NW 38th Ave Street Improvements

Thank you for using Engage Camas. Based on the grant funding being used on the project, WSDOT, acting on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration, has review and approval authority over the bidding process. WSDOT has determined through an extensive process involving the Contractors that the low bids received do not meet the required criteria for payment to Disadvantage Business Enterprises. As such, the City is recommending to the City Council to reject all bids and re-advertise the project for new bids.

Thank you for using Engage Camas. All federal, state and local permits have been received for the NW 38^th Avenue improvements from Parker Street to Grass Valley Park. The alignment of the roadway is being shifted to the north in order to avoid unnecessary impacts to the stream that feeds into Dwyer Creek.

Thank you for using Engage Camas. Improvements to this section of NW Astor Street are identified in our long-term transportation plan as a future project.  No specific timeline for funding has been determined.

Thank you for using Engage Camas. The crosswalk will remain in the same location, but will have push-button Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) installed.  When activated by a pedestrian, yellow flashing lights alert drivers that one or more PEDS will be crossing NW 38^th Ave. Additionally, there will be a new street light installed near the crosswalk that will improve night time visibility of the area.

Thank you for using Engage Camas. While there are some brief periods when traffic flow through the intersection are slowed during peaks, in our opinion, there’s not enough traffic volume to warrant the installation of R turn lanes in the EB or WB directions at this time. The goal of this project is to improve the existing roadway to an urban arterial standard that will include one-lane in each direction, curbs and sidewalks on both sides, bike lanes, L-turn lanes, raised islands, illumination, and a few other items.  The project is partially funded with Federal Transportation dollars. To be eligible for these funds, specific engineering criteria must be met to justify the improvements.  Unfortunately, installation of the R-turn lanes would not be eligible for federal funding at this time.  However, please note that we appreciate your comment and will keep it on file for possible future improvements. 

Thank you for using Engage Camas. The current plan is to separate the bike and vehicle lanes with an 8” wide stripe, and to use standard symbols to identify the bike lane, similar to other roads in the area. We understand the desire to have something a little more substantial to physically separate the bike and vehicle travel lanes. We have tried a few things in different parts of town over the years, with less than satisfactory results.  We will add this topic as a discussion point during our next design meeting. We will review potential modifications to our current design.

Thank you for using Engage Camas. If you're referring to the ditch along 38th, the City is not required to have permits for ditch maintenance. Also, while we understand that there are beavers that reside in the ditch, we’re unaware of any otters living in the area. 

Thank you for using Engage Camas. It’s very likely that commuters in neighborhoods near the work zone (Holly Hills, Oak Ridge Estates, Sunningdale Gardens, Lake Pointe West, etc) will seek out alternate routes that allow them to avoid potential construction delays. We generally encourage motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to do this. As stated in a prior response, “From a safety and convenience stand-point, we always recommend that people add a few minutes to their scheduled commute time and use an alternate route, if possible.  Doing this will add some predictability to commute times and will increase safety for most by avoiding the work zone altogether. Fortunately, there are multiple ways for most nearby residents to exit their developments without using NW 38^th Avenue.”

We do understand that using “alternate routes” will probably increase traffic volumes on “collector” streets like NW Knapp Lane, NW Pacific Rim Drive, NW Dahlia Street and others. With the understanding that the increased volume is temporary, most people can tolerate this for a while. However, it is understandably more difficult to be patient and understanding when drivers ignore the speed limit and it seems like a once quiet street feels more like a race track. With this in mind, we will include additional signs in our traffic control plan that will be placed along several streets like those mentioned above to remind drivers to be mindful of their speeds through residential zones. Additionally, construction traffic should not be using side streets for ingress/egress to the work zone. Please report any such occurrences to the Camas Public Works Engineering Department.

Lastly, City engineering staff have been in contact with Camas School District staff about the project very recently to ask about the referenced back-up on NW Parker Street.  The CSD Transportation Department have said they are not aware of any conditions that actually impair traffic flow on NW Parker Street. They will monitor the situation and notify the City about any concerns they see. For reference, our current schedule is to Bid and construct the project in the spring of 2023. We have some time to make adjustments, if any are needed. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us.

Thank you for using Engage Camas. The Contractor will be subject to maintaining an acceptable traffic control plan for the duration of the project. Some elements may include the posting of CONSTRUCTION AHEAD signs, lowered CONSTRUCTION SPEED signs, FLAGGER AHEAD signs, ONE LANE ROAD AHEAD signs, and use of Portable Changeable Message Signs (PCMS) in advance of the work area. The PCMS signs are intended to advise drivers, bikers, and pedestrians about what they can expect if they choose to continue through the construction zone. Some examples could be Traffic Delays Ahead, Flaggers Ahead, Paving Next Week or something similar.

There will be weeks, or possibly months where thru traffic during construction hours will be limited to one-lane with flaggers controlling traffic flow through the work area. It’s also reasonable to expect the use of dump trucks with pups (trailers), concrete trucks, asphalt trucks and similar vehicles during construction. Most of the time these vehicles will travel through the construction zone, meaning they will enter from a direction and will leave in the same direction when they exit the work zone.  An example might be a dump truck that enters from the west (headed east) that is filled with excavated material and, once full, continues to the east to exist the work zone.

The alternative to operating in this “circular” manner is to require that trucks turn around to exit the work zone, which is generally considered less safe, inefficient, and will markedly increase delay times for all users. When considering the example of large trucks navigating the corner at NW 38^th Ave and Astor Street, one way to mitigate safety concerns is to have a flagger stop south-bound (SB) vehicles on Astor Street in advance of the T-intersection at NW 38^th Ave and have them wait until receiving clearance from another flagger on NW 38^th Ave that there is no conflicting traffic.  Whether motorist, biker or pedestrian it’s prudent to expect to be delayed when travelling through a construction zone.

From a safety and convenience stand-point, we always recommend that people add a few minutes to their scheduled commute time and use an alternate route, if possible.  

Thank you for using Engage Camas. The bike lane constructed with the project will tie into the existing bike lane on the east and west sides of the project, and will be part of a continuous bike lane between NW Astor Street and  SE 192nd Avenue. Yes, the intent is to include the bike lane links when future street improvements occur so there are continuous bike lanes when possible.