The Sammamish Public Works’ team is busy monitoring and developing about $36.7 million in capital projects.
Director Laura Philpot outlined several smaller projects and eight major projects, focusing on engineering rather than the maintenance side of things, for the Sammamish City Council on April 7. The council identified these projects either during comprehensive plan discussions, the budget process or the January council retreat.
Improvements to Sahalee Way and Snake Hill (212th Way Southeast) are the two most expensive projects, at $16.6 million and $9 million respectively. Most projects will break ground (or at least award a construction contract) by 2016, but construction to Sahalee Way will likely not break ground for two or more years.
Citing public works’ workload, City Manager Ben Yazici has plead to city council several times this year to hold off adding to staffs’ already full plate.
“I’m afraid if you scatter the staff too many directions too often that we’re not going to be very efficient to deliver results that you’re expecting from us,” he said to city council at the April 7 meeting. “The plate is truly full, but, it’s your pleasure, if you want to add something to the list you have to take something off the list. There isn’t enough resources here to get everything done.”
The majority of the eight listed projects are slated to cost more than $1 million dollars.
Almost two miles along Sahalee Way Northeast would be expanded to a three-lane or five-lane configuration. The $16.6 million improvements, based off a three-lane configuration, won’t likely break ground for a few years. This is the most expensive project outlined in Philpot’s presentation. A traffic study will begin in May and staff hope to bring design concepts to council in November.
Stabilizing 212th Way Southeast, or better known as Snake Hill Road, comes in at $9 million. The city hopes to award the construction contract in 2016.
The $4.4 million Inglewood Drainage trunkline construction could break ground next year; but funding depends on the state’s Public Works Trust Fund Loan.
The state had committed funding to the project, Yazici said, but it’s looking less likely that money will be there as the funds are reallocated elsewhere. The city should know more in the upcoming months.
The project could be broken into two parts: $3.3 million for drainage improvements and $1.1 million for a sidewalk that would allow pedestrians to walk from 228th Avenue to East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast.
The city will invest $2.5 million in its pavement.
“One of the largest networks the city owns is our roadway network,” Philpot said, commending the council’s budget and attention preserving the city’s roads.
Construction, June through October, will include the overlay of 7 miles of road. The majority are local roads. This work will include Duthie Hill Road and Southeast Issaquah-Beaver Lake Road.
The Sammamish Landing, suffered a minor landslide earlier this year delaying its progress, is marked for a parking lot along East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast. The city hopes to complete construction before July 4th. The park will open when King County completes construction on and opens the East Lake Sammamish Trail. It is a $1.7 million undertaking.
The city earmarked $1 million in the 2013-14 budget for the Town Center’s stormwater solution, which city staff are monitoring as plans for the development are reviewed and implemented.
The remaining projects, all under a million dollars, included small road repairs, traffic light software updates and a small stormwater repair.
Philpot outlined several other areas the staff are responsible for, like right of way permits or the East Lake Sammamish Trail coordination with the residents and county.
“We’re only talking about engineering and capital projects sites,” Yazici said to the council. “Obviously there’s about this much workload is on the maintenance and operations side.”
Council members gave Philpot high praise for her work, recognizing how much the department is doing.
“It’s not just me,” Philpot said. “I have an amazing staff and department.”
The April 7 presentation is viewable on the city’s website.
