• Editor’s note: A Yelm City Council Staff report on the STIP buried in the council’s packet is not a public posting to garner comments for a Public Hearing!
• The Yelm City Council received the staff’s six-year transportation improvement program (STIP) information packet on August 5, yet there was no public posting prior to their STIP Public Hearing on August 10.
• I had asked the city council about this prior to their August 10th meeting. The issue was raised then and Mayor Foster directed the STIP to be publicly posted on Aug. 10. That finally occurred on Aug. 18, 8 days after he directed.
• The 2nd and last Public Hearing on the STIP before the council votes their approval is August 24. You may e-mail the council your comments directly.
• City Hall leaders continue to tout transparency, yet the public is often left in the dark if someone does not speak up.
• Click here for the six-year transportation improvement program (STIP)

From The Staff Report:

2022 – 2027 Six-year Transportation Improvement Program

The six-year transportation improvement program (STIP) is the capital facilities document that
guides transportation funding for a six-year cycle. The STIP is based on the Yelm
Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Plan and is the ‘implementation’ document for the
overall plan. Projects that are not on the STIP are not eligible for State or Federal funding, or
the use of local Traffic Facilities Charges (TFC’s). Although it is a six-year plan, it is required to
be updated annually as projects are completed and new priorities arise.

The proposed 2021 to 2026 list includes:
 Bald Hill Road reconstruction – City limits to 5 corners.
 Yelm Prairie Line Trail – Power canal to Roy.
 Longmire/Yelm Avenue intersection – Traffic control.
 Mosman Avenue East Phase 3 – 3rd to Clark Road.
 Coates Avenue connection – Killion to Cullens.
 Burnett/93rd intersection – Realignment and traffic control.
 2nd Street sidewalk improvements – Mosman Ave to Cochrane Park.
 Mosman Avenue SE reconstruction – 2nd St. to 3rd St.
 Mosman Avenue Phase 2 – Longmire to Railroad.
 Yelm Avenue improvements – 1st St. to 4th St.
 Rhoton Road NW Reconstruction – Railway to Yelm Loop (SR 510 ALT)
 N.P. Road * Wilkensen Road Reconstruction – 1st Street to Yelm Loop (SR 510 ALT)
New additions to the STIP are the Rhoton Road
Maintenance items including ADA upgrades and the annual overlay program are also included
in the STIP.

From the NVN:

“The only update to the STIP from years prior is the reconstruction of Rhoton Road Northwest from Railway Street Southeast to the intersection of the planned Yelm Loop. The project is funded with about $1.2 million from the state and $960,000 in local funds

Projects Scheduled to Start in 2022

“For $634,608 in federal funds and $847,592 in local funds, the city plants to construct a new road connecting Longmire Street with the new Mosman Avenue intersection. It includes the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks, street lighting and stormwater improvements along the corridor. Other  improvements in the scope of the project include the construction of a new road from Longmire Street to Solberg Street, and the reconstruction of Mosman Avenue between Solberg Street and Railroad Street.

“The city plans to extend the Yelm Prairie Line Trail to the city of Roy for about $1.5 million in state funds and $75,000 in local funds.

“Construction of a new 5-foot wide multi-use concrete sidewalk along the west side of Second Street Southeast from Cochrane Park to the existing sidewalk at Mosman Avenue would use $160,000 in state funds and $90,000 in local funds.

“For $180,000 from the state and $130,000 from local funding, the city plans to construct sidewalks on both sides of Mosman Avenue Southeast. The project includes intersection treatment at Second Street Southeast and Mosman Avenue Southeast as well as the construction of bike lanes from Second Street Southeast to Third Street Southeast.

“Finally for 2022, the city plans to use $539,280 in federal funds, about $1.3 million in state funds and $464,360 of local funding for the construction and repair or replacement of sidewalks, new parallel parking, intersection treatments and access control channelization features along both sides of Yelm Avenue from First Avenue Southeast to Fourth Avenue Southeast.”