BGanz

See below. Please voice your concern to make changes a priority.

From: Tom Tushner [mailto:Tom_Tushner@co.washington.or.us]
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 4:37 PM
To: Bradley Ganz
Cc: Kathy Lehtola; Dan Brown
Subject: FW: Killer intersection: Helvetia/West Union

Bradley

I received a copy of your email (copy below) regarding the intersection of Helvetia and West Union Road. We do a review of all fatal accidents as well as have a program, the Safety Priority Indexing System (SPIS) to monitor accident locations in Washington County. The SPIS ranks the intersections based upon three factors; accident rate, number of accidents and accident severity. The SPIS information is used as a part of our traffic operations review, development review and capital improvement program.

With respect to the subject intersection we have over the past couple of weeks been analyzing the accident history, volumes, speeds and doing a review of the latest crash. We hope to have a final recommendation very soon and are looking at a number of alternatives that would provide a short term solution (one of which is an all-way stop along with some changes to the traffic pattern). We will then work on an implementation plan since we recognize the importance of providing notice and uniform devices to the motoring public any time we change traffic patterns.

Long term the West Union/Helvetia intersection is scheduled by Washington County to receive a major improvements with design work starting in July 2010 and construction activities completed by December 2012. The project scope calls for improving all four approaches to the intersection by increasing sight distances and providing for left turn refuge. Enhanced pedestrian and bicycle safety will be provided by additional traffic control and separation at the intersection. West Union Elementary School is adjacent to the intersection and the improved intersection configuration will provide for improved ingress/egress for school traffic. The final design solution has not been determined but a few preliminary alternatives have been identified. The estimated cost of this intersection improvement project is $3.6 million (2005 dollars).

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thomas F. Tushner, PE
Principal Engineer
Washington County - DLUT
1400 SW Walnut Street MS 17
Hillsboro, OR 97123-7910
(503)846-7955
FAX (503)846-7910
tom_tushner@co.washington.or.us

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