Richland planning commission recommends 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program to city council

The Richland Planning Commission on May 28 voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program, following a presentation by Carlo D'Alessandro, Richland's public works director.

The recommendation, made by motion and approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded, sends the six-year list of prioritized transportation projects to the Ben Franklin Council of Governments and, ultimately, the Washington State Department of Transportation for inclusion in regional and statewide programming.

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) catalogs project descriptions, planned start years and phases (preliminary engineering, right-of-way and construction) and funding status for roughly 40 projects the city has prioritized. D'Alessandro told commissioners staff’s recommendation was “to approve the TIP as presented.”

Why it matters: the TIP is the document cities submit to the MPO so projects can be considered for state and federal funds and so the city can obligate grant awards or state allocations during the six-year window.

What the TIP includes and funding status - Several large projects have partial or secured funding: the downtown connectivity improvements (the “couplet”) carries about $18 million in federal funds pending a contract with the Federal…