Richland will continue

to seek new funding sources after it was denied a federal grant to build a

bridge at Aaron Drive to relieve bottlenecks created at the intersection of the

bypass highway and Interstate 182.

The city had hoped to

secure a $29 million grant for a flyover, or overpass, at the site that would

have covered the lion’s share of the project cost.

Public Works Director

Pete Rogalsky admitted the effort was a “long shot” and estimated there were 10

times the number of applicants, compared to the amount of available funding.

The city could pursue

this funding again in the next application cycle, but Rogalsky said there’s a

better chance of success with the state Legislature.

He said there’s a small

amount of money available locally to help with design work to advance the

concept of the project, which could help get it on the list for state funding.

Richland plans to host

another open house in the coming weeks, this time to publicly unveil the work

being done on a downtown connectivity study.

A committee of

stakeholders has been meeting for months on how to make it easier for cyclists

and pedestrians to get around town. Rogalsky said this study considers

Richland’s downtown to be Stevens Drive east to the Columbia River and Bradley

Boulevard north to Williams Boulevard.

He called the

committee’s work an “impactful and visionary thing” and expects an online

survey to be available after the open house to invite citizens to offer

feedback.

Then Rogalsky expects a

presentation to Richland City Council in March to help cement the vision for

downtown connectivity and set a path for efforts to pay for the improvements

identified.