Bothell awarded $4.7 million TIB grant for Main Street

November 18, 2016 1:30 am
City of Bothell - Contributed art
City of Bothell - Contributed art

At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) awarded the City of Bothell $4.7 million for its Main Street Enhancement Project, Phase I, now scheduled for construction in 2017.

“The city, on behalf of all our downtown businesses, wishes to thank the TIB Board for this grant award, and Gov. Jay Inslee for his strong support,” Bothell Mayor Andy Rheaume said.

The TIB is an independent agency created by the Legislature. The TIB selects projects annually on a competitive basis for transportation infrastructure improvements.

The $7 million Main Street Enhancement project has been planned for some time but has taken on a greater urgency after the Main Street fire last summer. This project is one of 12 top priority goals for 2017-18 that the Bothell City Council recently identified and is a key component of the Downtown Revitalization Plan. It addresses the historic section of downtown, with the goal of keeping it a viable, attractive location to work, live, visit and shop. The project provides Main Street improvements that will tie historic Main Street into the development of public spaces with the city’s downtown core.

“While change can sometimes be challenging, the Main Street merchants are looking forward to a renewed vibrancy on Main Street, especially after the devastating fire,” said Cheryl Bosh, treasurer of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce and a Main Street merchant. “All we need is continued community support — please shop on Main Street during the construction.”

The Main Street Enhancement project will improve Main Street from Bothell Way to 104th Avenue NE. The first phase of the project will improve Main Street between Bothell Way to just east of the 102nd Avenue NE intersection. The project reworks the entire streetscape from building front to building front. The project will include a flexible parking zone for parallel parking that could be used for other purposes such as outdoor cafe seating. This project also includes replacement of storm, sewer and water utilities within the street cross-section.

For more information on the project, visit www.bothellwa.gov/MainStEnhance.

This is taken from a City of Bothell news release.