Main Street Reconstruction Project
Barrett Road to East City Limits
Project Area Map. Click to enlarge.
PROJECT SUMMARY: Main Street east of Barrett Road is substandard in width, has no formal pedestrian facilities and is often heavily damaged during weather events and heavy traffic. Surface water runoff from the roadway flows directly to nearby sensitive areas, including Tenmile Creek / Barrett Lake. This project includes reconstruction and widening of the roadway to include new sidewalks and crosswalks where needed, new streetlights, bus pullouts at stops, and a 5′ shoulder between the roadway and sidewalks to provide a safe route for bicyclists. New storm water improvements, including water quality treatment and detention facilities, will also be built as part of the project. The existing water and sanitary sewer systems will be upgraded to meet current standards. Construction is planned for 2025/2026.
PROJECT FUNDING: The project is possible because of grant awards totaling $1.385M from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Carbon Reduction (CRP) programs. This will be supplemented by funds from the voter-approved Ferndale Transportation Benefit District (TBD), the City’s Real Estate Excise Tax (REET). Plus, the City’s water, sewer, and storm water utility funds will cover costs associated with utility improvements and repairs on this section of roadway.
PROJECT DESIGN: The project is currently in the design phase, with engineers developing plans and specifications needed to reconstruct the roadway and utilities. During this phase, the project team researches and reviews existing conditions, performs an analysis of future needs for traffic volumes, and assesses utility capacity and demand in the future. That information is used to develop the project footprint and improvements needed to construct the new roadway.
RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION: The City will be starting the right of way acquisition phase of the project soon. While Ferndale often owns sufficient right of way width or easements needed to accommodate most planned improvements on its capital projects, it is sometimes necessary to acquire additional property rights to complete the work. Needed additional rights may include partial acquisitions and/or temporary easements and permits, and those rights are purchased from private land owners in accordance with state and federal law. The City, as a public agency, acquires needed property and easements under its power of eminent domain, provides just compensation based on fair market value, and negotiates with property owners to complete the necessary transaction. For more information on the requirements guiding the City’s work to acquire the needed property rights, the Washington State Department of Transportation’s brochure, Transportation Needs and You, provides a detailed outline of the process for purchasing property and acquiring easements.
QUESTIONS: For more information, please contact KatyRadder@cityofferndale.org or call (360) 384-4006.