By Earline Byers

The city of Des Moines has provided me with these significant details for scheduled transportation improvements in the city in response to my request for information for my column.

This money is available for new projects using grants, but not easily for paving streets as noted below by Mayor Dave Kaplan:

S. 216th Street: The Washington State Transportation Improvement Board awarded the city of Des Moines a $4 million grant for construction of S. 216th Street (24th Avenue to 18th Avenue South) including the 24th Avenue S. intersection. The city plans to advertise this segment for construction in October with construction beginning in the spring of 2013. Construction costs are estimated to be $7.5 million.

24th Avenue South: The city expects a $3 million federal grant for construction of 24th Avenue South (S. 208th Street to S. 216th Street) in July, the project will be advertised in 2013 when the federal funds become available, and construction will be substantially completed in 2014. Total estimated road construction costs are estimated at $7.3 million.

In addition, Des Moines is working closely with the city of SeaTac to complete their segment of the 24th/28th corridor to S. 200th Street with plans to complete construction by fall of 2016 when the S. 200th St. light-rail station is scheduled to open.

WSDOT will eventually build a full interchange at 188th where the current SR 509 terminates when SR 509 is extended. Access to SR 509 from Des Moines Memorial Drive will be via the current signal at 188th, then just west to the full interchange. If the project construction is phased, the city understands that this interchange will be built during the initial phase.

If there is one traveling secret we folks living south of Seattle’s metropolitan congested traffic area wanted to keep to ourselves for commuting purposes, it’s State Route 509.

Where else can you drive these days on a freeway and feel safe because you’re not being blocked in by impatient bumper-hugging drivers demonstrating questionable driving skills to get somewhere else in a hurry?

My father, a professional driver, said let speeding cars pass by promptly because they’ll only get to wait at the next red stoplight before we do.

Freeways are great for traveling quickly and long trips. Yet, I wonder if we’re missing the relaxation found when using low-speed roads and taking advantage of opportunities to actually see how nearby scenery and neighborhoods look that we just by-passed at 65 mph?

Lack of heavy traffic on SR-509 now and then does lend itself to a quick squint at scenery and a deep breathe of relief from rushing around in heavy downtown traffic.

Yet maybe not for much longer. Highway construction will eventually find 509 now that our little secret is out and the Panama Canal is being widened.

What does the canal size have to do with local roads here? The canal will be dealing with bigger ships with more people and expanded commercial shipping.

It appears there will be increased need for cruising and shipping within the Panama Canal’s new wider channels that are a major route reaching water traffic areas around the world.

A special column dedicated to the future of working Puget Sound waterfront ports written by Maud Daudon and Sam Kaplan in June 27 issue of The Seattle Times reads; “ First we need the state Legislature to make the infrastructure investments that will move our people and goods quickly and safely. A statewide multimodal-transportation package is needed to fund expansions to Highway 509 for the Port of Seattle and Highway 167 for The Port of Tacoma.”

So if all goes as planned The Port of Seattle and The Port of Tacoma will see an opportunity to extend SR-509 into Interstate I-5 joining it at 200th Street South between approximately 24th and 28th Avenues South near the future planned light-rail Station.

Off/on Freeway ramps will provide transportation groundwork needed for vehicles with shipped cargo destined for local communities.

Between those off/on ramps are the communities of Sea Tac, Des Moines, Tukwila, Redondo and a whole bunch of people and businesses that will be affected by the new surge of traffic. And that’s an especially good thing when drivers stop to spend money. These small cities need to become “destinations” not the quickest drive through town that they have often been.

A significant percentage of imports destined for the nation’s central states now ships through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma so if the state Legislature supports making infrastructure investments that is said to move people and goods quickly and safely with proposed Highway 509 and Highway 167 expansions, there could be local benefits for people and businesses. Small cities particularly need financial help now.

The ports of Seattle and Tacoma plans are designed to improve shipping transportation and will likely help contribute to an increase of jobs and a boost to the economy.

Along with having more vehicles on streets, especially heavy trucks, road surfaces are worn down in no time. Des Moines roads are damaged now and getting worse daily. Where is the money to fix them?

Des Moines Mayor Dave Kaplan said, “Unfortunately, it’s not easy to get any transportation funding right now. It’s easier getting funding for new projects than it is for paving. In fact, 2012 will be the third year in a row for which we have had ZERO FUNDS to pave streets. The voters rejected Proposition #1 last year (street paving was included) and gas tax and real estate taxes have all but dried up.

We will be considering whether or not to go out to the voters again this fall to ask for a utility tax increase to only fund paving. Depending on the tax rate requested, that could bring in anywhere from approximately $525,000 to $1.1 million. At approximately $1 million per mile of paving, that will not pave a lot of road. Des Moines has about 100 centerline miles of roadway to maintain.”

As to freeways, until those Port deals are signed and shovels digging, lets live for today, hope for tomorrow and enjoy the ride on our Highway 509.

Today’s Thought: “When things go wrong, don’t go with them.”