Multi-year Collaborative Effort Secures Funding to Fix SR 18

On Wednesday, March 23, 2022, elected officials, city leaders and public safety representatives from the Snoqualmie Valley and Issaquah gathered at Snoqualmie City Hall for a roundtable discussion to reflect on the multi-year, collaborative effort that secured $640 million in state and federal funding to widen a dangerous stretch of SR 18 between Issaquah-Hobart Road and I-90.

The recently passed $17 billion Move Ahead Washington state transportation package included $640 million, widening SR 18 to four lanes over Tiger Mountain between Deep Creek and Issaquah-Hobart Road.

The state transportation package included $3.73 billion in federal funding, which was earmarked for specific projects, including SR 18 widening at the request of 8^th District U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier.

Mayor Katherine Ross opened the roundtable discussion saying, “To know this final funding piece of the puzzle has been solved is a major collaborative accomplishment and is a testament to the phrase. It Takes a Village. This transportation funding milestone will benefit our Snoqualmie Valley residents and workforce, the movement of regional freight and improve the safety of every driver that uses SR 18 and the first responders who serve us.”

Joining Mayor Ross at the roundtable were 8^th District U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, Washington State 5^th District Rep. Bill Ramos, Former Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, North Bend Mayor Rob McFarland, Issaquah Mayor Mary Lou Pauly, Snoqualmie Councilmember Rob Watton, Snoqualmie City Administrator Mike Sauerwein, SVSD Superintendent Lance Gibbons, Eastside Fire & Rescue Asst. Chief Ben Lane, Snoqualmie Fire Chief Mark Correira, Snoqualmie Police Chief Perry Phipps, and SnoValley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelly Coughlin.

[Photo: (L to R) Mayor Pauly, Mayor McFarland, Former Mayor Larson, Mayor Ross, Rep. Schrier, Rep. Ramos]

Rep. Schrier was a vocal advocate for the SR 18 project at the federal level and organized Wednesday’s roundtable to provide an opportunity for those involved in securing project funding to celebrate the milestone that will benefit the entire region.

Securing funding to modernize SR 18 and improve driver safety has been a top legislative priority at the City, State, Tribal and Federal levels for many years and a top priority for the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce and the Snoqualmie Casino.

[Information provided by the City of Snoqualmie]