WSDOT — In preparation for the opening of the SR 509 Expressway in Sea-Tac this year and the SR 167 Expressway in Fife in 2026, the Washington State Transportation Commission is beginning its toll setting process. The expressways are new stretches of roadway that don’t currently exist today. Details are below, and questions should be directed…
Category: State
Washington
Washington tax on self storage? Write your legislators
[Editor: I received this note from my storage facility. This is provided as information you can choose to act on or not. But you should be aware. It apparears the bill that is actually moving is SB5711. It has a hearing on March 13. 4 p.m. You can comment or testify at this link.] Subject:…
Dead fish conundrum at Spanaway Lake
By Marianne Lincoln Small fish, four to eight inches in length are rolling around, disoriented and flopping over on their backs and dying in Spanaway Lake. Reports have been coming in for a month in online social media. At the recent Chambers Clover Watershed Council meeting, a group of experienced water watchers came together to…
Public comment period on SEPA filings on housing rulemaking – Dept. of Commerce
Public comment period opens, SEPA filings on housing rulemaking The Department of Commerce is seeking public input on housing rulemaking documents required by the State Environmental Policy Act. This step is part of the ongoing process to update housing-related sections of the Washington Administrative Code, specifically WAC 365-196 and WAC 365-199. Documents are available for public comment until 5…
Legislative smiles and assistance
By Marianne Lincoln It was a cold, February, Tuesday afternoon. Julie, Michelle and I piled into the car and drove to Olympia. We arrived a few minutes early and had a chance to check out the Capitol Gift Shop and peek into the Rotunda before heading to Room No. 4 in the Cherberg Building. There,…
Plan ahead for February auto license renewals
WADOL – Washington vehicle and boat owners needing to update their license plate tabs in February are encouraged to do so online this week, or in person by Feb. 13. Washington’s Department of Licensing will be performing an upgrade to its entire vehicle and boat licensing system, which will make the system unavailable online Feb….
Contractors: Join the Washington State Department of Commerce webinar about the Qualified Contractor Network
Are you a contractor interested in residential projects? The Department of Commerce’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebate Programs have $165 million to help homeowners improve their homes with weatherization and high-efficiency appliances — and are seeking skilled contractors to make it happen. Join a webinar on January 14, 2025,12:30-1:30 p.m., to learn how the program…
BRT, Cross Base, and other fictitious creatures
EDITORIAL OPINION Around 1995, folks living on 174th Street wanted some traffic control measures added to their street due to high traffic and safety issues. The County Council promised to put $2 million into the issues. That $2 million was reallocated to a project in Gig Harbor a couple weeks later. Spanaway and Frederickson had…
Outstanding Service to Veterans Award Recipients Recognized for Their Dedication and Commitment
Olympia, WA – The Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards, which recognize individuals who have demonstrated remarkable dedication to veterans and their families. The recipients will be honored at the Auburn Veterans Day Parade luncheon, where they will be recognized for…
Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Washington Department of Commerce Sign Milestone Agreement Establishing Government-to-Government Relations
LONGVIEW, Wash. — Yesterday Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairman William Iyall and Washington State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing government-to-government relations between the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the department in a ceremony at Cowlitz Transportation building in Longview. The agreement seeks to remove administrative barriers, improve communications,…
328th and SR7 lane closures Aug 23
SR 7 in Pierce County to see daytime single-lane closure Aug. 23 EATONVILLE – Travelers using State Route 7 near 328th Street East will want to take note of upcoming work that will include single-lane closures. From 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 23, crews will be working on northbound SR 7. Travelers will…
Public invited to open house in Fife for update on SR 167 Completion Project in Pierce County
Washington State Department of Transportation– NEWS Puget Sound Gateway Program – 999 Third Ave., Suite 2300 – Seattle, WA 98104 – 206-770-3500May 28, 2024 Open house on June 4 offers opportunity to see project plans, review construction progress and speak with staff FIFE – Community members are invited to attend an in-person open house on…
After your polar plunge, try a first day hike
Washington State Parks have a new tradition, First Day Hikes. Besides being a great way to get some exercise, the parks provide staff led a self-guided tours with some history of the park. As well as the history, you can get a pin, showing you participated. Go to the link and look for a park…
Infrastructure money to complete SR167 – Puget Sound Gateway Program
By Marianne Lincoln Resolution 2023-75 is in front of the Pierce County Council today, June 13, 2023. It is the Puget Sound Gateway Progam, also known as the completion of SR167 in the Puyallup Valley. Here is a project map from the WSDOT site: The County will contribute $2,000,000 from the County Road Fund, beginning…
Orange lane striping on I-5
WSDOT, FIFE – For the first time in Washington, orange contrast lane striping will be added to white lane lines in an active work zone to test whether the brightly colored paint helps improve work zone awareness and safety. The Washington State Department of Transportation will test the new safety strategy in a work zone…
New legislation that impacts Pierce County
The 2023 regular session for the State Legislature ended Sunday, April 23, 2023. The Legislature acted on many bills and budgetary items during the session that will benefit Pierce County residents and all of Washington. Many of these actions support priorities in areas of housing affordability, infrastructure, and public safety that are aligned with priorities…
Paving coming for parts of State Route 7
Fish passage work at two creeks, paving coming for State Route 7 in Pierce CountyProject consolidates work, cuts costs EATONVILLE – More than five miles of State Route 7 will see construction between Eatonville and Spanaway into fall 2023. The project will remove two barriers to fish passage and repair miles of the highway surface. Combining…
Parkland Community Assn. March 28
The 501(c)(3) status arrived in March 2023 and the Parkland Community Assn. (PCA) is now fully operational. The next meeting for the organization will be Tuesday, March 28, 6 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church hall. The Parkland Community Assn. began last May with a group that formed to Save the Historic Parkland School (1908)…
Washington’s Democracy Dominoes Falling?
By Robert A. Matney Of great concern are recent and fast approaching upcoming events involving Washington’s “Sunshine Committee” (SC). The SC’s decisions could prove devastating for all citizen activists and the public in general. Around 1972, Washington voters approved what became the Public Records Act (PRA). That contained only 10 exemptions it ballooned to about…
Essential Public Facilities, dangerous words – Do you want to build a giant airport?
[Editor: this is a recap of the anti-airport meeting 1-13-23] It was a brief moment in the meeting about a major international airport being considered in South Pierce County. It was the moment when people asked, “How in the world did they approve ‘the dump?’” The answer, given by former Senator Rasmussen was 3 words,…