City presents updated six‑year transportation improvement plan; adds Day Island Spit Road project, removes four nearing completion

Public Works Director Jack Eklund brought the City of University Place’s annual six‑year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) update to the council for study on Aug. 4, describing changes to project scope, schedules and funding and answering council questions about specific construction impacts.

The TIP is required by state law and governs the city’s capital planning and eligibility for transportation grants; changes in the plan affect which projects the city can pursue with outside funding.

Eklund told the council the update adds one new project: Day Island Spit Road, a roadway segment that “is a roadway in need of, probably something stronger than maintenance,” he said, citing repeated king‑tide and wear issues and the need for a combination of raising and protective measures. He said the city also is removing four projects from the active list because they will be completed by year‑end: 30th Street phase 1 and phase 2, 60th Avenue phase 2 and the Grandview/30th roundabout. In addition, Eklund said the city updated funding statuses after receiving grants for Chambers Creek Road roundabout, 60th Avenue phase 3 and Fortieth Street phase 3.

Council members asked a series of project‑specific questions. Council member Fleming asked how raising the Day Island road would affect short driveways; Eklund said any raise would likely be small (about a foot maximum) because many driveways are short, and mitigation would likely combine modest raising with protection measures. Council member Rossi asked whether the temporary removal of a bike lane on 60th Avenue reflected the ultimate configuration; Eklund explained the recent sewer overlay required restriping to the eventual final configuration and that the full bike lane would be restored when the phase‑1 widening is built next year.

Eklund also confirmed the large temporary sewer bypass on Bridgeport Way is part of a county sewer repair and that the temporary bypass that blocks the sidewalk could be in place for roughly a year overall; he said contractors were about four months into the work and that the city expected roughly eight more months of construction unless complications arose. Council members asked staff to ensure barricades and closures are maintained so pedestrians are not routed into unsafe crossings.

Eklund reminded the council that adoption of the TIP does not authorize spending; each project still requires separate budget and Council approval, but listing a project on the TIP is often required to make it eligible for state and federal grants. He offered to return with design details for the Fortieth/Bridgeport intersection and to coordinate with Pierce County and the Chambers Creek Foundation on planned Chamber Creek bridge/streamwork.

This item was on the study session agenda for review and discussion; no council action was taken.

Clarifying details from the study session: the TIP addition is Day Island Spit Road for reconstruction and protection due to tidal impacts; projects removed because they are expected complete this year are 30th Street phases 1 and 2, 60th Avenue phase 2, and Grandview/30th roundabout; Chambers Creek Road roundabout, 60th Avenue phase 3 and Fortieth Street phase 3 received additional grant funding; a county sewer‑repair bypass on Bridgeport Way is expected to last about a year (approximately four months completed at the time of the meeting).

Next steps: staff will return with more detailed design materials on specific intersections and will coordinate with county partners on Chambers Creek bridge work and the Bridgeport bypass schedule and pedestrian controls.