Yelm City Councilors unanimously approved the six year transportation improvement program (STIP) during a meeting on Tuesday, July 28, following a prompt public hearing hosted by public works director Cody Colt.
The STIP highlights the City of Yelm’s critical projects around the city and serves as a document to guide transportation funding through a six year cycle, according to Colt.
“The STIP is based on the Yelm Comprehensive Plan and city long-range planning 20-year transportation plan and serves as the implementation document for transportation plans over the next six years,” Colt said.
Additionally, Colt noted the projects that aren’t included on the plan won’t be eligible for state and federal funding.
Though the STIP is a six-year plan, Colt said it’s updated annually as projects are completed around Yelm and as new priorities arise. The list of projects doesn’t need to be physically constrained, and funding sources are only identified as secured or planned.
The list of projects included on Yelm’s 2026 STIP update include: a roundabout at Bald Hill Road SE and Morris Road SE; intersection improvements at Longmire Street NW and SR 510; intersection improvements at Mill Road SE and SR 507; Mosman Avenue SE Phase 3; reconstruction of NP Road SE; Canal Road SE and Wilkensen Road SE; reconstruction of Rhoton Road; intersection improvements at SR 510, Burnett SE and 93rd Avenue SE; a roundabout at SR 507 and Bald Hill Road SE; an extension of Walmart Boulevard SE; Yelm key hydraulic study; Vancil Road SE to Morris Road SE connecting street; and 105th Avenue extensions from Terra Court to Leah Avenue, and from Clark Road SE to Vancil Road SE.
“A lot of Federal Highway Administration grants, TRPC grants, require them to be on the STIP,” Colt said. “It doesn’t limit them so we can still apply for projects not on our STIP, but it does prevent you from certain funds. FHWA, it has to be on your STIP. TRPC, usually, it has to be on your STIP. In order to open up grant opportunities for these, it does it.”
