On December 2, Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) awarded 28 grants totaling $9,099,168 for local transportation projects that will move forward over the next three years. The Council selected priority projects that will make the transportation system safer for all users, improve the efficiency of the transportation network, and repair or replace aging infrastructure.  

• Tumwater:  Construct Deschutes Valley Trail from Tumwater Historical Park to Tumwater Falls Park.
• Olympia and Lacey:  Construct two roundabouts, at Boulevard Road and Morse-Merryman Road, and another at College Street and 22nd Avenue. Both projects include sidewalks, street lighting, and landscaping. 
• Thurston County:  Reconstruct Mullen Road from Lacey city limits to Carpenter Road, adding sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and street lighting. 
• Tumwater:  Reconstruct Desoto Street, stabilizing canyon slopes, replace the failing road surface, rebuilding the sidewalk, and adding an uphill bike lane. 
• Intercity Transit:  Upgrade 63 existing bus stops within their service area of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Yelm, and Thurston County. The upgrades will improve accessibility for people with disabilities to more safely board and exit buses. 
• Yelm:  Construct a new sidewalk along a portion of 100th Way Southeast and Grove Road near Fort Stevens Elementary School.
• Several communities will improve street crossings.
  • The Olympia School District and the City of Olympia will work together to replace the existing 20 MPH school speed limit zone signage with new flashing beacons – synchronized with nearby school schedules on Carlyon and Lybarger and on North and Pifer. 
  • Olympia, Tumwater, Rainier, and Tenino will install pedestrian activated flashing lights at key locations to notify drivers of people crossing the street.
• Three sub-area and corridor transportation studies will evaluate opportunities to improve traffic safety, improve circulation, and promote economic development for Grand Mound, Rochester, and Yelm. 
  • TRPC, the City of Tenino, and the Town of Bucoda will partner with stakeholders to evaluate options for extending the Yelm-Tenino Trail from Tenino City Park to the western edge of Tenino city limits and extending the trail south to the Town of Bucoda. 
  • Thurston County will evaluate potential mid-block crosswalk locations along Yelm Highway and Pacific Avenue for future construction. 
  • TRPC, Thurston County, the cities, and Intercity Transit will explore options to share, store, retrieve, and report on a variety of transportation data needs to assist with planning and project management.
• The Regional Council selected several safe routes to school education and encouragement programs for implementation over the next two school years:  Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll Youth Education Program, Thurston County’s Safe and Active Routes to School, and Safe Kids’ Bike Helmets for Thurston County Students program. 
• TRPC also awarded funding to produce the sixth edition of the Thurston Count Bicycle Map in 2018.

TRPC is an important partner in the transportation planning process. As a council of governments comprised of elected officials from cities, the county, tribes, Intercity Transit, school districts, colleges, and a variety of local government special districts, TRPC offers broad representation to decision making on regional transportation priorities.

To assist the region in fulfilling its long-range transportation planning goals in both the urban and rural areas of Thurston County, TRPC has authority to program discretionary federal funds to transportation projects, programs, and services that serve local communities. For more information about TRPC’s grant funded projects visit 2017 - 2019 Federal Funding Call for Projects.