Grant to help with STO loop connection through downtown Poulsbo

By Tyler Shuey • August 9, 2024 1:30 am
City of Poulsbo courtesy photo The Sound to Olympics trail project includes a recently built non-motorized tunnel under Highway 305 and shared use path connection to Lemolo Shore Drive.
City of Poulsbo courtesy photo The Sound to Olympics trail project includes a recently built non-motorized tunnel under Highway 305 and shared use path connection to Lemolo Shore Drive.

Poulsbo has been awarded $500,000 as part of the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program to conduct an alternatives analysis for a loop connection that would allow Sound to Olympics Trail users to extend their trip through downtown to take advantage of the shops, restaurants and recreation opportunities.

The STO and loop connection will provide a continuous active transportation route serving residents and visitors, improving safety, economic vitality and climate resilience, city documents state. The project will complete predesign studies for the preferred alternative segments connecting to and aligning with existing and/or planned STO alignments through North Kitsap.

The city is in the process of completing the 2.6-mile connection of the STO path through the east side of Poulsbo from Highway 305 to Lincoln Road along the Noll Road corridor serving the K-12 school campuses, per documents. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027 and includes a recently built non-motorized tunnel under Highway 305 and a shared-use path connection to Lemolo Shore Drive.

The city has secured design and right-of-way funding for the entire route, and secured construction funding for 90% of the trail. Of the 2.6-mile STO corridor in Poulsbo, 0.8 miles have been built, 0.9 miles are under construction, 0.6 miles are in the right-of-way acquisition phase with construction funds secured, and the remaining 0.3 miles will seek construction funding, documents read.

THE RAISE grant program is a $1.5 billion multimodal, merit-based, competitive discretionary grant program for surface transportation infrastructure. It supports projects that improve safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and the creation of good-paying jobs, consistent with the Department of Transportation’s strategic goals. WSDOT is administering the $16.13 million in RAISE grants awarded to 12 jurisdictions statewide.

In other news, the Poulsbo Police Department is set to hire two new officers with a starting date of Sept. 1.

Both topics will be placed on the consent agenda for approval at the Aug. 14 City Council meeting.