Community Government Transportation
Burnham Drive project atop city’s six-year transportation plan
The Gig Harbor City Council approved a new six-year Transportation Improvement Program during its meeting on Monday, June 24.
The TIP is a list of street projects the city expects to tackle over the next six years. The city updates it every June. State and federal funding programs require local jurisdictions to have a six-year TIP.
The TIP for 2025 to 2030 includes 27 projects, rated according to priority.
The No. 1 priority is improvements to Burnham Drive between the Eagles Club and the Harbor Hill Drive roundabout. The council already budgeted for that project, which calls for a shared-use path along Burnham. The city expects work to start in 2025.
The second priority on the TIP list is building a new traffic signal at the intersection of Wollochet Drive and Wagner Way.
Rounding out the top five on the list are improvements on Prentice Avenue/Fennimore Street; the initial phase of a 38th Avenue revamp; and building a right-turn lane from Wollochet Drive to westbound Highway 16, to cut down on congestion on the Pioneer-Wollochet overpass.
The plan moved an extension of the Cushman Trail down to No. 20, from No. 9 in 2024.
Council OKs longer events at public facilities
Events that take place in city parks and other city facilities can now last longer, after the city council approved new special events rules at Monday’s meeting.
The city’s parks commission recommended the change.
Private gatherings like weddings, family reunions and fundraising events will be limited to four hours, instead of the previous two. City-sponsored events and certain public special events are not subject to the four-hour time limit, according to the new regulations.
According to Parks Manager Jennifer Haro, the city has received numerous comments from event organizers that two hours is not enough time. Council members agreed, and voted 7-0 to change the city code to allow additional time.
The new regulations also call for a 90-day advance notice if an event requires street closure and reiterate that the view platform at Skansie Brothers Park cannot be reserved.