People who live, work, visit and travel through Packwood in East Lewis County are invited to share their experiences and help identify future transportation needs along U.S. Highway 12, a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) stated.
The WSDOT and Lewis County are asking the community to provide input as part of the U.S. 12 Packwood Planning Study.
The survey is open through Friday, Nov. 13, and is available at bit.ly/US12PackwoodSurvey.
During busy travel seasons, increased traffic and parking can make it more difficult to walk, bike, roll or travel through U.S. Highway 12.
WSDOT and Lewis County are studying potential improvements along U.S. 12 between Blakely and Turner roads. Building on the Packwood Plan, the study will look at traffic, parking, walking and biking connections, and future transportation needs.
This is the first of two opportunities for the community to provide input. A second opportunity in January 2027 will share potential improvements shaped by community feedback and study findings and ask the community to weigh in again.
The study will use a Complete Streets approach to look at where connections are missing or could be improved. Complete Streets considers the needs of everyone who uses the highway, whether they walk, bike, roll, use transit or drive. Potential improvements could include sidewalks, safer crossings, bicycle lanes and shared-use paths.
WSDOT also uses Level of Traffic Stress to measure how comfortable a roadway may be for people walking, biking or rolling. Ratings range from LTS 1 to LTS 4, and U.S. 12 through Packwood is rated LTS 4 for walking and biking — the highest level of traffic stress.
Community feedback will help identify where connections could be improved and what potential improvements should be considered, the news release stated.
