KINGSTON — Any Kingston resident knows that several times a day, passage through the community becomes more of a frustrating quest when the ferry is unloading its cargo of pedestrians and motorists.

While a solution to the problem has eluded the Little City by the Sea for years, members of the Kingston Community Advisory Council Wednesday took a look at proposals that might finally relieve such traffic congestion.

“This project was shelved in 1998,” Washington State Department of Transportation planner Vicki Steigner said about a remote parking lot and highway widening proposal she presented.

Indicating informational poster boards on the defunct plan, she added, “These boards are the only thing left from the project. It’s not funded right now, it’s on the shelf.”

Even so, Steigner offered hope in attaining the funding that would bring such a project to fruition and said she had a positive discussion on the plan and the future of Kingston’s traffic with 23rd District Rep. Bev Woods (R-Kingston) during a recent ferry meeting.

“I liked it,” said KCAC member Karen Ross, who worked with Steigner in 1999 on a study to determine what methods of traffic improvements would best suit Kingston. “I wish I could get out my magic wand and move it all out of town all together, but that’s not going to happen.”

The shelved plan proposed a roadway with one lane of cars headed into Kingston, and two lanes flowing ferry traffic out of town, Steigner said.

“I think three lanes is a good idea,” said KCAC member Annie Humiston, adding that the middle portion of the road could function as a reversible lane, helping ease the impact of cars coming off an unloading ferry. “I also like the idea of a cut and cover tunnel, though I’m not too keen on overpass traffic. I doubt that would happen in Kingston, though.”

The remote parking lot in the plan would double as a park and ride lot when not being used to hold overflow traffic, Steigner said. The widening and addition of another lane would also certainly impact downtown businesses.

“We knew we would need right of way, which would mean some people would have some of their property gone,” she said, noting that it could affect businesses on the south side of the highway.

“I think this will work as long as the right of way is taken from the north, not the south,” Humiston said, adding that there will be impacts, but the businesses on the south side, like Sacks Feed and Smiley’s Hotel, would lose virtually all of their parking and maybe parts of the building if SR 104 was widened on their side of the road.

“I’d like to see (traffic) move all on one side so that one street belongs to the town again,” Ross said. “I would like to see (WSDOT) move (the road) farther over the other way. I’d like to see them leave Sacks and the other businesses alone.”

Steigner reiterated that the plan she presented was unfunded, and is still only an idea. But she added that people in Kingston are ready and hoping for some alleviation to the traffic battle, and the charge could be starting soon.