Members of the Kennewick City Council spent some time in Olympia this week, advocating for the city’s top priorities.
The City Council held a roundtable January 7 to engage with legislators from Washington State’s 8th district. It was a way for both sides to talk about legislation that aligns with the city’s strategic goals.
Two weeks later, Mayor Gretl Crawford, Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Torelli, and Councilmember Jim Millbauer joined State Representative April Connors in bringing those ideas to the senate floor and ensuring the community’s voice is heard during the legislative session.
The city’s top legislative priorities include:
Columbia Park Boat Launch Replacement
The City requests $1.3 million to replace a failing boat launch at Columbia Park – a focal point for Water Follies, the annual Salmon Summit and other community events. The Columbia Park Boat Launch is nearing its end of life, causing floats to sink into the water. In 2020, the City received a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO grant). Combined with local funds, the City designed a replacement boat launch. The project is now construction-ready and permitted for construction until 2028. Once replaced, the new boat launch will provide sustainable, environmentally friendly, and accessible boarding floats to improve access and activities on the Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers for residents and visitors.
Community Connectivity: At-Grade Rail Solutions Study
A United Pacific (UP) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line runs through the Kennewick community, with several at-grade rail crossings. In downtown Kennewick, there are three at-grade rail crossings: Washington, Benton and Fruitland). Additionally, there are two in west Kennewick: Kellogg and Edison. The crossings cause delays of up to 20 minutes for residents. The City requests $300,000 to study potential solutions to improve safety and alleviate traffic delays, including grade-separation and other enhancements, as rail traffic increases in the region with the completion of improvements at Stampede Pass.
Columbia Center Boulevard Widening
Columbia Center Boulevard is one of Kennewick’s main arterial streets and is a freight corridor. The Boulevard serves the existing Columbia Center Mall, Costco, Toyota Center, and Three Rivers Convention Center and experiences continuously high traffic volumes. Kennewick requests $14.7 million to add a south and northbound lane to Columbia Center Boulevard from Quinault to Deschutes Avenues. The project is recognized regionally as #3 on the Benton-Franklin Council of Government’s Top Six Regional Transportation Projects.
Public Safety Communication System Infrastructure Upgrades
Kennewick joins communities throughout the Tri-City region to request funding to replace failing analog radio infrastructure and transition law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies in both counties, as well as a portion of Walla Walla County, to a single, P25 compliant, digital communications platform.
Three Rivers Convention Center Expansion
The City joins the Kennewick Public Facility District in asking for the state’s assistance in expanding the Three Rivers Convention Center. To continue to be Eastern Washington’s leading event center, the Convention Center needs to be expanded to add exhibit space, meeting rooms, and other support spaces. Once expanded, the Convention Center will attract nearly 200,000 visitors and over 70,000 hotel reservations annually.
