Mountlake Terrace plans to combine the money that will come from the state capital budget with previously allocated state money, money from other grants and money from local bonds to pay for the planned revitalization of Main Street in a few years.
City Manager Arlene Fisher says that revitalizing Main Street will improve the city’s downtown infrastructure.
The revitalization includes design and reconstruction of 56th Avenue West (“Main Street”) from 230th Street Southwest to 236th Street; 236th Street Southwest from Main Street to the Transit Center; and portions of 232nd Street Southwest and 234th Street Southwest. Improvements will include putting all utilities under ground, widening sidewalks, installing trees and lighting along the street, and improved disability access.
The city got $1.3 million for the Main Street revitalization as part of the state’s $3 billion 2015-2017 capital budget that the legislature approved at the end of its session.
The state capital budget, supported by the state’s bonding authority, is distinct from the biennial operating budget or the transportation budget.
Democratic 1st Legislative District State Rep. Derek Stanford is vice chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee.
The total cost of the Main Street project is $18 million. The city secured $6.5 million through local resources and grants, including revenue generated by the city’s recently implemented Transportation Benefit District. The money from this year’s capital budget increases the state contribution to $3.3 million.
“We have enough funding now to begin constructing components of the project,” Fisher said recently. “Now we have to check with our funding sources to see if phasing the project is allowed under the terms of the grants. Thank you to our state legislators for helping us reach this point.”
She said that the city needs to identify more financial resources for the full project to be completed. She added that the city could raise some of the money through its own bonding authority.
Fisher said Tuesday that most design and planning for the project is complete.
City officials say that the project is estimated to create 1,400 permanent jobs, 188 direct construction jobs, and more than 1,100 housing units.
Fisher thanked Stanford and other local legislators Tuesday.
“Mountlake Terrace has once again benefited from the great work our state elected officials do on behalf of this great community,” she said.
Those officials include Democratic Reps. Stanford and Luis Moscoso, and Democratic State Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe from the 1st Legislative District, a district that includes most of Mountlake Terrace, all of Brier and Bothell, unincorporated areas of Snohomish County north and east of Bothell, north Kirkland, and unincorporated areas of King County between Bothell and Kirkland.
State officials representing the city also include the three Democratic 32nd District legislators — State Sen. Maralyn Chase, Rep. Ruth Kagi and Rep. Cindy Ryu. The 32nd Legislative District includes part of Mountlake Terrace, all of Lynnwood and Woodway, south Edmonds and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, the city of Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle.
Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith also praised the legislators.
“We can’t thank our legislators enough,” Smith said June 8. “They have met with us several times to discuss this project and the positive impact it will have on our city and the region and now they’ve really stepped up to the plate to help us try and get the remaining funding.”
City officials call the project “a transit-oriented development,” noting that they expect it to link the city’s downtown with the transit center, freeway station, and the light-rail station expected in 2023. They say that the city plans new pedestrian and bike connections to connect the downtown to these regional transportation hubs.
Mountlake Terrace officials expect the investments to spur economic growth within the community. They note that current and planned projects, such as Arbor Village, Vineyard Park, Mountlake Senior Living, 234th Street Townhomes, and Terrace Heights Garden are all private developments that demonstrate the strong return on investment from improving the city’s infrastructure.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
