Posted
For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 22, 2011
Selection Committee recommends five projects.UPDATED: 10/14/2011
At its October 13 meeting, the Minor Betterment Program Selection Committee successfully completed its task of recommending small-scale interim road improvement candidates for funding in fiscal year 2012-2013. The five candidates selected meet the committee's objectives of addressing safety and connectivity issues, while achieving geographic diversity. Four are urban and one is rural. They are multimodal, benefiting pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. One leverages maintenance work planned for next summer. And the total estimated cost is within the $500,000 budget target.
The candidates selected by the committee are:
- Pedestrian pathway on Walker Road from Roxbury to Cedar Hills Blvd (CPO 1)
- Widening and bike lane on Barnes Road from the county line to Leahy Road (CPO 1)
- Pedestrian pathway on Rock Creek Blvd from 185th to Columbia (CPO 7)
- Pedestrian pathway on 197th Avenue from Rock Road to Baseline (CPO 6)
- Road widening and turn lane on River Road at Rosedale in conjunction with planned paving project (CPO 10)
After review by Land Use & Transportation staff, the Minor Betterment projects recommended for funding will be included in the 2012-2013 Annual Road Maintenance Work Program presented to the Board of Commissioners for approval next June.
Washington County's Minor Betterment Program Selection Committee invites the public to review and comment on the top twenty candidates being considered for funding in fiscal year 2012-13. The committee established and applied evaluation criteria to identify the top twenty out of over one hundred candidates for small-scale interim road improvements that address safety and/or connectivity issues.
At its next meeting on October 13, the committee will review public comments on the top twenty candidates, narrow the list further, and make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners for potential construction in 2012-2013.
The MBP Selection Committee is comprised of county transportation staff and citizens representing the Urban Road Maintenance District Advisory Committee, the Rural Roads Operations and Maintenance Advisory Committee, and the Committee for Citizen Involvement.
The Minor Betterment Program is funded by the county's Road Fund (gas taxes). About $500,000 is expected to be allocated to this program in fiscal year 2012-2013 to fund small-scale interim improvements which are beyond routine maintenance but not large enough to be programmed as capital improvements.
Identification of candidates for the MBP is request driven. Candidates may be proposed by submitting an online form or by contacting the Operations and Maintenance Division at (503) 846-ROAD (846-7623) or [email protected].
Washington County is committed to building and maintaining the best transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
Media Contact:
Stephen Roberts, Communications Coordinator(503) 846-4963
[email protected]