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Island County commissioners agree to $200,000 matching commitment for SR-20 corridor study
Summary
The Island County Board of Commissioners agreed to commit a 10% local match (about $200,000) if a roughly $2 million federal BUILD planning grant is awarded for a 4-mile safety and corridor study of State Route 20 from Libby Road to Waterloo Road.
Island County commissioners on Feb. 17 agreed in principle to commit a 10% local match, about $200,000, to strengthen an application for a federal BUILD planning grant to study roughly 4 miles of State Route 20 from Libby Road north to Waterloo Road.
The presiding commissioner described the proposed 2026 BUILD-funded effort as a partnership with the city of Oak Harbor, the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the Washington State Department of Transportation. "The proposed Build funded effort will advance a unified SR-20 corridor improvement program focused on safety, mobility, environmental stewardship, and long term infrastructure resilience," the presiding commissioner said.
County staff estimated the survey and study work at about $2,000,000. Staff also relayed that federal reviewers have "strongly suggested" applicants show some local funding commitment to be more competitive; a 10% match would equal approximately $200,000, according to the presentation.
Ed, a county staff member, said elements of the corridor are in the county's comprehensive safety action plan but the full corridor project is not currently listed on the county IRTPO project list or the county TIP because SR-20 is a state highway. "That is not on that list," Ed said when asked whether the project appears on the IRTPO list.
Commissioner Johnson said the county can reprioritize local funds if needed and supported moving forward. "I would say we move forward with the commitment of 10%," Commissioner Johnson said.
Commissioners discussed possible match sources, including IRTPO reprioritization and rural county economic development funds, and noted a potential state reimbursement of motor vehicle tax allocations that could provide additional county revenue over time (an amount discussed in the meeting was approximately $1,700,000, to be distributed over multiple years if approved by the state). No formal budget appropriation was made at the Feb. 17 session; staff were asked to notify partners that Island County would commit the local match if the BUILD award is received.
The board approved routine agenda and consent items earlier in the meeting and then recessed to an executive session to discuss the qualifications of an applicant for public employment, per state law.
