The Buckley City Council just approved its six-year Transportation Improvement Program on July 23, just ahead of the state of Washington’s August deadline.
The program update lists out all the potential transportation-related projects the city wants to tackle in the next six years, and is a requirement every year in order for the city to receive state and federal funds, a necessity to cover what can often be large price tags.
However, the TIP is not set in stone, and projects are often added, removed, or altered on the list — this was stressed by City Administrator Courtney Brunell, who wanted to assure residents that the 25 items on the “ambitious” list are not yet even funded, and there will not suddenly be tens of millions of dollars-worth of construction suddenly appearing across the city.
“… With having more projects listed on the TIP, sometimes there are grant opportunities that come up that in the past… we haven’t been eligible for because we hadn’t had a project that would have otherwise qualified,” Brunell said. “We expanded the TIP this year in order to make sure than when grants come up, we have a project we can apply for.
In short, Buckley won’t get what it doesn’t ask for.
Additionally, the TIP list isn’t clear on whether the listed projects are in the funding, planning, or construction phases. However, given that none of the projects are currently funded, Brunell said the years listed next to the various projects are when the city hopes to apply for or secure funding.
GOING ROUND AND ROUND
Some of the more eye-catching projects on Buckley’s TIP list are roundabouts, proposed projects that have been on the mind of the city and the state at least since the Washington State Department of Transportation compelted a 2018 study on what short, middle, and long-term solutions can be put into place to mitigate and resolve the dreaded “Buckley Crawl” over the White River bridge.
The city isn’t even close to starting construction on these five roundabouts, proposed to be installed at 112th and SR 164, as well as the Park Avenue Main Street, Mundy-Loss Road, and Hinkleman Extension intersections on SR 410. At this time, Buckley still has to finish the pre-design and the preliminary engineering of these projects before trying to secure funding.
Brunell said the pre-design and preliminary engineering could be completed in the next year or two, and applying for grants could take up to two years more, meaning the city is still a while away before seeing any shovels in the ground for just one roundabout, let alone the rest.
Brunell noted that it’s only expected that the state will require these roundabouts be installed, but plans could change between now and when grants become available and another solution could be recommended.
OTHER PROJECTS
Some of the other projects Buckley would like to secure funding for include:
• Improving Spruce Street from Mason Avenue to Main Street, which would include road shoulder improvements and pavement widening and installing curbs, gutters, storm drainage and street lighting. Additionally, during construction, the city would aim to replace and upsize the existing water and sewer mains. The city aims to secure funding for this estimated $1.4 million project by next year.
• Reconstructing West Hinkleman Road by widening it to two lanes and installing storm improvements and a new water main. The project could cost a little more than $1.3 million, and the city is aiming to get funding in 2028.
• Reconstructing or rehabilitating Ryan Road from Spiketon Road to Levesque Road in three phases. This project includes replacing water, sewer, and storm mains, installing a curb, gutter, and sidewalk on one side of the road, and repaving. A total estimate of around $7.9 million with a funding goal of 2029 and 2030 for the various phases.
• Reconstruct East Main Street from A Street to Elsa Street. The estimated price is over $1.2 million, and the city hopes to get funding by 2030.
