Sultan transportation improvements a big ask

When it comes to transportation improvement projects, Sultan is the little city that could, successfully navigating stringent grant application criteria and overcoming other funding limitations to complete projects for the betterment of the city. 

Because of the associated challenges, road reconstruction and rehabilitation projects are recognized with fanfare, including ribbon-cutting ceremonies, refreshments and gatherings of elected officials and other project contributors.

A celebration was held in the parking lot of the Sultan Post Office last week to commemorate the Fourth and Fifth Street Reconstruction project, a coordinated effort made possible with funding from the city and Washington State Transportation Improvement Board. TIB is a state-funded agency that provides grant opportunities to communities to improve roadways.

The event was attended by members of Sultan city staff, Sultan Police Chief Steve McDonald, Washington state Sen. Kirk Pearson, Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick and project contributors, including representatives from TIB, SRV Construction and engineering and design firm Gray & Osborne.

TIB revenue is generated from the state gas tax, and roadways must meet specific criteria to be eligible for TIB funding. Eslick said the money is vital to small cities like Sultan that would not be able to afford major reconstruction projects without it.

“We just don’t have the funding,” the mayor said.

The scope of the project included the reconstruction of Fourth and Fifth streets, from U.S. 2 to Main Street, and a grind and overlay on Fourth and Fifth streets, from Main Street to Alder Avenue. The project provided utility improvements, including replacing the existing asbestos cement water main with ductile iron and lining and replacing portions of the existing sewer line.

Other project features included improvements to the storm drainage system, along with new driveways and ADA ramps to enhance pedestrian safety.

The TIB contributed approximately $400,000 for the transportation portion of the project, with $21,000 coming from the city. The city also contributed $365,000 to complete the water and sewer improvements.

Gray & Osborne was selected over two other consulting firms, producing the engineering plans and specifications, Eslick said. They were able to meet an aggressive design schedule, enabling the city to advertise the project and gather bids in a timely manner. The city received five bids, awarding the job to SRV Construction as the lowest bidder. Eslick thanked SRV president Steve Verbarendse and Construction Superintendent Carl Engle for their work on the project. 

“SRV Construction has done a wonderful job of constructing the improvements, while working with the affected businesses and citizens to minimize impacts,” Eslick said. “SRV completed the project under budget and ahead of schedule.”

She also thanked Gray & Osborne for its contributions.

“Construction management and inspection services were provided by Gray and Osborne, who did a tremendous job ensuring that state regulations were being followed and looking out for the city’s best interests,” Eslick said.

She invited TIB Executive Director Steve Gorcester to talk about the TIB.

In 15 years, the TIB has invested $1.8 billion in grant funding into the state transportation system to effectively hinder the decline of roadways in small cities across the state. Gorcester thanked Pearson, adding the Legislature plays an important role in the process.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the revenue that we use; three cents of the state gas tax,” Gorcester said. “Needless to say, there’s plenty of other places that can be spent. It’s only with the support of the Legislature that we’re able to invest that in local communities.”

Gorcester complimented Sultan Public Works Director Mick Matheson for having mastered the importance of combining needed roadway improvements with utility upgrades; a method that saves costs in the long-term. Matheson serves with Gorcester on the TIB, which doesn’t give the city any benefit other than an increased understanding of the importance of what it takes to develop a successful TIB funding proposal, Gorcester said.

“You’ve got to solve the below-surface problems,” he said. “That’s when we want to make the investment on the street surface. Mick has that down.”

The project also gave the city the opportunity to repave the post office parking lot, which was extremely dilapidated and plagued with drainage system issues, Matheson said. The city approached the Sultan City Council to obtain its approval, taking advantage of the fact that the contractor was already on site, performing work in the area. 

“We created a separate schedule so the Transportation Improvement Board funds weren’t intermingled with that, but we thought we could get a better price from a contractor since they were already out here,” Matheson said. “We got the city council to authorize the expenditure to pay to improve the drainage and also to pave the parking lot, so that’s a side benefit of this project.”

They further maximized resources by accomplishing additional sewer lining, which took place from Sixth to 10th streets, Matheson said.

Gorcester presented Eslick with a project completion plaque in the shape of the state of Washington and shared the news that Sultan has just been awarded another TIB grant. The new $750,000 award will help reconstruct First Street, from High Avenue to Trout Farm Road, and rehabilitate Eighth Street, from High Avenue to the Sultan High School gate.

It will also add sewer line to areas of First Street where there is none currently.

Last week’s event in Sultan will be Gorcester’s final ribbon cutting, as he announced his plans to retire from the TIB next year. He said he’s been honored to have served on the TIB and it’s been gratifying to see small city street conditions turn a corner in 2008 and continue to improve over time.

“It’s gotten consistently better ever since,” Gorcester said. “I’m super proud of that.”