Thursday, October 1, 2026
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The Olympia City Council is set to consider a resolution on Tuesday, Aug. 12, to accept roughly $1.18 million in federal funding for the Martin Way Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project.
The funding was awarded by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) through the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Safety Improvements Program.
It would support the Martin Way Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project, which aims to install safety features along the corridor from Chehalis Western Trail to Sleater-Kinney Road.
The planned improvements include new pedestrian crossings, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, median refuge islands, an in-lane bus stop with separated bike lanes, a shortened right turn pocket and median barriers.
The city applied for the funding in 2024 and, in October 2024, WSDOT awarded Olympia the federal grant, which allocates $114,000 for the project's design phase and $1,068,000 for construction. The city will also contribute a match of $455,000 from Transportation Benefit District sales tax funds, bringing the total project cost to $1,637,000.
According to the staff report, Olympia's Municipal Code requires any contract or agreement exceeding $350,000 be approved by the city council before execution by the city manager.
The resolution, if approved, would authorize City Manager Jay Burney to obligate the design funds and the construction funds once the project is ready to break ground in 2026.
Completion of the Martin Way Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project aims to improve pedestrian and bike safety along the corridor, particularly west of Sleater-Kinney Road.
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chrispc2u
I hope this doesn’t take as long as the marathon Fones road project. It’s ridiculous how long it’s taking while the road surface is worse than driving on a washboarded logging road.
Monday, August 11, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
However long it takes is okay. That is a very dangerous stretch of road there. Little in the way of sidewalks. MAKE IT SAFE !!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Report this
BettyVerdammt
This vital bicycle onramp to I-5 represents true transportation freedom!
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Report this