Mike Gribner, Regional Administrator, Eastern Region, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), was on hand to speak about the “Pause List”. In response to Washington voters’ approval of I-976, a measure to reduce car tabs to $30 as well as reducing/eliminating other taxes and fees, Gov. Jay Inslee has directed WSDOT to postpone several projects.
Unfortunately for us here in Liberty Lake, that list includes the Harvard and Henry road projects. It also affects Spokane’s North-South Corridor project and Spokane Valley’s Bigelow/Forker project. Mr. Gribner went on to suggest two possible outcomes; the first being everything remains paused for a number of months until the money can be accounted for to cover the gap, and the second being a re-rack of the project list.
Councilmember Langford asked if we should move forward with the design on the Henry Road project. Gribner’s recommendation was yes, and he stated that his department is doing the same thing so that everything that can be ready, will be ready upon release of funding. Councilmember Severs asked about the shelf life of design. Gribner explained that while the design of a project does have a shelf life as standards and codes may change over time, the impact would be minimal over the projected hold period. The city is likely to move along with project design in order to be ready to proceed once the construction hold is lifted.
Liberty Lake City Council – December 17, 2019 Meeting / Public Hearing
