PORT ANGELES — Road maintenance in Clallam County will be scaled back by more than half in the next six years because of a loss of federal funding, Transportation Program Manager Rich James said this week.
Clallam County’s 500-mile road system is on a seven-year preferred maintenance schedule, meaning the county tries to maintain about 70 miles of roadway per year.
A $980,000 per-year loss in federal funding — combined with sagging tax revenue and rising costs — will limit the maintenance schedule to 16 years, or 30 miles per year, James said during a Tuesday night forum on Clallam County’s six-year transportation improvement program.
“In 2010, we did no chip sealing, and this is a major concern as we are getting more traffic use and less maintenance and preservation program funds,” James said.
Funding from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is expected to run dry in 2013, James said.
Property tax and gas tax revenue is down across the state.
As a result, the Clallam County will see a reduction in engineering services and preventive maintenance projects.
“There’s been a reduction of most construction and improvement projects beyond 2010 that are not grant-funded,” James said.
Asphalt overlays will be limited, and new construction will depend on grants, James said.
Deteriorating roads
“Likely impacts over time are the road surface conditions will deteriorate,” James said.
“Roadside vegetation management will be limited to the most necessary for sight-distance issues at corners.”
County residents can expect longer wait times for snowplows during winter storms, James said.
“Engineering work on drainage problems, fish passage and culvert issues will be scaled back, with the exception of grant funding,” he said.
Clallam County has 16 grant-funded projects on its list for 2011, seven of which involve building out the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Deer Park remains on list
The largest of the 2011 projects is the $6.5 underpass near Deer Park cinemas east of Port Angeles. Clallam County will build a road under U.S. Highway 101 that loops from the movie theater to Buchanan Drive.
Most of Old Olympic Highway will be widened to 40 feet next year to make room for eight-foot shoulders on both sides.
The county’s “road show” on transportation projects was paired with a presentation on the preliminary budget by Budget Director Kay Stevens.
Clallam County faces a $2.6 million deficit in its general fund. County Administrator Jim Jones has asked all departments to cut spending by 3 percent to save $1 million.
The rest of the budget deficit will be covered by a $9.5 million reserve pool.
Another transportation and budget forum was held in Forks on Wednesday.
The third forum on the preliminary budget and six-year transportation plan is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Clallam County Public Utility District’s Carlsborg building, 110 Idea Place.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
