RICHLAND AND KENNEWICK STEPTOE STREET EXTENSION

AT ISSUE
The Cities of Richland and Kennewick have proposed to extend Steptoe Street from Gage Boulevard to 10th Avenue along the border between the two cities. This is the highest priority joint project of the two cities and would provide badly needed north-south connectivity for the highest growth area in the region.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Support the critical appropriation of $4,500,000 for the Steptoe Extension.

BACKROUND
The Steptoe Project supports extensive public/private and office/retail development in the corridor that joins South Richland and West Kennewick including the 400 acre Clearwater Business Park, which at build-out is forecast to add 14,000 jobs. Projecting 10% build-out within 3 years of completion, 1400 jobs would be created for the community. There are several immediate committed private sector businesses that are dependent on this roadway for their development. This includes a 110,000 sq. ft. project consisting of retail and restaurants that would provide approximately 600 jobs. Another announced project would provide approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of retail on 22 acres and 300 jobs. The $4 million 30,000 sq. ft. addition to an existing complex would also be supported by this project.  This area of the Tri-Cities is considered to be the center of activity and the hub for financial centers, and is the site of multiple locations of professional services, including law, financial planning, medical, engineering and other technical firms. This project will support important commercial centers, including Columbia Center, Columbia Center West, the Tapteal Business Park, the Clearwater Business Park, Gage Boulevard commercial development and other housing and mixed use developments such as the 780 acre Hansen Park and the 2400 acre Southridge area by reducing severe congestion and poor circulation and improving access to all of these areas. Additional benefits would be improved mobility on Columbia Center Boulevard and Leslie Road and improved access to SR 240, as well as an additional grade separation along the BNSF mainline.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

Tagged as: 99336, 99337, 99338, 99352, 99354