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City aims to make three busy crosswalks safer

City must contribute matching money

The City of Shelton is moving forward on two street projects, the overlaying of new pavement on Brockdale Road and the addition of flashing beacon lights and other safety improvements at three busy intersections.

At its Nov. 2 meeting, the council voted unanimously to move the two projects to its action agenda at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Since both projects are receiving government funds, the city is required to sign an Olympic Region Programs Project Administration Agreement on both.

No one spoke during the public hearings on the ordinances at the Nov. 2 meeting.

In July, the city received a $770,103 state grant for pedestrian improvements on the Shelton Springs Road crossing from Shelton High School to the Huff'n'Puff Trail; at Seventh and Franklin streets, frequented by Evergreen Elementary School and CHOICE High School students; and at West Railroad Avenue and North Ninth Street, connecting students and parents to Evergreen Elementary.

City Engineer Ken Gill said Robert Herron, the Shelton School District's director of facilities and maintenance, was instrumental in helping secure the "Safe Routes to School" grants from the state Department of Transportation. would receive curb extensions on both sides of all four corners of the intersection, pedestrian crosswalk markings in all legs of the intersection, rectangular rapid flashing beacons across Seventh Street on the north side of the intersection, Americans with Disabilities Association (ADAS)-compliant curb ramp retrofits, and audible pedestrian signals

The city is required to add 13.5% in matching funds. The projects are expected to be completed in August 2022.

The intersection of Franklin and Seventh streets.

The intersection of West Railroad Avenue and North Ninth Street would receive the same things, except the curb extensions would be on both sides of the two north corners.

The existing pedestrian crossing on Shelton Springs Road just north of Shelton High School's south driveway would receive a median refuge island, pedestrian crosswalk markings, ADA curb ramp retrofits, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, and audible pedestrian signals.

The package also includes speed feedback signs on Shelton Springs Road between Tarragon Avenue and Wallace Kneeland Boulevard. North Ninth Street between Franklin Street and the alley to the south would receive a sidewalk at least six feet wide, with curb and gutter; curb extension on both sides of the southeast corner of Franklin Street and the North Ninth Street intersection; and ADA curb ramp retrofits.

In April, Mason County notified the city it qualified for $278,000 in federal funding for a hot mix asphalt overlay of Brockdale Road from Wallace Kneeland Boulevard to Batstone Cutoff Road.

The state DOT asked the city council to fill out a project agreement statement, 14 check-in points with funding partners "to see if we're doing what we're required to do to keep our funding," Gill said.

The city is required to contribute 13.5% in matching funds.

 

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