By Christopher Wierzbicki
Two years ago, working a booth at the island’s Independence Day events gave me the chance to talk with many islanders about plans for reconstruction on Winslow Way. We discussed the need for infrastructure improvements, the design, the potential impact on downtown businesses, and whether the cost would be sustainable for the city and for individual residents.
Today and tomorrow, I’ll be staffing a booth again, and I’m looking forward to talking about the current Winslow Way plan – one that takes into account many comments that the City Council and staff have heard in the past two years, and one that I believe reflects our common vision for a sustainable future.
The conditions driving the project haven’t changed. Sewer videos reveal cracked pipes, misaligned joints and standing sewage. Surface observation shows ponding water, broken pavement and sidewalks of sub-standard width. Reconstruction is necessary to ensure effective service, protect the environment and prevent future failures.
The Winslow Way project will achieve these goals. In addition to replacing water, sewer and storm mains from State Route 305 to Grow Avenue, the project will incorporate several “green infrastructure” elements.
Porous paving will limit storm-water runoff, while vegetative systems will capture pollutants. An advanced support system called “silva cells” will prevent tree roots from disturbing sidewalks and pavement. Energy-efficient lighting will replace outdated fixtures, and new conduit will support future charging stations for electric vehicles.
The street environment will look familiar, but will include improved facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists. Wider sidewalks, new crosswalks and curb ramps, designated bike lanes and additional bike racks will make travel safer and more inviting. Angle parking will be retain-ed, and a center-street delivery area will be provided. The benches, trees and art at Blackbird Bakery and Café Nola will be protected, and new gathering spaces are proposed.
Some of the most significant changes have been in the project budget, which has been reduced from $20.6 million to $12 million through value engineering and scope reduction. Plans to underground electrical wires and build new sidewalks between Madison and Grow Avenues have been set aside, and new amenities will be limited to meet defined needs.
In addition to reducing the budget, the city has been successful in securing outside funding to minimize the cost impact on residents. Some $7 million of the proposed $12 million will come from outside sources. This includes $6 million from federal and state transportation grants and $1 million from downtown property owners through a Local Improvement District (LID). The remaining $5 million is expected to come from utility revenue and bonds.
An independent rate study is under way to analyze how these costs can be most fairly allocated to ratepayers. City staff projects that ratepayers island-wide could see an increase of less than $1 per month per household in storm-water fees. Customers of the Winslow water and sewer systems could see a 5-6 percent increase in their bills.
And more cost reductions are in the works. With the project design 60 percent complete, staff estimates that overall costs may be less than $11.5 million. And if we limit contingencies, we could trim an additional $500,000, helping to limit rate increases.
Keeping our downtown business community healthy during construction – scheduled from March to November 2010 – is a top priority. Staff members are meeting monthly with downtown business owners and working with the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association to create strategies to promote business during construction.
We’re developing construction standards to minimize impact, like keeping dust and noise to a minimum and maintaining access to stores and parking from the street, sidewalks and ferries. We’re also exploring temporary public parking options at City Hall and Madison Avenue.
Bainbridge Island is not alone in facing the challenge of aging infrastructure. A recent “Infrastructure Report Card” from the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation’s drinking and waste-water systems and roads a grade of “poor” to “failing.” This project will allow us to improve and update these core public resources while protecting the environment, creating local jobs, sustaining our business community and preserving our quality of life.
We will never be in a better position to leverage outside funding, as every dollar spent will be matched by$1.40 from outside sources. And using these dollars effectively will improve the city’s chance of receiving state and federal funding in the future.
Independence Day has always held a special place in the life of our community. I encourage you to come downtown this weekend, celebrate the Grand Old Fourth, support our local businesses and, while you’re here, stop by and learn more about what to expect as this project moves forward. Happy Fourth!
Christopher Wierzbicki, P.E., is the city’s deputy director of Planning and Community Development. For more information, visit www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us.
