Auburn updates capital project list; neighborhood traffic safety program expands with speed cushions and I Street focus

Auburn public‑works staff told the council on July 28 that the city has 40 active capital projects totaling about $135,800,000 and gave a construction progress update for major projects, including downtown infrastructure and a planned theater. Staff also presented the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program, describing completed speed‑control measures, current work and a 2026 focus on I Street Northeast. The capital projects overview listed projects in design and construction, and noted several near‑term construction milestones. Senior project engineer Matt Larson said underground utilities for the downtown infrastructure improvements are complete, curbing has been poured and paving was scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 11 with a planned roadway opening on Aug. 29; staff cautioned that temporary asphalt surfaces will remain in some plaza and sidewalk areas until long‑lead items (lamp poles, signal equipment) arrive. Larson reviewed other projects under construction, including a public‑works maintenance facility expansion (anticipated delivery of prefabricated building materials in September and project completion in spring 2026), C Street preservation with nighttime water main work, and Auburn South widening where utility relocations and retaining‑wall work are underway. Transportation staff then presented the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (previously called traffic calming) and described a more holistic safety approach that goes beyond speed cushions to address pedestrian and cyclist safety. Veronica Bean said the program is moving from site‑by‑site fixes to area‑wide treatments to avoid shifting speeding to adjacent streets. The city has installed speed cushions and new sidewalk near Dixcoby Elementary and constructed neighborhood traffic circles and raised crosswalks in earlier focus areas. For 2025 the program installs speed cushions in three focused neighborhoods; for 2026 staff proposed a corridor‑scale project on I Street Northeast (Harvey to 270th/Seventh Street) that would include data collection, pre‑design outreach, temporary measures, and final design and construction aiming to align with the I Line rapid‑ride schedule. Potential countermeasures discussed included temporary traffic circles, chicanes, bulbouts, medians with enhanced crosswalks and near‑term asphalt sidewalks as interim improvements. Council members asked about coordination with upcoming rapid‑ride and fire‑station projects, streetlight relocations for widening projects, and when the downtown plaza and theater edge will be finished. Staff said theater design is on schedule to complete design by the end of the year and proceed to construction in early 2026; downtown plaza and Main Street paving will progress but some temporary surfaces will remain until signal poles and other long‑lead items are installed. No council vote was needed; staff will proceed with the neighborhood installations and the I Street evaluation and return with additional public outreach and design materials.