snake River US 12 End.