Questions linger after North End NASCAR debate

Published 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 7, 2006

POULSBO — The proposed Kitsap County NASCAR racetrack debate zoomed into the North End Monday night, but ran out of gas as it left many questions about its potential impacts unanswered.

Members from the Checkered Flag Club and the Coalition for Healthy Economic Choices in Kitsap squared off at the North Kitsap High School auditorium in a forum hosted by the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce.

Both sides disagreed about many of the points of the International Speedway Corporation’s current proposal, but even CHECK representatives said that the traffic impacts in the North End could be minimal.

“In the North End I think you have it made,” said CHECK representative Bill Fischer. “People are coming in from the east and south.”

Even though the area could see some increases in traffic from the Bainbridge Island and Kingston ferry terminals, those increases won’t be as significant as those impacting the region from east of the Narrows Bridge and south toward Olympia and California, Fischer said.

“Of the maps I’ve seen, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island aren’t even on them,” Fischer said.

Checkered Flag Club representative Stacy Tucker said ISC has become adept at handling the high traffic volumes leaving racetracks across the nation after big races, which are typically held on Sunday afternoons.

“No one will deny traffic is an issue, but clear steps are taken,” Tucker said.

Typically, ISC employs law enforcement officers to provide alternating lanes of traffic to expedite traffic flow out of the area at the conclusion of the final race of the weekend, she said.

“They know how to do it and they do it well,” Tucker said of the ISC’s traffic flow measures.

Poulsbo City Councilman Ed Stern agreed that if the proposed track is built, it will have a lesser traffic impact on the North End than the southern and central parts of the county.

“We’re going to get the Miller Lite of traffic instead of the full bore beer that the south and central parts of the county will,” Stern said.

To its credit, the chamber did an excellent job with the forum and Stern said he was glad it gave both sides of the issue the chance to be heard at the same time.

Even after hearing both sides make their presentations, Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade said she still has questions about how it will impact the North End.

“I heard a lot about the pros and cons, but I still believe the impact is going to be felt,” Quade said. “We’ll see what happens in the North End.”

Kitsap County Commissioner Chris Endresen, who represents the North End, echoed Stern’s comments about the chamber’s format for the forum.

“It’s the first time we’ve had the opportunity to hear both sides at the same time,” Endresen said.

The proposed track will have impacts on the ferry system and State Route 305 and much of that depends on the information that is provided, she said.

“There are still questions that need to be answered,” Endresen said.

Poulsbo resident and chamber member Larry Craig said he has researched the NASCAR issue for the last two years and has become a supporter of the idea.

“I joined the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce to become more involved in the issue and I now serve on their legislative committee, which is handling this issue,” Craig said.

Through that committee Craig said he has contacted several other chambers of commerce with racetracks in their areas and all of them have said they wouldn’t do without their tracks.

“I think we’re lucky to get this and I can’t think that we’re not going to benefit from it,” Craig said.