Kent city officials are considering using $1 million from the new business and occupation (B&O) tax to help pay for the $7 million upgrade and widening of Southeast 256th Street on the East Hill.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Crews will upgrade an old, sub-standard section of Southeast 256th Street from the “Y” intersection at Kent-Kangley Road to 116th Avenue Southeast.\u00a0 The changes will improve traffic flow, access to businesses and homes and safety for vehicles and pedestrians by adding a center turn lane to form a three-lane road; adding bicycle lanes and sidewalks; installing street lights; and improving traffic efficiency by rebuilding intersections and re-timing traffic signals, according to city staff reports.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
City officials also are forming a Local Improvement District (LID) to charge fees to property owners who benefit from the project to raise a total of about $2 million.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The rush is on by city staff to get the project funded because a $2 million grant awarded six years ago to the city from the state Transportation Improvement Board will be taken back and given to another jurisdiction if the city isn’t ready to start construction by July 1.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Why it has taken so long to get off the ground is the $2 million grant awarded for pedestrian safety needs a (funding) match and when the economy went downhill we didn’t find a matching source,” Public Works Director Tim LaPorte said to the City Council’s Public Works Committee on Jan. 14.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
LaPorte said the asphalt overlay component of Southeast 256th Street makes the project eligible for the B&O tax fund. The council approved a new B&O tax last year<\/a> that started Jan. 1 and is expected to raise about $5 million in 2013 to help repair streets.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Councilwoman Dana Ralph, however, questioned whether the B&O tax should be used for the project.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “I believe the project needs to move forward for the safety of children and so we do not lose the grant money,” Ralph said at the meeting. “But my concern is the B&O money that the group of citizens met about did not have this project<\/a> on the list.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Council President Dennis Higgins said he prefers a different funding option for the project than the B&O tax that the council adopted for street repairs rather than new construction.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “The portion for the (asphalt) overlay makes sense but I still would like to find an alternate source,” Higgins said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Councilwoman Elizabeth Albertson said the 256th Street work needs to get going.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “We have not looked at the B&O list yet but if we are going to lose money then this is the No. 1 project to get done,” Albertson said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n