New roads, more bike paths part of Olympia’s 2023 capital facilities plan

The 2023-2028 Capital Facilities Plan for the City of Olympia was presented during a meeting of the city’s planning commission on Monday, August 15. Joyce Phillips, a senior planner in the city’s planning and development department, presented the financial plan, which outlines next year’s projects and their corresponding funding sources.

Phillips noted there will probably be a few changes to the plan before the city council adopts it and becomes the city’s 2023 capital budget.

The biggest portion of the expenses will go towards transportation projects, which collectively cost $17,136,768. This includes a reconstruction project for Fones Road between Pacific Avenue and 18th Avenue, which will cost $10,887,768.

Phillips acknowledged that have been some frustration a few years ago about how long the Fones Road project had been in the capital facilities plan without construction. Phillips said there have been discussions regarding this matter and that there is money now for the construction of this project.

Other transportation projects include bike and pedestrian safety improvements along 4th Avenue and Plum Street ($1,469,000), as well as a bicycle corridor connecting downtown to the Interstate-5 bike trail ($989,000).

Transfers from real estate excise tax are the biggest source of funding for these transportation projects. Other sources include state grants, federal grants, and transfers from the transportation benefit district.

Another big part of the expenses under the general government capital projects are those for parks, arts, and recreation. Projects include the Lions Park Playground ($1,220,000), a park trail at Grass Lake Nature Park ($3,333,000), and the design of the Armory Creative Campus ($250,000), Yelm Highway Community Park ($800,000), and Rebecca Howard Park ($50,000).

The bulk of the funding for these projects will come from park impact fees and transfers from the Olympia Metropolitan Parks District.

Drinking water & waste projects

Under the utility capital projects category, those for drinking water take up the biggest chunk of the expenses with the rehabilitation of Boulevard Road Reservoir ($3,223,734), as well as with the replacement of small diameter pipes ($300,000) and aging pipes ($200,00). Funding for these projects will be mainly sourced from the fund balance.

Two million was also allotted for the planning, design, and construction of a new maintenance facility for waste utilities. Phillips noted that there is an additional $40 million planned for this project in the coming years.

Other utility capital projects include infrastructures for wastewater and stormwater which collectively cost $908,284 and $1,994,701, respectively.

The planning commission will hold a public hearing regarding the capital facilities plan on September 19. The public is invited to attend and comment on the plan. The city council will also hold another public meeting in October on the same matter.