Six-year transportation plan features major corridor improvements in Olympia

Millions of dollars in transportation improvements are planned over the next six years in the City of Olympia, including enhanced pedestrian crossings and road corridor upgrades.

The projects, which are listed in the city's proposed 2028-33 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), were  spelled out to the Olympia City Council at a  meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Public Works Transportation Department Senior Engineer Joey Jones presented the six-year plan, which identifies planned transportation projects and funding sources, and paves the way for staff to seek state and federal grants.  

Among the major projects listed are improvements to the Martin Way corridor, enhanced crosswalks along Pacific Avenue, Mottman Road upgrades, and the two-phase Capital Corridor project.  

The Martin Way corridor project ranges 2.2 miles from 4th Avenue and Sawyer Street to the eastern city limits at College Street.  

Jones said the city was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Thurston Regional Planning Council’s (TRPC) federal call for projects to support the design work, which would begin in 2028 when  funds are expected to become available.  

“This project will be our focus for the next several federal funding cycles,” Jones told the city council.

The proposed improvements include roundabouts at key intersections, sidewalks on both sides of the street, enhanced bicycle lanes and crosswalks, access controls, and business access and transit-only lanes.  

The Pacific Avenue enhanced crosswalks project would cover two segments: Steele Street to DeHart Drive and Poplar Street to Birch Street. The project has a preliminary cost of $2.1 million.  

The city secured a $1.3 million grant award through the TRPC’s federal call for projects to support design and construction, which is planned to begin in 2029.  

The project is expected to include three to five enhanced crosswalks. Potential features include high visibility markings, pedestrian refuge islands, flashing beacons and advanced stop signs, and pavement markings to alert drivers and pedestrians.

For Mottman Road, the city is conducting preliminary design work on improvements extending from RW Johnson Boulevard to the frontage of South Puget Sound Community College. The design work is funded through the state’s Connecting Washington program. 

However, Jones said staff learned the Washington State Department of Transportation has moved the construction funds for the project to an undetermined year beyond 2030.  

“Given the delays to the project funding, we are using this time to reevaluate how pedestrians and bicyclists get across Percival Creek with this project,” Jones said.  

Other proposed improvements include sidewalks, enhanced bicycle lanes, crossings and lighting.  

The Capitol Corridor project is divided into two phases. Phase One would extend from Carlyle Avenue to 25th Avenue. The preliminary project cost is $8.8 million.  

The city has applied for a $2 million grant through the Transportation Improvement Board’s Complete Streets program to support design and construction.  

Phase Two would extend from 25th Avenue to Union Avenue. The city hopes to begin design in 2027, with construction planned for late 2029 or early 2030. Its preliminary cost is $11 million.  

Jones said the city has applied for $3.2 million through the TRPC’s federal call for projects and is considering another $4.5 million grant proposal through the National Highway System Asset Management Program to help fund construction.  

The project would reduce vehicle lanes from four to three, with one lane in each direction and a center turn lane or left turn pockets where needed. The change would create space for bicycle lanes along the corridor.  

Other planned improvements include improved crosswalks, updated curb ramps and transit stop upgrades. 

During the presentation, Council member Robert Vanderpool, who serves on the TRPC, said the Capitol Corridor Phase Two project received the highest score among projects in the region under the TRPC’s federal funding process.  

“I’m hoping that we can get that funding moving along and we can start seeing the construction,” said Vanderpool, adding the funding still requires approval by the full regional council.  

The TIP also includes transportation programs covering bicycle improvements, intersection improvements, street repair, multimodal street reconstruction, sidewalks and pathways, and access and safety improvements.  

The Olympia City Council is scheduled to consider adopting the 2028-2033 TIP, alongside the Capital Facilities Plan, at a meeting on Dec. 15.