Public Works staff presented Pasco’s draft 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at the May 19 council meeting and opened a public hearing on the document required by state law.

The staff presentation described the TIP as a six‑year program that lists project names, scopes, estimated costs and schedules and must include bicycle and pedestrian facilities and be consistent with the comprehensive plan. Staff said the draft TIP contains 44 projects, three programs and five studies and that the city had completed public outreach to incorporate feedback.

New items added to the draft include: Road 68 pavement preservation (project 16); Fourth Avenue pavement preservation from I‑182 to the county line (project 30); a new pedestrian crossing at the Road 44 FCID Canal (project 43); Core Street Safety Improvements Phase 2 between Road 68 and Road 96 (project 44); and a Route 608/Taylor Flats intersection study (project 51).

Public comment focused on safety and traffic calming. Dallas Green, a West Pasco resident, urged a roundabout at Road 100 and West Court, saying a roundabout “will allow flow, but also slow traffic.” He also asked for radar feedback signs and striping along the West Court trail. Another speaker, who lives near Court Street, described near‑misses with cars in the bike lane and urged safety upgrades.

Council members asked how the TIP schedule responds if outside funds do not arrive. Staff said the program’s schedule is built on reasonable expectations of funding sources: city arterial and street funds, transportation impact fees and grant applications. If anticipated funds are not secured, staff said projects are reprioritized and safety projects typically receive top priority. Staff also described an ongoing Transportation System Master Plan that will inform whether future widening projects are needed.

Next steps: staff said the council can request edits based on hearing comments; tentative adoption is scheduled for the June 16 meeting with a July 1 statutory deadline to finalize the TIP.