Planning Commission recommends 6-year Transportation Improvement Plan to city council

The Lacey Planning Commission on June 25 voted to recommend the city’s six‑year Transportation Improvement Plan to the City Council following a presentation by city staff and brief commissioner questions.

The TIP is the state‑ and federally required list of regionally significant projects the city expects to start over the next six years; its main purpose is to track and prioritize grant applications and funding. Martin Hoppe, a city staff member who presented the plan, told commissioners the list must be consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and the region’s mitigation requirements.

Hoppe highlighted several changes to this year’s draft TIP. He said the College Street Corridor Phase 3 cost in the packet was wrong and should read $15,600,000 rather than $13,000,000. He said Rainier Road (from Yelm Highway to 66) was removed from the list because it was “fully funded through TIB” and that the city added roundabout projects at Britton Parkway intersections (including Central/Callison and Western Boulevard) and at Marvin and Stillak avenues. He also said the city submitted two grant applications this year seeking construction funds and that federally funded grants often obligate specific phases rather than whole projects.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about the grant numbering scheme and funding status. Spencer asked whether the first two digits in the project number denote the year the grant was applied for; Hoppe replied that those digits mark the year the project was placed on the TIP. Hoppe said only one project listed had been funded so far (a planning/PE grant for Willamette and Campus), and that projects are removed from the TIP when a phase is obligated.

Commissioners also raised how mitigation funding would work for roundabouts tied to development by regional tribes. Hoppe said the tribal project would not follow the city’s usual permit‑based mitigation collection method because the tribe is seeking to place land in tribal trust; the city expects a developer’s agreement that specifies a proportionate share and payment timing for required traffic mitigation.

After questions, Commissioner Jennifer moved and Commissioner Robert seconded a motion recommending the 6‑year TIP to the City Council; the commission approved the recommendation by voice vote. The commission record in the transcript does not list a roll‑call vote or a full tally of commissioners’ votes.

The TIP will move next to the City Council for review and final approval; grant awards and federal obligations will determine the timing of individual project phases.