How should San Juan County prioritize Public Works projects?
San Juan County's Public Works Department published a community survey that posed the question, “How should your roads work for you?” After collecting responses and analyzing the data, the County is pleased to share the results.
Why was this survey published?
The Public Works Department wanted to gain a better understanding of what residents are experiencing on County roads, while using marine facilities, or traveling on or near road shoulders. Staff developed a 26-question survey hosted on the Engage San Juan County platform. These questions and more will guide the County in planning for future road and infrastructure projects.
How was this survey shared?
The survey was live for 36 days on the County’s Engage platform. It was advertised via social media, press releases, posters, direct email campaigns, and more.
Who took this survey?
See the section below labeled "Demographic Data" to learn who took the survey.
Where can I get the data?
The public is invited to explore the data, graphs and maps below!
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Demographic Data
Share Demographic Data on Facebook Share Demographic Data on Twitter Share Demographic Data on Linkedin Email Demographic Data linkThe survey received 1,002 responses. The majority of contributors, 84.7%, are full-time residents. 14% of respondents consider themselves part-time residents and 1% of respondents identify as visitors.
Of those respondents, 41% live on San Juan Island, 27% live on Orcas Island, 22% live on Lopez Island, 4% live on Shaw Island, 4% live on Decatur Island, and 1% or less live on Stuart, Waldron, the mainland, or ‘other.’
Residency by Island -
Marine Facilities Findings
Share Marine Facilities Findings on Facebook Share Marine Facilities Findings on Twitter Share Marine Facilities Findings on Linkedin Email Marine Facilities Findings linkThe survey asked who was using marine facilities, how frequently they used them, and if they owned a vessel.
- 58% of respondents said they use marine facilities for recreation, followed by 31% who don’t use them at all.
- 38% of respondents said they use marine facilities seasonally and 26% never use marine facilities.
- 42% said they don’t own their own vessel, 34% use a powerboat, and 34% own a kayak or paddle board.
From this demographic information, we learned that while many people don’t own their own vessel, they’re using these facilities seasonally for recreational purposes.
The survey also revealed the most used marine facilities across the islands.
Most Used Marine Facilities The below graph is a closer look at respondents’ top 8 most frequently used marine facilities. The graph is color coordinated by island. It’s important to note that Orcas and Lopez have more County-owned marine facilities than San Juan, which only has two. 
Top 8 Most Used Marine FacilitiesThe survey revealed that 40% of respondents didn’t speak to improvement needs, but for those that did, 25% of respondents want to see improved moorage space, 21% want more parking space for cars, and 21% want general maintenance and repairs. 16% want improved bathroom facilities.
Features Respondents Want to See Improved in Marine Facilities Though we see that 42% of folks don’t own their own vessel, 26% of folks never use marine facilities, and 40% didn’t identify improvements, 57.7% still agreed that “it’s a good use of County Road Funds to prioritize investment in County marine facilities.”
Response to the Question, "I think it's a good use of County Road Funds to prioritize investment in County marine facilities."This section of the survey revealed that respondents want to see marine facilities maintained. While type of use and location of marine facilities vary widely, respondents acknowledge the importance of these facilities and tend to think investment in these facilities is a good idea.
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Road Shoulders
Share Road Shoulders on Facebook Share Road Shoulders on Twitter Share Road Shoulders on Linkedin Email Road Shoulders linkThe below side-by-side graphs compare shoulder usage for recreational activities versus commuters.The graph on the left illustrates recreational shoulder use – 72% of respondents use shoulders for walking, followed by 50% biking, and 19% who don’t use shoulder for recreational purposes. Only 18% are runners. The graph on the right shows that 51% of contributors do not use shoulders for commuting, 33.7% use shoulders to walk their commute, followed closely by 31% of folks biking for travel.
Respondent Recreational vs Commuter / Travel UseWhen asked what they would like to see the County prioritize in terms of shoulder improvements, 33% of respondents wanted enhanced shoulders / wider roads, 32% preferred both widened shoulders AND separated paths, and 21% wanted separated, paved trails.
8% wanted neither widened roads nor separated trails, and 6% specified other priorities or reasoning.
Respondent Shoulder PrioritiesWhen looking wholistically at the data, 86% of respondents identified the desire for some type of improvement while only 8% want no improvements made.
The graph below shows that 80% of respondents think non-motorized transportation corridors are a good use of County Road Funds. Support for non-motorized transportation corridors is clear. What’s less clear is respondent preferences of widened shoulders versus separated paths. We do know that people want safe opportunities to recreate, travel, and commute.
Respondent Funding PrioritiesWhen respondents were asked to explain the reasons for their priorities, these were some of the more telling anecdotes:
- Those in favor of separated trails believe it is the “safest option” offering distance and protection from “distracted drivers.” They also believe that widening the shoulders will only entice cars to drive faster and detract from the rural character of the roads. The idea of creating highways doesn’t add any real value to pedestrian and biker safety.
- Those in favor of widened shoulders believe that more can be accomplished by widening the road, rather than creating a new path. It's seen as the more financially viable option. Respondents also see the hurdles of property owners and limited right-of-ways as deterrents to separated paths. They also shared concerns of a greater environmental impact.
- Those in favor of neither widened shoulders nor separated paths believe in the importance of preserving trees and maintaining what we have. They express safety concerns regarding bikes in general and feel biking will never be safe in the islands. They also want to protect private property.
- Those who answered ‘other’ or were more abstract in their responses believe that a mixture of approaches is best and agreed that encouraging multi-modal travel is helpful to the environment and promotes safe transportation and better health.
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Shoulder Use / Improvement Maps
Share Shoulder Use / Improvement Maps on Facebook Share Shoulder Use / Improvement Maps on Twitter Share Shoulder Use / Improvement Maps on Linkedin Email Shoulder Use / Improvement Maps linkHere you’ll see side-by-side comparisons of the routes people are taking to the shoulders they identified as needing improvements.
On San Juan Island, the graph on the left shows that respondents are traveling on Roche Harbor Rd the most, followed by Beaverton Valley Rd, San Juan Valley Rd and Cattle Point Rd. Coming in third is Douglas / Bailer Hill Rd.
The map on the right shows the roads identified as needing improvements – whether enhanced shoulders or separated trails. We see that San Juan Valley Rd and Bailer Hill Rd were the most requested roads, followed by West Side Rd, Beaverton Valley Rd, and Roche Harbor Rd.
On Lopez Island, the map on the left shows most respondents use Fisherman Bay Rd followed by Center Rd and Mud Bay Rd.
The map on the right shows that Center Rd is identified as needing the most improvements, followed by Fisherman Bay Rd and Mud Bay Rd.
On Orcas Island, the colors change slightly (less folks responded on Orcas) but we see a similar pattern of usage around major corridors.
The horseshoe highway is traveled the most – Orcas Rd, to Crescent Beach Rd, to Olga Rd. It’s also identified as needing the most improvements, followed by Crow Valley Rd.
Recreation, Open Space, and Stewardship Plan Maps
The data gathered from this survey reflects the data represented in maps from the ROSS Plan.
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County Roads
Share County Roads on Facebook Share County Roads on Twitter Share County Roads on Linkedin Email County Roads link91% of respondents think County roads are average or better, and the majority think our roads are in “good” condition (49%). Only 1% think they are terrible and 7% think they are poor.
Average Road Condition
Respondents could check all concerns they have about County roads.57% were concerned about congested roads (bikes, pedestrians, etc.)
53% are concerned about narrow roads
37% are concerned about visibility issues (blind corners, overgrown vegetation)
27% are concerned about uneven / bumpy roads
24% are concerned about drainage issues
23% are concerned about rough roads (chip seal surface)
Respondent Road ConcernsThe question below prompted respondents to agree or disagree with support for direct funding and prioritization of County Road projects.
Respondent Funding Priority for County RoadsAnswers revealed strong support for emergency preparedness and non-motorized transportation, followed by general maintenance, then proactive culvert replacements.
Who's Listening
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Email colinh@sanjuanco.com