FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2018

Thurston Regional Planning Council Awards $8.6 Million in Federal Transportation Grants to Local Projects

OLYMPIA, Wash. – On July 6, Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) awarded $8,604,853 federal transportation grant funding to 23 local transportation projects to be implemented between 2019 and 2022. 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.  

• Intercity Transit: Modernize Pattison Street Maintenance, Operations, and Administration facility to enable system expansion and support future transit operations; Purchase four new propane-fuel vans to replace aging diesel-powered dial-a-lift vans; Continue Walk-N-Roll Program services and activities for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 school years to provide K-12 traffic safety education and to encourage students to walk, bike, and ride the bus to school. 
• Lacey: Design the third phase of the College Street Corridor Plan from Lacey Boulevard to 18th Avenue including sidewalks, landscaping, travel lanes, medians, and stormwater improvements; Install electric vehicle charging stations near the Lacey Community Center, Lacey City Hall, Timberland Regional Library, and the North Thurston Public Schools district office.
• Olympia: Complete the design phase for future Fones Road modernization to reduce traffic delays, improve corridor safety, and add sidewalks, bike lanes, and street crossing enhancements; Install school safety zone beacons on Boulevard Road near the Olympia Regional Learning Academy.
• Tenino: Install pedestrian warning lights at the intersection of Sussex and Hodgden Street
• Thurston County: Construct a roundabout with pedestrian crossing improvements at Yelm Highway and Meridian Road; Remove a fish barrier on Beaver Creek along Case Road; Design and install pedestrian crossing improvements on both Yelm Highway and Pacific Avenue; Undertake Rochester-Grand Mound multi-use trail feasibility study.  
• Tumwater: Complete the design and acquire right-of-way for a future roundabout at Old Highway 99 and 79th Avenue; Construct various bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements on Israel Road and Linderson Way. 

TRPC awarded funding to several partnership projects that involve interjurisdictional partnerships:

• Thurston County Bicycle Map, 7th Edition.
• North Thurston, Olympia, Tumwater School District, and TRPC school route mapping for elementary and select middle schools.
• Martin Way Corridor Study involving Lacey, Olympia, Intercity Transit, Thurston County and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to promote safety, improve traffic flow, and enhance transit service.

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 www.trpc.org/913/2020---2022-Federal-Funding-Awards.