04/26/2007: "What is the Driving Force On Road Design & Use"

”The roads of San Juan County mean much more to our citizens than simply a way to get from one place to another. Our county roads are part of the scenic element and rural character that should be preserved.” -SJC Scenic Roads Manual

The policies and the guidelines for road construction and maintenance that were put in place by past County Commissioners were designed to provide, and protect, the rural roads that wind and curve around the landscapes of San Juan County. The intent was succinctly, and well stated -as quoted above- in the beginning of the SJC Scenic Roads manual.

There have always been, and still is, conflicting forces at work when it comes to, not how roads should be built, but how they should look. And there is a good deal of irony too, some of which is all too familiar to anyone who has lived here for any length of time. Most of our residents are aware of the complaint that too much of what we do here is damaging the very elements that make up the reasons people want to move here. These conflicts abound, and an obvious one is the very roads that allow us to move about on the islands. But there are other less obvious examples of how things can change, and the irony that can accompany these changes.

Past Boards of County Commissioners (primarily Republican in makeup), were subject to charges that they were pro-development and insensitive to the environment. These would be the same councils that banned jet skies, restricted the size of guest houses (Commissioner Tom Star was opposed to allowing them to be used for anything but guests), enacted the Marine Resources Committee, and the Land Bank -to name only a few. They also put in place a Scenic Roads Manual (Evans Column) and stopped the use of herbicides on County property. And one more thing, in response to citizen complaints that the roads were too rough and too noisy, a past Board told Public Works to start using asphalt for a road surface. Now there is a growing demand that roads be widened and cleared of roadside vegetation.

The problem for the current County Council is can they, will they, find a way to retain the country roads of the islands, while also providing walking paths and bicycle lanes for -lets be honest here- primarily the tourists that would like to come here to -do what?- Yes, ride and enjoy the very rural roads that may be changed to accommodate them.

So while the Council is working to put the roads, at the very least, back into the shape they once were in, they have not decided which path the Council will take toward reaching the goals set by the individuals, and some groups, to come up with a policy on providing walking trails and paths and the related call for construction of suitable surfaces for bicycles.

A central question is: should the roads be widened to accommodate bicycles, or should there be smooth bicycle lanes not directly connected to the roads; for example, areas that are dedicated to walking and bicycle use; or perhaps some combination of all of the above. And can any of this be done without the Council giving up any of the other programs they are involved in, or want to become involved in, or will they decide to put the County further into debt by selling of more bonds?

The Council has not made any policy decisions on these matters, but has decided to form a subcommittee to review the existing policy and regulations on road construction and non-motorized transportation And in particular to review the existing study on non-motorized transportation that makes some recommendations that are in direct conflict with the Scenic Roads manual.

Councilman Howard Rosenfeld has said the Council needs to remove the conflicts between the two documents, and increase the shoulders of the roads to accommodate those who feel the roads are not adequate for bicycles use. Councilman Kevin Ranker would like to serve on a Council Subcommittee to explore the problem and report back to the full Council. PW Director Jon Shannon told the Council that some additional funding of staff should be provided, so that there is one person to receive information and act as a coordinator for the Nonmotorized Plan.

There is a real fear in some quarters that some of the recommendations in the Nonmotorized Plan could replace the guidelines in the Scenic Roads Manual, a guide that dictates that county roads should not be designed to maximize speed, and should be constructed and maintained in a manner that keeps a rural feel to the county. It may be possible to do both, but it is not going to be easy or inexpensive.

No final action has been taken by the Council on what the next steps will -or should- be