Deputy City Manager Amy Buckler presented a proposed resolution on May 27 that defines anticipated uses for $10,200,000 allocated in the state transportation budget for North Lewis County Industrial Access projects.

Buckler said the funds — received by Lewis County — will be used for a combination of near-term improvements and planning, and the draft resolution identified priorities including construction of North Schubert Road improvements (starting this summer), adaptive signal-system upgrades, turn-lane improvements, ADA compliance work along Harrison Avenue to improve traffic flow, right-of-way acquisition for future Harrison Avenue corridor improvements and the Westside connector, and contingency for long-term planning.

Buckler said Lewis County is the formal recipient of the appropriation and that the county had adopted a matching resolution on May 20. The Centralia council voted to adopt guiding parameters and authorize staff to work with Lewis County and partners; the motion to approve resolution 2825 passed 7–0.

The council recorded no amendments at the meeting. Councilors stressed the importance of the project to improve traffic flow, safety and industrial access in the North Harrison corridor and thanked state legislators and county partners for securing funding.