Anacortes council adopts 2027–2032 transportation plan after public hearing, members press for Kansas Avenue safety review

Anacortes adopted its six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2027–2032 on June 8, a planning document required by state law that lists about 20 capital projects and three annual programs and is intended to improve the city’s eligibility for grant funding.

The TIP presentation by Public Works Director Logan Lee said the program includes the city’s long‑standing $1.8 million annual pavement maintenance program, a proposed consolidation of sidewalk and ADA trip‑hazard programs for flexibility, and a new proposed $200,000 annual downtown commercial‑corridor program beginning in 2028 to address aging sidewalks, trip hazards and failing street trees.

Why it matters: the TIP frames what projects the city will pursue for grants and helps prioritize capital work over the next several years. Several council members and residents used the public hearing to press staff for clearer timelines and interim fixes for neighborhood safety before larger projects come online.

Council members asked detailed questions about individual projects, including a $1 million beautification line for a main avenue, and a Sixth Street corridor project that would rechannelize the roadway and widen sidewalks. Lee said the beautification work would replace difficult‑to‑maintain grass medians with lower‑maintenance materials and that the Sixth Street changes aim for a consistent cross‑section and safer pedestrian space.

Ward 3 members and residents raised concerns about the Kansas Avenue project, a long‑deferred major collector improvement. Councilmember Fantini said neighbors worry the initial phases could shift traffic onto smaller residential streets and asked that staff evaluate safety impacts and mitigation before opening the corridor. "Before we start construction to open up that major collector road ... we do the evaluation first prior to opening up Kansas," Fantini said during debate.

Lee described a staged approach: early design work would address immediate intersections and safety concerns while staff pursue federal reclassification and grant funding to finance further corridor improvements. He said the city is exploring ways to reclassify the road to improve grant eligibility and that the full corridor work may be pursued in later grant‑funded phases.

Public testimony included questions about the 12th and K intersection (planning funding is in place for design only) and pleas from West Third Street residents for interim traffic‑calming measures. Dave Duff urged the council to consider short‑term, low‑cost safety improvements for feeder streets while Kansas Avenue remains years from construction.

The council voted to adopt Resolution 3221, approving the TIP update, with staff noting the council could revisit priorities as grant opportunities or the capital facilities plan evolve. Lee said the city will publish more detailed project pages and that additional review occurs later this year during the capital facilities plan update.

What’s next: the TIP must be filed with the state by July 1; council and staff will continue design work on funded planning items (such as 12th & K) and will pursue grants for larger construction phases. Residents concerned about near‑term safety can ask staff about interim traffic‑calming options during the capital facilities plan process or through specific TIP amendments.