Deputy transportation director outlines six-year TIP; committee forwards R2026-009 to council

Jeff Cook, deputy director for transportation engineering, told the Tumwater Public Works Committee that state law requires municipalities to adopt a six-year transportation improvement program annually by June 30 and described the TIP as a planning document that prioritizes projects for potential state or federal funding. “RCW requires every town, municipality, agency to adopt every year by June 30th a six-year tip,” Cook said, adding that the list can be amended as grant opportunities arise.

Cook walked members through the appendix map and said projects are categorized by capacity, multimodal and preservation. He highlighted the northbound I-5 off-ramp/on-ramp at Tumwater Boulevard as an ongoing design project and noted that capacity-designated projects also include pedestrian and bicycle elements. He identified new items in this year’s TIP — notably a 93rd Avenue and Case roundabout and a program for addressing missing sidewalk links — and explained that two projects were removed because they will be completed by the time the TIP takes effect (Second Avenue pedestrian/bike and Percival Creek fish-passage).

Cook recommended placing Resolution R2026-009, the six-year TIP, on the June 2, 2026 city council meeting calendar for public hearing and consideration with a recommendation to adopt. A committee member moved the recommendation, members voted by voice and the motion carried (the committee recorded three “I” responses). The committee did not take further action on project funding or construction today; Cook stressed that inclusion on the TIP is a planning step and not an authorization to construct.

Members sought and received clarification about the East Street connection after hearing concerns that listing an item on the TIP might be interpreted as active work. Cook said inclusion signals planning priority for potential funding pursuit and confirmed there is no current funding and no construction underway. The committee agreed that a clear public slide or brief explanatory note would help avoid misunderstandings when the TIP is presented to the full council.

The committee voted to place Resolution R2026-009 on the June 2 council calendar for public hearing and consideration with a recommendation to adopt; the committee recorded the voice vote in favor.