Lakewood planning commission reviews 2026–31 six‑year transportation improvement plan and added projects

Troy Pokczewinski, capital project division manager for the City of Lakewood, presented the draft 2026–2031 Six‑Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) and told the Planning Commission the document is used both for planning and to pursue grants.

The plan includes roughly 40 roadway projects, two new roadway additions at the request of council, and several recurring maintenance and safety programs. Pokczewinski said the added projects are not financed and the city will be seeking grant funding for them.

Why it matters: The TIP guides which projects Lakewood pursues for state and federal grant funding and sets priorities that can influence actual construction timelines and right‑of‑way purchases.

Pokczewinski said the two new roadway projects are: a roughly 600‑foot sidewalk segment on the west side of Gravelly Lake Drive (between Pacific Highway and Nyanza) estimated at about $750,000, of which about $650,000 is for property acquisition; and Nyanza Park Drive from Nyanza Road to Clover Creek Drive, estimated at about $2.25 million to $2.5 million for curb, gutter and sidewalk on both sides or a reduced alternative to avoid tree impacts. He also described routine program items, including seven traffic‑signal projects, pavement condition inspections budgeted at $50,000 (on a four‑year cycle), bridge inspections (every other year) and annual patching and chip‑seal work.

Commissioners asked whether the newly listed projects are financed. Commissioner Herr asked, “The added projects, are these already approved and just waiting for grant funding to come along or are these already financed and just pending starts?” Pokczewinski replied, “None of these are financed at all, and they're brand new to...this is where they would look to see what we're trying to get grant approvals for.”

On federal grants, Commissioner Strata asked whether federal programs such as RAISE (now BUILD) and the long‑standing surface transportation authorization could be cut by the current administration. Pokczewinski said the FAST Act‑style funding (he referred to the “FAST Act” / federal surface transportation programs) has persisted through administrations and “does not appear to be going away,” but added that discretionary programs like RAISE/BUILD have been subject to fluctuation; he noted Lakewood recently secured a RAISE grant for a downtown transportation feasibility study.

Commissioner Talbot asked whether the city will apply to the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) / FHWA call for projects; Pokczewinski said Lakewood participates in the countywide competition and intends to submit projects in the 2026 countywide call, particularly an overlay project on 90th Street (from South Tacoma Way toward the I‑5 eastern city limit) or an alternate overlay, depending on which scores best under future criteria.

On neighborhood traffic safety, Pokczewinski said the city budgets roughly $27,000–$30,000 per year for speed bumps, speed studies and related treatments. He also confirmed a long‑standing guardrail repair on Clover Creek remains on the TIP and that Interlochen Bridge received major emergency repairs last year; additional Interlochen work is the subject of a council‑directed study this summer.

Commissioners noted the timing and trickle‑down nature of state and federal fuel‑tax or TIB (Transportation Improvement Board) funding; Pokczewinski said any increase would be multiple years away before Lakewood would likely see local shares.

The commission did not take a vote on the TIP at this meeting; staff sought feedback and answered questions. Pokczewinski asked commissioners for any further questions and noted the TIP is used primarily to pursue grant opportunities rather than representing finalized, financed projects.

Looking ahead, staff said they will refine project descriptions (including correcting a numbering label on one overlay item) and pursue grant opportunities through countywide and regional calls in 2026.