Changes to Moses Lake roads considered at public meeting

MOSES LAKE — Alternative ways to cross Moses Lake, better lake access and reducing traffic congestion at key intersections were among the suggestions from a meeting Monday looking at the future of traffic design in Moses Lake. 

It was the first of a four-day planning session, called a charette, starting with asking Moses Lake-area residents what they liked about the community, what parts of getting around town work, what doesn’t work and what’s missing and should be added.  

The results of the four days will be presented to residents from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St. The plans will form the basis of designs the city will use to apply for funding for future road projects. 

About 25 to 30 people attended the meeting. The focus of the project is Stratford Road and the interchange with State Route 17, but Ian Lockwood, head of the planning team, said traffic on Stratford affects traffic throughout town.  

Participants broke into groups, talked over the questions and presented their conclusions. Options for crossing Moses Lake was one of the top priorities. 

“A second lake crossing,” said Grant Nichols, reporting conclusions from one group. “I don’t know if that ship has sailed or not.” 

Lockwood asked if one would be adequate.  

“Just more crossings,” Nichols said. “It’s a serpentine lake, so there are challenges to it.” 

Michelene Torrey said her group thought another option for getting across the lake might be a ferry. 

Torrey said her group discussed the congestion at South Alder Street and East Broadway Avenue. Lockwood said during his presentation that the other two options to cross the lake (SR 17 and Interstate 90) are designed for higher-speed traffic, so a lot of people use the crossing known as the fill to access Stratford Road.  

Torrey said Stratford is subject to stop-and-go traffic. 

“I don’t know if you guys have waited for two traffic lights to get to Walmart, but it drives me nuts,” she said.  

Access to the lakefront also was a concern, she said. 

“You can pretty much only see (the lake) if you know somebody who lives on the lake, or you’re at one of our parks or you’re going across the fill,” she said. "That’s really the only time you get to see the water. If we could revitalize the waterfront and add more ability to not only utilize it, but make it a (focus), I think that would a real draw for people.” 

Bob Russell said Moses Lake is not being used to its full potential. 

“We turned our back on the lake as a community,’ he said. “Because of the railroad or whatever, but we’re not embracing the lake.” 

Jana Rackham said her group expressed concern about pedestrian access at the SR 17-Stratford interchange. There are sidewalks but the intersection is challenging for pedestrians. The group also had a suggestion for the intersection of Broadway and Stratford. 

“It was mentioned, maybe a pedestrian bridge over Broadway,” she said. 

The group also suggested better pedestrian access along West Third Avenue, a central part of Moses Lake’s downtown. 

“Walkability there with maybe no car access,” Rackham said. 

Any additional access into town should accommodate bikes and pedestrians, Russell said. Participants liked the current system of walking trails but recommended better lighting.  

Participants thought it was important to emphasize Moses Lake’s history and the continuing importance of agriculture. 

“Agriculture, aerospace and manufacturing,” Torrey said. “That’s what makes Moses Lake, Moses Lake. We have a lot of people who came here, whether it was for aerospace or Larson Air Force Base, and never left. (Families) have been farmers for generations. People that came for Group14 – or Simplot, back in the Fifties. There’s a lot of history here, and we think it’s important that we preserve that.” 

There are a lot of attractions in Moses Lake now, they said, citing Surf ‘n Slide water park and the city’s ice rink, the Centennial Amphitheater and its numerous sports fields. Any future planning should include more opportunities for activity that would appeal to senior citizens, participants said. 

    Participants check a map of Moses Lake while discussing the present and future of traffic and development in and around the city during a Monday meeting.