OLYMPIA — As Everett Community College expands east of North Broadway, the city wants to make it easier for students, staff and faculty to get across the street.
City officials are seeking $1.8 million in state funding. That would pay for the design of a pedestrian bridge to where the community college plans to build a new Learning Resource Center and a replacement for Baker Hall.
“We’re trying to create a safe and easy pathway,” said Bob Bolerjack, the city’s executive director for governmental affairs and an EvCC trustee.
An additional $10 million to $15 million may be needed for construction, Bolerjack estimated. The exact amount will be determined by the details.
The city is trying to secure the design dollars in the next state transportation budget.
The House and Senate will release separate spending proposals at the end of March. Right now, leaders of the transportation committees in the House and Senate are crafting their respective plans and are awash in requests from lawmakers and civic leaders in every legislative district.
The overpass design money “is on the list of member requests that we will be going through after we finish the budget process,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, who is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
The Legislature will need to enact a two-year budget this session, which is slated to end April 28.
Everett Community College’s Board of Trustees voted in October to locate the future Learning Resource Center on the east side of Broadway in College Plaza. Some faculty and students opposed the decision.
The 70,000-square-foot facility will be home for the school’s library, tutoring and writing centers, and the Center for Transformative Teaching.
Thus far, the state has provided $4 million for its design. This year, EvCC is requesting $45.4 million for construction.
Also, the community college is asking for $2.85 million to start designing the building that will eventually replace Baker Hall. That project carries a $28 million construction cost.
Unlike funding for the pedestrian bridge design, money for the two building projects is being sought in the next state capital construction budget.
Those requests are on a list submitted by the state Board of Community and Technical Colleges to the governor and the Legislature. That list ranks all the capital projects for the system.
Gov. Jay Inslee, in his proposed budgets, would provide money for the top 17 projects. Baker Hall is 18th on the list and the Learning Resource Center is number 24.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.
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