LYNNWOOD—The Lynnwood City Council attended a Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA) training session and were briefed on upcoming major transportation projects at their Monday, March 16, Work Session.
WCIA Training
After council and Mayor’s comments (there were few), Ann Bennett, WCIA Executive Director, led a presentation and training session to council on the current insurance market conditions and rates, and liability exposures that may affect Council members.
WCIA is a municipal nonprofit organization in Washington where public entities join to share certain risks. There are currently 165 members sharing $222 million in assets.
WCIA provides self-insurance liability coverage (including Auto Liability, General Liability, Employment Practices, Errors and Omissions). Additional coverage also includes member property, auto and boiler machinery, crime fidelity, cyber and pollution premises liability purchased by members. The WCIA provides the City of Lynnwood with up to $20 million per occurrence.
The WCIA trains over 13,000 city employees every year and the Lynnwood City Council attended one of these training sessions Monday at their Work Session.
The training session covered the “dos and don’ts” of avoiding liability, such as not using your social media, email, or personal phone for city-related business, not publicly sharing what’s discussed in Executive Session, and so on.
The training session came at no additional cost and was provided as part of the City’s WCIA membership. By Attending the training Council was provided a risk management benefit by reducing potential exposure to legal claims or compliance issues, Bennett explained.
Transportation Projects
Following WCIA’s training session and presentation, Jared Bond, PW Director, Nick Barnett, Engineering Manager, and David Mach, City Engineer led a briefing on major transportation projects in the city, funding, and the transportation benefits district.
Firstly, the team shared the findings of a recent survey which ranked mobility as the second highest priority of residents (89%), behind safety (90%). Overall, survey participants ranked Lynnwood’s transportation system as ‘Good’ (42%) with 21% naming it ‘Excellent.’
73% of Lynnwood residents also applauded the city for its ease getting around by car.
The main focus of Monday’s presentation was on new transportation projects, however.
The City of Lynnwood has made significant strides in completing several major transportation projects over the last 20 years including: 176th – OVD to Highway 99 in 2005, 44th – I-5 to 196th in 2005, OVD – Perrinville to 168th in 2009, I-5/196th Interchange Pedestrian Improvements in 2010, Costco Ring Road in 2014, 204th – 68th to Highway 99 in 2015, 36th – Maple to 164th in 2020, and 196th – 48th to 36th in 2024.
Over the next 10 years the City has the following projects coming up in the pipeline: I-5/44th Underpass Improvements in 2027, Poplar Way Bridge in 2028, 38th and 193rd Ring Road (PFD) in 2029, Costco Traffic improvements from 2027 to 2035, 422nd Grid Street – Alderwood Mall Parkway to 196th in 2032, and ST3 Route – Improvements around Mall Station/33rd in 2036 through 2038.
I-5/44th Underpass Pedestrian Improvements
The existing underpass under Interstate 5 and 44th is currently dark and narrow, city staff said Monday. A proposed new project will construct a wide shared use path, improve lighting, add gateway signing, improve connectivity to Interurban Trail, and replace the two oldest traffic signals in the city. The estimated cost of this project is $8 million, which has mostly been secured already through grants. The city expects this project to open by 2027.
Poplar Way Bridge
The city is continuing its Poplar Way Bridge project which will add a new 6-lane bridge over Interstate 5, which the city says is needed to support growth around the City Center and around Alderwood Mall.
The construction cost for this project is currently $58 million, of which $45 million has been secured from state and federal grants, and $13 million has been allocated by the city.
The estimated year of opening is 2028.
38th and 193rd Ring Road (PFD)
The Public Facilities District (PFD) is undertaking a major redevelopment including a vibrant mixed-use development with housing, retail, hotel, and green space.
Transportation projects here include a ring road that will be completed by the city and cost an estimated $20 million to complete. So far $11 million of this has been secured (including the TIF) and the estimated year of opening is 2029.
Costco Traffic
North of the Alderwood Costco is known to have frequently high congestion and is an area where the city receives most of its traffic complaints. The traffic is impacting Costco, city staff said Monday, and the proximity of signals is causing the issues.
The city will be conducting a study this year which will identify short/long term solutions. The city hopes to open its improvement project by 2027 through 2035.
42nd City Center Grid Street
The City of Lynnwood intends to add a new grid street in the heart of City Center that emphasizes “People First” streets with wide sidewalks and retail store frontage.
To do this, the city needs to break down existing mega blocks and improve circulation and business access in the area adjacent to the future Town Square Park.
The total project cost for this is slated to be $40 million, of which $13 million has been secured (including TIF) and the estimated year of opening is 2032.
Light Rail Route/Mall Station
A new light rail station is planned to go west of Alderwood Mall sometime in 2037. To avoid conflicts with a planned railway guide, the city plans to conduct a survey that will identify potential future grid streets, ultimate width of existing streets, and non-motorized connections.
The construction project is scheduled to open anywhere from 2036 through 2038.
Funding
Of the City of Lynnwood’s five Capital Project funds (Fund 357 for Other, typically DBS/planning type projects, Fund 370 for facilities/buildings, Fund 380 for parks and recreation, and Fund 390 for public safety), Fund 360 is typically used for transportation projects.
Fund 360 is comprised of several revenue sources including grants (state and federal – about $8 to $9 million a year), utilities (utility fund contribution – varies depending on project), capital development (General fund contribution, which was suspended in 2020), Real-Estate Excise Tax (paid when properties are sold – averaging about $3 million per year in total), Transportation Benefit District (0.1% sales tax and $40 per car tab fee – generating about $4 million a year), Transportation Impact Fees (fees paid by new developments for additional traffic trips generated by the project – generating about $750k a year), and an Economic Development Infrastructure Fund (a portion of sales tax directly allocated to capital projects, which was suspended in 2020).
All this combined leave the city with approximately $14 million available for transportation projects.
City Staff recommended Monday that this $14 million be used for the following projects over the next 10 years:
- Limited arterial paving program ($2.5 million per year)
- I-5/44th Underpass Pedestrian Improvements
- Poplar Way Bridge
- 38th and 193rd Ring Road (PFD)
- Costco Traffic
- 42nd City Center Grid Street
- Limited improvements along 33rd in conjunction with new Light Rail Station
Potential additional funding was recommended to be used for traffic safety, walking and biking improvements, and fully funded street paving program.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
