Lewiston transportation capital fund grows; Main Street project and corridor designs remain priorities

Lewiston City Council members were briefed May 30 on the city’s transportation capital program, where staff said the city has been accumulating dedicated funds and pursuing grant opportunities for major corridor projects including Main Street.

Public Works Director Dustin Johnson described the transportation fund as the “oddball” capital fund because there is no specific user fee for road use. He said the city has been aggressive in seeking grants and that the arterial reconstruction and annual street preservation programs are central to reducing long‑term reconstruction costs.

Main Street and corridors: the Main Street reconstruction project remains on staff’s list despite the recent bond effort that did not pass. Johnson said the city will continue public outreach and explore phasing or design changes to increase public support; staff are surveying residents about preferred elements. He also highlighted the Fane/Preston/Warner corridor study and said Preston is a possible route to relieve congestion in the Tenth and Warner area; councilors expressed interest in bringing corridor designs back for clearer public and council consensus before spending on new designs.

Fund status and priorities: Councilor discussion noted the city has been depositing property tax and other revenues into an arterial/transportation reserve in recent years; staff confirmed those funds remain available and that much of the recent work has focused on preparing for Main Street design and grant packaging. Johnson said some projects are grant‑funded and others would proceed when reserves or bond funding are available.

Ending: Staff asked councilors to identify any additional project priorities and to provide direction on whether to proceed with corridor designs and phasing studies; staff will return with updated schedules and cost estimates as grant and reserve planning progresses.