The City of Yelm updated its statewide transportation improvement project at a meeting on June 25 to include nine projects for the 2025-30 cycle.
These projects include intersection improvements at Bald Hill Road Southeast at Morris Road, Longmire Street South at Yelm Avenue West, Burnett Road Southeast at 93rd Street Southeast and more.
Patrick Hughes, Yelm public works project manager, said during a Yelm City Council meeting on June 25 that the STIP is based on the Yelm Comprehensive Plan and on the City’s long-range 20-year transportation plan.
Hughes said although it’s a six-year plan, it’s required by state law to be updated annually as old projects are completed and new improvement plans arrive.
“It becomes a short-ranged, implementation document for transportation projects over the next six years,” Hughes said. “Projects that are not on the STIP are therefore not eligible for state or federal funding. It’s important that we get these projects in.”
The STIP list for 2025 to 2030 includes:
• Intersection improvements at Bald Hill Road Southeast at Morris Road Southeast
• Intersection improvements at Longmire Street South / Yelm Avenue West
• Mosman Avenue Southeast Phase 3 (Third Street Southeast to Clark Road Southeast)
• Coates Avenue Northwest Connection (Killion Road Southeast to Cullens Road Southeast)
• Realignment and intersection improvements at Burnett Road Southeast / 93rd Street
• Rhoton Road Northwest Reconstruction (Railway to Yelm Loop Phase 2, state Route 510)
• NP Road/Wilkensen Road Reconstruction (First Street North to Yelm Loop Phase 2, state Route 510)
• Walmart Boulevard extension (state Route 507 to Bald Hill Road)
• State Route 507 (Yelm Avenue East) and Bald Hill Road Southeast roundabout
The two new additions to the STIP include the Walmart Boulevard extension to Bald Hill Road, and the Washington State Department of Transportation-funded roundabout at state Route 507 and Bald Hill Road.
“Even though we’re doing that project, it’s still state funded and needs to be on the STIP,” Hughes said.
Three projects were removed from the STIP: the now-completed Yelm Prairie Line Trail Phase 2, the ADA Transition Plan, which was completed in 2023, and the ADA sidewalk ramp improvement project, which is currently under construction.
Councilor Brian Hess asked Hughes how councilors can add items to the 20-year transportation plan.
“That’s at our discretion,” Hughes said. “That’s not a required plan through RCW. It was last updated in 2021, and we’re looking at updating that now because things have changed considerably. We’ve got some new things we’re going to put on it. It’s not a required plan, but we are looking at redoing it.”
Mayor Joe DePinto asked Hughes why the City of Yelm needs to have the STIP, to which he clarified that projects that aren’t on the STIP are not eligible for state and federal funding.
“All state and federal funding is based on budget. The state and federals work on different schedules, but they need to work ahead for how this money is going to be spent and what’s needed,” Hughes said. “It needs to be in a plan. You can’t just come up with an idea for a project and apply for funds. It needs to be a part of an overall plan.”
