Whether you commute onto Joint Base Lewis-McChord every day or travel anywhere between Tacoma and Olympia during rush hours, you're familiar with the congestion on Interstate 5. While the state and local agencies are definitely aware of the problem and actively working to find a solution, they also know that resident input is valuable.

"We want to provide an opportunity for those that use the I-5 corridor to learn what might occur in the future and also give them a chance to suggest improvements and really be a part of the process," explained Bill Elliott, Washington State Department of Transportation project manager.

To that end, the WSDOT will host an open house Wednesday, June 11 so that the public can discuss the alternatives being explored to improve traffic flow along I-5 through the JBLM area, specifically between SR 510 in Lacey and SR 512 in Lakewood, which serves approximately 119,000 vehicles a day.

"The purpose is to find longer range congestion relief for I-5 through the JBLM area and to improve movement along the corridor," Elliott stated. "Using regional growth planning models out to the year 2040 we can see that the infrastructure needs to be updated."

The JBLM Vicinity - Congestion Relief Study began in January 2013 and, in that time, the WSDOT has been working closely with a broad stakeholders group, to include relative transit agencies, the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Federal Highway Administration, representatives from JBLM and a number of surrounding municipalities.

"This is a critically important military installation but the I-5 traffic is not just because of the base," stated Dan Penrose, program manager for the South Sound Military & Communities Partnership. "Of course it doesn't make it better, but it is really due to regional growth, so we need to solve this as a region. No one agency caused it and no one agency can solve it - there is value in this collaboration."

According to Elliott, the JBLM command has been cooperative with regard to the study and the pending work and is open to elements of a solution that might have to happen on the base, from road improvements to potential gate changes.

"JBLM causes us to redefine what a region is ... it may be outside of our physical region, but if you draw 360 degrees around it, of course it affects Thurston residents. I-5 is a lifeline for our community and we need to consider thru traffic as well as the individuals getting in and out of the base," said Thera Black of the Thurston Regional Planning Council.

"They've squeezed every capacity improvement out of the corridor that they can manage without expanding the actual interstate," commented Penrose. "The corridor hasn't had capacity improvements in decades and it no longer serves the needs of a growing region."

Phase 1 of the project involved focusing on basic I-5 improvements, including installing closed-circuit television cameras to provide real-time traffic updates and the addition of 17 ramp meters are being installed at the interchanges between SR 510 and SR 512. The meters help to control and limit the rate and speed at which vehicles enter I-5, mainly during those busy peak travel times. While that work is still ongoing, Elliott estimates it will be completed in the first half of 2015.

Recently, the focus of the last few months has been on developing a range of ‘off I-5' options that could alleviate some of the traffic.

"We are looking for improved and more reliable movement through that corridor," continued Black. "I want to bring some of the alternative commuting options to the forefront. They might not solve everything, but they could reduce the number of cars on the road."

In July, the WSDOT will bring the options from phase 1 together with the off I-5 options and then begin to estimate costs, feasibility and a timeline to determine which is the best possible solution. Once they have identified the preferred alternative it will undergo a formal environmental process in the fall before any work begins.

While more construction comes with its own challenges, Elliott believes that people expect there to be capacity expansions as part of the potential I-5 congestion solutions.

"Construction is some distance in the future and we will need to locate funding, but in terms of the public's opportunity to influence the outcome, now is the time to speak up and offer input. That way it can be built in to the plan," Elliot concurred.

Although no formal presentation is scheduled, there will be display stations with relevant information and WSDOT staff will be on hand to answer questions at any time during the three-hour meeting.

The meeting is open to any area residents and will run from 4-7 p.m., June 11, at Eagles Pride Golf Course just off exit 116. For further information, visit www.tacomatraffic.com.