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Council approves $64,810 design modification for South Commercial Avenue safety upgrades
Summary
The Anacortes City Council approved a $64,810 contract modification to add traffic bulbouts, bike lanes, 120 ADA ramps and signal push‑button upgrades to the South Commercial Avenue project to strengthen safety and improve the application's competitiveness for federal grants.
The Anacortes City Council voted to approve a $64,810 design modification to the South Commercial Avenue enhancement project, adding traffic bulbouts at three signalized intersections, approximately 120 new ADA ramps, upgraded push buttons at signals, stormwater adjustments and an updated camera system.
City project manager Mr. Lee said the bulbouts were identified in the city's safety action plan and that including them will make the project more competitive for grants such as the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. "Including bumpouts into the design was identified in our safety action plan as a potential area in need of improvement," Lee said.
Council members debated the additional cost and the project’s funding path. Council member Fantini cautioned about incremental design changes and asked whether the city has specific grants lined up; staff responded that the modification will position the project to be more competitive for grant funding and that the design can be used to build the project in phases if partial funding is found.
Council member Molton asked how bulbouts interact with bike lanes; Lee said the design will extend bulbouts only to the bike lane so bicycle traffic will not be forced into vehicle lanes. Several council members supported narrowing travel lanes for traffic calming and emphasized the importance of keeping north‑south bike lanes continuous through intersections.
The modification increases the billed design work and staff said the plans will remain valid for future funding cycles. Staff also told council they are exploring grant opportunities rather than using city capital funds immediately and that shrink‑to‑fit phasing is feasible: if partial funds are available the city may construct sections rather than the entire corridor at once.
Next steps: staff will finalize the added design elements, pursue grants tied to the safety action plan, and keep the council informed about grant applications and a construction timeline.
