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Council unanimously accepts $5.25 million in TIB grants for North Bend Way and South Fork Avenue projects
Summary
North Bend council approved two Washington State Transportation Improvement Board grants: $1,002,519 for North Bend Way Complete Streets Phase 1 and $4,244,612 for the South Fork Avenue extension and Starfish roundabout, with city matches funded from transportation impact fees and the Transportation Benefit District.
The council voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to accept two competitive grants from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) to fund major road and pedestrian projects.
The first resolution, AB25-013, accepts $1,002,519 in TIB funds for the North Bend Way Complete Streets Phase 1 project. Public Works staff member Mark Rigos told the council that the grant will fund design and construction elements such as a protected pedestrian and bicycle walkway, landscaping, a gateway feature and a reduction from four travel lanes to two for traffic calming. Rigos said the city expects to contribute about $220,000 as the local match, split between transportation impact fees and the Transportation Benefit District (TBD), and projected design work in 2025–26 with possible construction in 2027.
Councilmember Heather Cohen moved approval of AB25-013; Alan Gothel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The council also approved AB25-014, accepting $4,244,612 in TIB funds for the long‑planned South Fork Avenue extension and the so‑called Starfish Roundabout. Rigos described the project as nearly a half‑mile of new roadway terminating in a five‑leg roundabout and said the city is roughly 50% through engineering design, including property appraisals for right‑of‑way acquisition. The total grant package for that project is $4,244,612, and the required local match is $2,800,000, to be split between transportation impact fees and the TBD, Rigos said.
Councilmember Colin (Colin) moved approval of AB25-014 and the motion was seconded; council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
Why it matters: Together the grants bring more than $5.2 million in outside transportation funding to North Bend, leveraging the city’s locally held transportation impact fee and TBD revenues to advance multimodal improvements and traffic relief projects that have been planned for years.
Project and funding details: - North Bend Way Complete Streets Phase 1: $1,002,519 grant; local match approximately $220,000 (roughly $110,000 from transportation impact fees and $110,000 from TBD), design in 2025–26 and possible construction in 2027. - South Fork Avenue extension and Starfish Roundabout: $4,244,612 grant; local match approximately $2,800,000 to be split between transportation impact fees and the TBD; about 50% of engineering design complete and property appraisals under way.
Council commentary praised staff for leveraging grant funds. “This is a return on investment of almost $5 for every $1,” one council member said during discussion, pointing to the grant-to-match ratio. Both resolutions passed on voice votes with all council members present voting aye.
Votes at a glance: - AB25-013 (North Bend Way Complete Streets Phase 1): mover — Councilmember Heather Cohen; seconder — Alan Gothel; outcome — approved unanimously. - AB25-014 (South Fork Avenue extension and Starfish Roundabout): mover — Councilmember Colin; seconder — Alan Gothel; outcome — approved unanimously.
Ending: Staff said they will coordinate with regional partners, including the Tollgate Farm Park operator, and continue design, property-appraisal and outreach work as projects move toward construction.
