Skagit County approves TIP amendments to add guardrail and ferry projects

Skagit County commissioners approved a revision to the county’s 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on March 3, voting to add three projects that county officials said are funded by federal grants routed through the state.

The TIP amendment adds (1) guardrail along portions of Granstrom Road east of Highway 9 to address steep roadside dropoffs exposed by recent logging; (2) a Guemes Island ferry dock maintenance bundle funded through bridge-program dollars to repair paint, hydraulics and electrical systems on both sides of the route; and (3) about $620,000 in ferry operational funds to cover salaries, benefits and fuel that would otherwise expire if not obligated.

Gavin Kutz, of Transportation Programs and Public Works, told commissioners the county must formally add the projects to the local TIP so the funds can be obligated in the state TIP (STIP) and the county can proceed. "For us to obligate the funding for these projects, we must add them to our TIP," Kutz said. He described roughly a half-million dollars for the Granstrom guardrail, more than $5.7 million for dock maintenance and about $620,000 in operational funding for this year’s ferry expenses.

Commissioners asked how the grants are administered. Kutz said the dock work uses Federal Highway Administration bridge funds administered through the state; the operational assistance is specifically for ferry operations and cannot be repurposed. "It's specific to the operation of the ferry," he said.

Commissioners and staff highlighted that several of the awards require little or no local match. One commissioner thanked grant writer Tory Nelson and Ferry Manager Rachel Rowe for securing the awards. "It's spectacular when we can get grants to cover these things," a commissioner said during the meeting.

The board opened a public hearing on the six-year TIP, took one brief public comment, closed the hearing and moved to approve Revision 1. The motion to approve the amendment was made and seconded, roll call votes were brief on the record and the chair declared the motion passed; staff said a resolution reflecting the board’s action would be prepared for signing.

As next steps, staff will add the approved projects into the STIP process so the county can obligate the awards and begin contracting and maintenance work. The commissioners adjourned that portion of the meeting for other scheduled business.

The county recorded bid proposals and amounts for separate procurement items later in the agenda; those bids were read into the record but are not part of the TIP amendment action.