City receives grant to install sidewalks near Garrison Middle School

City receives grant to install sidewalks near Garrison Middle School

The City of Walla Walla received $896,967 in grant funds for local street projects. The City of Walla Walla submitted three grant applications this fall to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) and all three requests were successful in receiving funding awards. The projects receiving grants consist of:

1) The Rose Street pavement rehabilitation project – phase 1. This project received $200,000 from TIB’s pavement preservation grant program. This grant will supplement local funding for the inaugural project funded by the Transportation Benefit District (voter approved 0.2% sales tax increase). Construction is expected to begin in July 2013.

2) The Orchard Street Sidewalk Improvements project. This project received $161,760 from TIB’s sidewalk grant program adding to the $269,330 in Transportation Enhancement grant funding previously secured for this multi-partner project (Walla Walla County, Walla Walla School District, Valley Transit, Walla Walla County Fair Board, City of College Place, City of Walla Walla). This project will provide safety enhancements and add sidewalks to both sides of Orchard Street between 9th Avenue and Chase Avenue. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2013.

3) The Wilbur Avenue Street, Sidewalk and Utility Improvements project. This project received $535,207 from TIB’s Urban Arterial Program. This project will reconstruct Wilbur Avenue from Whitman Street to Pleasant Street including new curbs, sidewalks, street lights and utilities. Other funding sources for this project include the 0.2% voter approved sales tax from the city’s Transportation Benefit District and Infrastructure Repair and Replacement program (IRRP) funding (IRRP is funded through the city’s water, sewer and stormwater utility rates). Construction is slated to begin spring 2014.

Questions about the grant awards may be directed to the Engineering Division at 527-4537.