Community News 01/30/09
Council OKs 2009 road projects
By Mike Huffman
Spokane Valley News Editor

The Spokane Valley City Council agreed Tuesday to a slate of road projects to be done this year. However, there are some questions as to whether or not many will receive potential federal stimulus-package funding.

“We should have very low expectations,” Mayor Richard Munson said at the beginning of the meeting.

Still, Steve Worley, senior engineer, told council members that the city has a good chance to receive potentially millions of dollars in federal funds as long as they are “shovel ready” this summer.

“The money can only be used for construction, not for design or for the acquisition of right-of-way,” Worley said.

In order to do just that, the city has reallocated $95,500 that it had earmarked for Sprague Avenue resurfacing from University to Evergreen roads for design studies on several others, including the resurfacing of Sprague farther east and also on Euclid Avenue, 32nd Avenue, Sullivan Road, Dishman-Mica Road, Bowdish Road, Flora Road, Mission Avenue, Barker Road, Evergreen Road, Carnahan Road and the extension of Indiana Avenue between Sullivan and Flora.

Preservation projects, Worley said, will get the highest priority for the funding. However, there is still plenty of discussion on Capitol Hill on how much – if any – of the money will be allocated to each state. And if the funding arrives, the bulk of it will likely go to projects on the west side of Washington state.

“As we’ve heard, the information is changing on a daily basis,” Worley said.
Munson said that a congressional decision on the stimulus package will likely be made by the end of February.

“Then we’ll have a better idea,” he said.

Council members said they agreed it made sense to have a list of projects ready with the design specifications in hand.

“Those who get to the trough first will probably fare better,” said Council Member Diana Wilhite.

“If we’re ready to go with the plans, we’ll have a leg up,” Munson agreed. “It’s prudent planning to go ahead and do this.”

The city has already received funding for several other projects in 2009, including improvements on Broadway Avenue, the completion of the Pines/Mansfield work and finishing Barker Road Bridge. There are also areas where streets need to be repaved due to the placement of sewer lines and elimination of septic tanks.