On February 28, 2022, the Snoqualmie City Council unanimously approved Resolution 1609 requesting Washington State designate Snoqualmie Parkway as part of State Route 18. The heavily used 3.5 mile, 4-lane divided parkway connects SR 202 in downtown Snoqualmie to SR 18 at the I-90 interchange.
Snoqualmie Parkway was constructed in 1999 as a condition of the Developer Extension Agreement for the master planned community of Snoqualmie Ridge. As a connector roadway for two state highways, when the Parkway was initially constructed, design standards were incorporated that would not preclude it from future inclusion in the state highway system.
A 2020 traffic study concluded that over 80% of the pavement damage on Snoqualmie Parkway was the result of regional truck traffic, rather than normal wear and tear from local traffic. As such, for the past 1.5 years, elected City representatives have worked with Washington State 5th District legislators to secure state funding for the City’s $6 million Snoqualmie Parkway Rehabilitiation Project that will repave the deteriorating roadway.
Thanks to the hard work of City representatives and State legislators, the pending 2022 State Transportation Capital Budget includes an appropriation of $5 million for the Parkway Rehabilitation Project contingent upon the City designating Snoqualmie Parkway as an extension of SR 18.
“Given that the majority of the deterioration of Snoqualmie Parkway’s pavement is attributed to regional truck traffic, we feel it is in the best interest of our local taxpayers that the State be financially responsible for the bulk of roadway repairs and ongoing maintenance,” commented Mayor Katherine Ross. “This designation would be a win for our community.”
Resolution 1609 authorizes the Mayor and Administration to submit an application to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to designate Snoqualmie Parkway as part of SR 18 and negotiate a cooperative agreement with WSDOT regarding the allocation of responsibility, control, maintenenace obligations, and future improvements of Snoqualmie Parkway if the application is approved.
With the designation of Snoqualmie Parkway as an SR 18 extension, WSDOT could become responsible for conditions of the roadway from curb to curb, with the City responsible for maintenance and improvements of sidewalks, ADA ramps and streetlights located outside of the curbs.
Earlier this week Mayor Ross and City Councilmembers sent a letter of support to State legislators for the proposed State Transportation Capital Budget that contains funding for the Parkway Rehabilitation Project, as well as widening of SR 18 between Hobart Road and Deep Creek.
The City will provide additional community updates on the designation of Snoqualmie Parkway as part of State Route 18 as information becomes available.