Olympia has received full funding of $893,607 from the Washington State Department of Transportation for an improvement project along Boulevard Road.
Construction is slated to start this spring. The project involves improving crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists along Boulevard Road between the Union Avenue pathway and Wheeler Avenue, extending the existing bike corridor from Lions Park to Boulevard Road, and closing a gap in the low-stress bicycle network by connecting the bike corridor to the regional trails network.
Other planned improvements along Boulevard Road north of the overpass would be to increase the width of the Union Avenue Pathway, raise the crosswalk to slow traffic, and increase driver awareness of people crossing the street.
Enhancement on the south of the overpass includes:
By upgrading infrastructure for walking and cycling along Boulevard Road, the project will make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, improve connectivity to regional trails and pathways, and enhance mobility for community members, especially those using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
During construction, community members can expect lane closures, parking impacts near the worksite, and detours for pedestrians and cyclists.
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Claire
Instead of spending money on unecessary bs, how about fixing existing roads that are rougher than a cob? Think of the road improvements that could've been accomplished instead of spending millions on the homeless ****.
Tuesday, March 19 Report this
jimlazar
This is an important safety project, and I'm glad Olympia is able to proceed with it.
As traffic volumes flowing into Olympia from Lacey and the County increase, local residents, including people who walk and bicycle face increasing hazards. While Olympia can collect impact fees from new construction within the City to mitigate these problems, it cannot collect a contribution from people outside the City when they create these problems. Fortunately, the state is able to fund some of these safety projects.
Yes, Olympia should fix the roads. Historically that was done with a combination of general fund taxes and the motor vehicle excise tax. The motor vehicle excise tax was repealed (replaced with a Transportation Benefit District fee on car registrations. The general fund money previously devoted to road repair has been diverted to hire more public relations staff in the City Manager's office, fund a new Economic Development program, and support housing and homeless response.
Personally, I think Olympia should follow it's own adopted Financial Strategy, which calls for maintaining existing assets before starting new programs. The current Council has deviated from that policy. That's poor leadership on the part of former Mayor Selby, and current Mayor Payne.
Tuesday, March 19 Report this
JustinMcKaughan
We bought a home on Boulevard in 2006. We were told that we would get on city sewer and that there would be sidewalks. By 2019, we realized that it wasn't coming anytime soon. We sold our house in 2022 and moved to Tumwater where the traffic of speeding cars trying to run you off the road while biking is not like the madness on Boulevard. I hope this improves the block and makes it more safe. RIP Suzie the cat, taken from us by a crazy driver on Boulevard in 2021.
Tuesday, March 19 Report this
oldgar9
Cat getting run over is on the owner, nobody else. The loss to the bird population to outdoor cats is in the billions, cats should not be outside running free, it is not in their best interest or the communities.
Tuesday, March 19 Report this
OlyKid88
When I read these stories, it makes me wonder what the City of Olympia does with property tax, sales tax, B&O tax impact fees and additional project specific levies we pay. I think that number is close to $80mm. I look at the budgets, but there isn't much of a breakdown to see ultimately where money is getting spent.
Roads, sidewalks and green spaces aren't being maintained to a reasonable standard they once were. When the opportunity arises for the City to shift these deferred maintenance costs onto a developer, like non profit Habitat for Humanity or other builders, the City is eager to require budget busting offsite improvements. Many in Olympia might not know that an average home built in the City limits will be required to pay roughly $12k in permits, $50k in impact fees before a shovel even hits the ground and another $50k in sales tax.
While this might satisfy the old school "Growth pays for growth" crowd in Olympia, it substantially increases the cost of housing beyond a point that will encourage housing to be built and young families to live here. The City Council hasn't done any favors over the last 3 or 4 decades to the community when it comes to bringing diversity of housing into City.
https://olympiatime.com/2019/08/04/ghettos-and-lost-quadplexes-at-nut-tree-loop-our-conversations-40-years-ago-around-multifamily-housing-and-how-we-got-here/
Not to go too far back in history, but it wasn't long ago that the City paid $1.28mm to the State for a very polluted parcel that was partially remediated and given to LIHI for $1 for the Billy Frank Building. Same story with 2828 Martin Way where Unity Commons is now. $1.35mm for a property that had sold several years prior for $500k. Then sold to LIHI for $1. Even worse, the City paid $2.175mm for the Plum Street hotel that had burned down. Take a look at any downtown parcel that has sold in the last 20 years, and it will be difficult if not impossible to find any higher price paid.
At City Council meetings there was recognition of City staff of what a good purchase they negotiated. It just doesn't pass a common sense test. This is extraordinary amount of money seemingly flying under the radar.
We have a beautiful town and that should be the priority with community tax dollars.
I hear the City say they have a larger number of financial obligations. I often wonder why we have garbage service when there are alternatives to take that responsibility from the City that are used everyday in the County. Why does the City own several million dollar Vactor Trucks that get used intermittently.
It seems like a point has been crossed where we need to focus on the priorities and not wait for others to come along and bail us out with Government or grant money. This might require a revamp of our expectations of what a City is responsible to do.
OSD seems to do the same thing. OSD spends one time pandemic money on recurring expenses. Then OSD needs to make budget cuts almost equal to the pandemic spending grant, but instead of finding cuts, is willing to bring great stress and divisiveness into the community with the hope that the State government will swoop in and provide them more money.
It isn't a healthy environment to be dependent on other tax payers and government entities to meet your responsibilities.
Tuesday, March 19 Report this