Since Marysville voters approved the formation of a Transportation Benefit District in 2014, the city has been making good progress on repairing and improving city roadways, some of which were in failing or near-failing condition.
The TBD collects .2 percent sales tax, estimated to generate about $1.6 million per year, to be used only to repair, build, improve, preserve and fund transportation improvements within city limits. This includes pavement preservation (overlay) and sidewalks.
TBD funds are paying for these overlay projects this year:
•Grove Street: State to 47th Avenue NE overlay (complete)
•67th Avenue NE: 49th Street NE to Highway 528 (underway)
•51st Avenue NE: railroad tracks to 152nd Street NE (August)
•71st Avenue NE: 40th to 44th Street NE (August-September)
•92nd Street NE: State Avenue to 45th Drive NE (August-September)
2017 sidewalk projects: •Sunnyside Elementary Safe Routes to School (complete)
•Marshall Elementary Safe Routes to School (August)
Here’s a quick look at past transportation improvements completed thanks to voter-approved TBD funding. 2016 pavement overlay:
•88th Street NE: west of 36th Avenue NE to State Avenue
•Grove Street: Ash to Cedar Avenue
•Beach Avenue: Grove to Short Street
•136th Street NE: I-5 to State Avenue
•128th Street NE: State to 43rd Avenue NE
•122nd Street NE: State Avenue to 38th Drive NE
•60th Drive NE: 70th Street NE south
2016 pedestrian and bicycle improvements:
Grove Street 2015 pavement overlay:
•Sunnyside Boulevard: east of 47th Avenue NE to 40th Street NE
•100th Street NE: State Avenue to 49th Drive NE
•60th Drive NE: 88th to Grove Street
2014 pavement overlay:
•108th Street NE: 51st to 67th Avenue NE
•State Avenue: 88th to 92nd Street NE
•44th Avenue NE: Grove to 76th Street NE
All of these projects are making a positive difference for residents, businesses and visitors in our community. Having an active pavement preservation/overlay program ultimately saves millions in taxpayer dollars as it prevents much more expensive road reconstruction that occurs on roads left to deteriorate over several years. For details about the city’s TBD program, go to www.marysvillewa.gov/585/Transportation-Benefit-District.
Jon Nehring is the mayor of Marysville.
His column runs monthly.
