Transportation improvement program outlines three new projects in Tumwater

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The City of Tumwater’s new transportation improvement program identifies three road projects to pursue within the next six years.  

At a meeting on June 2, the Tumwater City Council approved its 2027-32 transportation improvement program, which lists the road projects that the city is seeking state and federal money for in order to get underway. 

Jeff Cook, Deputy Director of the Transportation and Engineering Department, said state and federal officials refer to the improvement programs when funding opportunities become available. 

Much of the program remains the same every year, except for new additions and the removal of projects that are either complete or no longer being pursued. 

This year, the transportation improvement program points to three new projects, including a roundabout at 93rd Avenue and Case Road, as well as the extension of Tyee Drive from Tumwater Boulevard to Prine Drive to support traffic flow near Costco. 

According to the program, the Tyee Drive extension would be funded by private development, which is subject to an agreement. 

The third new item is called the "Missing Link" Transportation Improvements Program. The project would infill, extend, or complete significant missing roadway segments and multimodal improvements when the development of nearby properties is unlikely to occur in the near future. 

Cook also spoke about the E Street extension project, which remains in the program. The project aims to connect Capitol Boulevard to Cleveland Avenue through the extension of E Street. A proposed route for the project has been criticized by nearby residents, saying it would negatively impact a surrounding forestland. 

Cook said staff retained the project should funding for it come up, but noted there has been no progress with it in about a year. Should funding be made available, he said the city would reengage with concerned residents. 

Cook said state code requires all Washington municipalities to adopt a six-year transportation improvement program every year by June 30.

Once finalized, the document is sent to a regional planning authority, which in Tumwater’s case is the Thurston Region Planning Council.

The planning council is going to incorporate the city’s projects into a broader regional plan, which then gets submitted to the Washington State Department of Transportation for review.

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  • Southsoundguy

    93rd and case rd roundabout?!?!?!? The grift is STRONG!

    Wednesday, June 10 Report this

  • DudeGuyOly

    you are insufferable dude

    Wednesday, June 10 Report this

  • Southsoundguy

    What is insufferable is the ridiculous expenditures on roundabouts and the cancerous growth that will ruin this place. But whatever, I guess you like it.

    Wednesday, June 10 Report this

  • Southsoundguy

    Lol! I don't know where "hate" comes into this, other than I HATE wasteful spending and gross development of the land.

    Thursday, June 11 Report this

  • Southsoundguy

    I swear, that is all you have. Liberalism truly has cooked you guys.

    Thursday, June 11 Report this