Kent adopts six-year Transportation Improvement Program

The Kent City Council adopted Tuesday the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program for 2012 to 2017 for a variety of proposed projects.

The Kent City Council adopted a six-year transportation improvement plan on Dec. 13 in an effort to draw funding for a variety of projects.

The Kent City Council adopted a six-year transportation improvement plan on Dec. 13 in an effort to draw funding for a variety of projects.

The Kent City Council adopted Tuesday the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program for 2012 to 2017 for a variety of proposed projects.

The TIP is a state-mandated transportation planning document that lists Kent’s needed transportation projects and the expected revenue sources to pay for them, as well as those projects without complete funding, slated for as far out as six years, according to a city media release.

Steve Mullen, city transportation engineering manager, said for projects to receive state and federal money they must first be adopted in the six-year plan. Therefore, projects selected for the TIP must straddle a line of local need and the project’s ability to attract other money.

“What we do is look at projects and we try to choose the high priorities but also projects that are good grant funding candidates,” Mullen said.  “It’s more important than ever to look for grants given the decline in funding sources for transportation projects.”

Projects on the six-year program are generated from a larger list that was developed for the city’s Transportation Master Plan.

Mullen said the transportation plan is supposed to be an annual reality check when the city reconciles its current transportation needs with the available funding.

The total cost of the projects on the list is $159 million, a reduction of nearly $463 million compared to last year. The list includes 35 projects and programs ranging from street, bicycle, pedestrian, traffic signal and transit improvements to street maintenance and preservation projects.

According to Councilmember Debbie Raplee, the TIP incorporates recommendations by the Citizen Advisory Committee.

Raplee, who serves as Chair of the Public Works Committee said the group met 11 times during a four-month period last summer and fall.

“I appreciate the Citizen Advisory Committee working with staff to identify key priorities, as well as projects that can be deferred,” Raplee said. “The revised list is very much in line with today’s economic reality.”

Composed of volunteers from the business community, the Citizen Advisory Committee will continue to review transportation issues as funding becomes available and projects move forward.

Projects on the list include:

• Intersection improvements to Smith Street and Lincoln Avenue

• Pedestrian safety improvements along Kent Kangley Road between 104th Avenue Southeast and 124th Avenue Southeast

• Southeast 256th Street widening from State Route 516 to 116th Avenue Southeast

• South 228th Street and Union Pacific railroad grade separation

• 76th Avenue South extension from South 200th Street to South 196th Street

• South 224th Street extension from 84th Avenue South to 104th Avenue Southeast

Details about the 2012-17 transportation program as well as the full project list are available at www.ci.kent.wa.us/transportation.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent Police Detective Ford retires after 29 years with department

Helped solve 44-year-old cold case murder in 2024

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation