The Complete Streets State Route 141 Paving Project area, designed and funded Washington’s Department of Transportation to make Jewett Boulevard more accessible and safe.
The Complete Streets State Route 141 Paving Project area, designed and funded Washington’s Department of Transportation to make Jewett Boulevard more accessible and safe.
WHITE SALMON — With Councilor Jason Hartmann absent and others online, White Salmon’s City Council convened on Sept. 18 to hear an update from Washington’s Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on efforts to improve Jewett Boulevard and approved another leak forgiveness application, this time for Mt. Adams Little League.
Initiated in 2018 and paused twice since, the Complete Streets State Route 141 Paving Project seeks to enhance road accessibility and safety for all users, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, from Bingen just past downtown White Salmon. With public and stakeholder meetings in the books, WSDOT and Dylan Bass, principal multimodal planner for the region, are currently refining alternatives, but the construction date is uncertain.
As Bass explained, the estimated $6 million project is funded through WSDOT’s Roadway Preservation Program, which has a relatively constrained budget. “This project was tentatively scheduled to go to construction in 2026, but looking at where we’re at in terms of preservation funding, we may not be able to hold that date,” said Bass.
Key components of the project may include establishing a protected bike lane or cycle track, more frequent crossings, ensuring all curb ramps are usable for those with mobility devices and building at least one connected sidewalk, all while balancing parking needs. Depending on funding, however, some of those elements might not get incorporated. “We realistically could end up with just a resurfacing project with deferment on the other complete streets pieces — worst case scenario,” said Councilor David Lindley.
“We would try to implement the preferred alternatives to the greatest amount feasible,” responded Bass. He clarified that deferment isn’t the goal, but again, it might be necessary as WSDOT continues the design process and determines its capacity. White Salmon and Bingen residents can offer their thoughts on the project at WSDOT’s second open house in January 2025.
As for Mt. Adams Little League, the baseball and softball nonprofit had been unable to locate an irrigation leak at their Center St. field for the past two years. Even though city council doesn’t normally grant leak forgiveness to irrigation accounts, they made an exception since it’s a community-funded organization, but there was some hesitancy based on prior applications.
“The first thing I think of is the two previous people that we heard and their situations, and kind of knowing where to draw the line within each of these is, in fact, impossible,” said Councilor Jim Ransier. In a 4-0 vote, city council reimbursed $6,439 to Mt. Adams Little League for their lost water and a billing mishap. According to Clerk Treasurer Stephanie Porter, city staff is setting up a new leak forgiveness grievance policy.
The council also heard from Cristian Oliveras, co-director of civic management at Washington Gorge Action Programs, on the 2024 Civics Academy, designed to reduce barriers between the local government and community members through free education. Oliveras requested the council’s help with encouraging more residents to attend.
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