Acting city engineer outlines Yakima bike‑ped projects, including North First corridor and Fortieth‑Fruitvale roundabout

Bill (acting city engineer and community development director) told the Yakima Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee on Feb. 12 that staff completed four transportation projects in 2024 and has one major construction project underway, and he previewed the bicycle‑pedestrian elements he will present to City Council next week.

The projects Bill listed as complete were: Kawichi Canyon Trail (about a mile of new pathway), Russell Lane (about 1,600 feet of new sidewalk), a Nob Hill mill‑and‑fill project that added ADA ramps from Fourth to Fifteenth streets, and a sidewalk and trip‑hazard remediation on Second Street in front of the Bank of America building. He said construction on the North First corridor is ongoing; that project covers roughly three‑quarters of a mile and will add bike lanes in both directions, new sidewalk, ADA ramps, pedestrian lighting and crossings. Bill said staff currently expect North First to be finished in June 2025.

Bill described several 2025 starts and near‑term projects that include bike and pedestrian elements: the Nob Hill/Fair Avenue signal and turn lanes (with ADA ramps), continuation of the Fruitvale/River Road/30th roundabout and River Road sidewalk linkages, a Division and Third Avenue signal (awaiting procurement of the signal equipment), a 70 Second/Washington project (final stages of obligation), and safety improvements at Fifth & D (bulb‑outs and shorter crossings). He said some promised projects are driven by external funding sources and federal/state approvals.

On the Fortieth Avenue and Fruitvale Boulevard roundabout — the design name Bill uses internally is “Fred Meyer active transportation pathway” — he said the work will include the roundabout and a path that connects Powerhouse Road, the Powerhouse Flats apartments, Fred Meyer and the roundabout, and that WSDOT previously suggested the roundabout as an appropriate solution. He said protected RRFBs (rectangular rapid flashing beacons) are currently planned for the Fruitvale and Fortieth crossings.

Bill said his office secured additional bike‑ped funding for several projects and is discussing options for an $800,000 allocation from the Washington state transportation supplemental budget that currently sits on a completed project. “I do know that it's bike‑ped money,” he said, and that he will consult the city manager and state legislators before reallocating it. He also reported roughly $500,000 in additional bike‑ped funds for work near 70 Second and Washington, and said the city applied for or received several other grants that will influence scope and timing.

On green‑painted bicycle markings, Bill said the pavement markings installed at three locations on the Powerhouse pathway are thermoplastic and intended to be durable; committee members described visible early wear at some sites and discussed durability versus cost. Bill said the city will continue to seek funding (including from Yakima Valley Conference of Governments) to extend green markings but will weigh longevity and appropriate placement.

Bill said Sixth Avenue reconstruction remains in the public‑involvement phase. He told the committee another public open house will occur and that he will present public‑involvement results to council in April; he also cautioned the full corridor buildout may be phased because estimated costs exceed funds currently allocated by council.

Why it matters: Bill framed the update as the bike‑ped portion of the larger Capital Improvement Program he will brief to council. Committee members said they welcome seeing bicycle connections prioritized within larger street projects, and asked staff to pursue additional low‑cost or “low‑hanging fruit” bicycle connections where feasible.

What’s next: Bill asked the committee to review the CIP/TIP materials to inform future committee comment; he said he will present the full capital program to council on Feb. 18.