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Kittitas County adopts 6-year transportation plan and 2026 annual road program, aims to restore chip-seal mileage
Summary
The Board adopted Resolution 2025-195 to approve the 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program and the 2026 Annual Road Program. Public Works said the county cut chip-seal mileage by about 20 miles in 2025 and aims to return to about 70 miles per year (a 7–8 year cycle). The plan prioritizes projects for grant pursuit and funds a new 'Flagger
The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the county’s 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program for 2026–2031 and the 2026 Annual Road Program by approving Resolution 2025-195. The board heard a presentation from Josh Fredrickson of Public Works, there were no oral public comments in the auditorium, and the measure passed following brief board remarks.
Fredrickson said Public Works updated the six-year plan this cycle to reflect a realistic view of the funding the county expects to have and to identify a prioritized list of projects the county would pursue if grant funding becomes available. He said staff sought public input through press releases and website notices and received a small number of comments, including two relating to fire access in Alta (listed in the packet as 'Albert County' comments) that did not change the proposal presented.
For the 2026 annual program, Fredrickson described the county’s single-year construction plan and a maintenance plan that includes the chip-seal program. He said the 2025 chip-seal program was reduced by about 20 miles (roughly a 30% reduction) and that the county’s target is about 70 miles per year to maintain a roughly 7–8 year chip-seal cycle. The annual program also lists equipment purchases and major repairs; staff described four or five equipment replacements and one new purchase called a 'Flagger Assist' device, intended for stationary operations (ditch cleaning, tree trimming) to keep workers out of traffic.
Fredrickson said major capital road projects remain highly grant-dependent; the county maintains a prioritized list of candidate projects to submit when funding opportunities arise. With no members of the public present to speak, a board member moved to adopt Resolution 2025-195 and the board voted to approve the plan.
The board’s approval authorizes the program as presented; staff indicated they will continue to pursue grants and implement the 2026 maintenance and equipment plan.
