The city of Washougal has received a $2.06 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) Safe Routes to School program will help improve safety to a highly trafficked section of 39th Street near Washougal High School.
“We’re super excited,” Washougal City Engineer Scott Collins said, adding that the need to add sidewalks and other safety enhancements to 39th Street was one of the City’s biggest transportation issues.
“It has been a priority for the Council, especially with not only the high school there, but also Gause Elementary School, our permit center and (Orchard Hills) Golf Course,” Collins said. “I think it’ll be a huge benefit to the schools, pedestrians and the golf course.”
The project, which the City estimates will cost about $2.58 million, will install a sidewalk and bicycle lanes, rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks, lighting improvements, speed advisory signs and speed bumps on the east side of 39th Street from Evergreen Highway to “J” Street. The City hopes to begin construction in early 2027, according to Collins.
“This grant, we can’t get authorization until July of 2025, so really, that’s when we start. There’s a lot of paperwork involved with the state. Once the funds are approved through the state, WSDOT administers this grant, so then we work with them. When I say authorization, you have to go through stages to authorize, ‘Okay, we’re ready to start design, we’re ready to start environmental, we’re ready to start right-of-way, and now we’re ready to start construction,’” Collins said.