Pioneer Street Jurisdiction Transfer

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Pioneer Street in downtown Ridgefield looking east from Main Ave.

Update: On March 13, 2024 Governor Inslee signed HB 2318 removing the three-mile section of State Route 501 within the city limits of Ridgefield from the state highway system.

In 2023, The City of Ridgefield requested to take ownership of SR 501 (Pioneer Street) from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This Route Jurisdiction Transfer was approved during the Washington State Legislature 2024 Session and signed into law on March 13, 2024.

Project Background

Under the current agreement between the City and WSDOT for Pioneer Street, WSDOT maintains the pavement, traffic signs and striping along the corridor and the City maintains the roadsides. Any requests to change traffic control signage or speed limits is addressed by WSDOT. Improvements, including the planned Pioneer Widening project between Royle Road and 56th Place, must be designed to state highway standards.

The City made this request for the following reasons:

  • A desire to transition Pioneer Street into a multi-modal, City arterial "Main Street" from its current State Highway status.
  • A savings to both WSDOT and the City in reviewing project designs, design deviations and exceptions, and other components of the various City-sponsored projects along the corridor.
  • The ability to clean up the westerly portion of the corridor, mostly unbuilt, including the waterfront of the Port of Ridgefield, their recent railroad overpass project and their upcoming waterfront development plans.
  • Removal of maintenance responsibilities and thus a cost savings to WSDOT. The City is already responsible for maintenance and operations on the westerly portion of this corridor.

The limits of the request are between MP 16.91 and MP 19.88, see the map (PDF).

Request Process

In January 2023, City staff, at council direction, initiated an inquiry into the transfer of jurisdiction of Pioneer Street. The process for considering this route jurisdiction transfer includes several steps. The city initiates the request which is then processed through the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC). The WSTC completes several steps, including technical assessment and gathering public input, and then issues a recommendation to the legislature. Learn more about the Route Jurisdiction Transfer Program on the Washington State Transportation Commission website.

In June 2023, some residents and businesses along Pioneer Street received a “Dear Resident” letter about the “Route Jurisdiction Transfer” (RJT) request. The letter offered an opportunity to provide public comment on the request to WSTC. WSTC also conducted a public hearing regarding the transfer in August.

City staff have been assessing the benefits and cost implications of acquiring the SR 501 assets from WSDOT. This includes the road right-of-way, an old quarry near Reiman Road, and any stormwater facilities not associated with I-5 runoff that are along the alignment. The assessment includes a wealth of pavement, traffic, and slide information from WSDOT as well as bridge inspection reports for the bridge over Gee Creek. The following cost implications were determined:

  • Pavement: Review by City engineering and pavement management staff indicate a pavement repair project to bring the pavement condition to fair condition would be on the order of approximately $1 million for surface and base repairs if the City were to incorporate this into the City’s annual pavement repair program.
  • Slide Area: A geotechnical firm conducted an assessment of the “slide area” in the curves between Reiman Road and Gee Creek. This assessment noted that future slope instability is highly likely in the current condition. The firm suggested some deep patching work to alleviate future slumping for $250K to $1 million. The City review indicated adding some base work and drainage to direct water under the road (rather than eroding away the roadside) would provide some longer-term stability, estimated to cost in the range $500,000 to $750,000.

The Transportation Improvement Board reviewed the request and determined that, with the exception of the original legislative designation, SR 501 does not meet any of the state highway urban route criteria.

In September 2023, Ridgefield City Council passed Resolution No. 632 (PDF), supporting the transfer of route jurisdiction of Pioneer Street (State Route 501) from the Washington State Department of Transportation to the City of Ridgefield. If approved by the WSTC, it is the intent of the City of Ridgefield to seek funding from the State Legislature to provide $1.75 Million for pavement repairs and slide protection/prevention for the section of Pioneer Street/SR 501 from Main Avenue to the 35th Avenue roundabout.

In October 2023, WSTC recommended to de-designate SR-501 through Ridgefield and transfer jurisdictional control to the City.

The Washington State Legislature codified the transfer in the 2024 Legislative Session with HB 2318.

The City of Ridgefield asked for funding from the State Legislature to provide $1.75 Million for pavement repairs and slide protection/prevention for the section of Pioneer Street/SR 501 from Main Avenue to the 35th Avenue roundabout. This request was denied.

FAQ

Will this transfer raise my taxes?

No, this will have no effect.

What are the benefits of the transfer, if it happens?

If the transfer happens the city would have decision-making power for all street maintenance, traffic control and design decisions on Pioneer Street.

Will we get more sidewalks?

The transfer from WSDOT to the City enables the City to set its own priorities for improvements including bike lanes and sidewalks along Pioneer. While it will not create new funding for these, the decisions on making these improvements a priority would be under the control of the City rather than having to compete with other state highways for funding.

Update: On March 13, 2024 Governor Inslee signed HB 2318 removing the three-mile section of State Route 501 within the city limits of Ridgefield from the state highway system.

In 2023, The City of Ridgefield requested to take ownership of SR 501 (Pioneer Street) from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This Route Jurisdiction Transfer was approved during the Washington State Legislature 2024 Session and signed into law on March 13, 2024.

Project Background

Under the current agreement between the City and WSDOT for Pioneer Street, WSDOT maintains the pavement, traffic signs and striping along the corridor and the City maintains the roadsides. Any requests to change traffic control signage or speed limits is addressed by WSDOT. Improvements, including the planned Pioneer Widening project between Royle Road and 56th Place, must be designed to state highway standards.

The City made this request for the following reasons:

  • A desire to transition Pioneer Street into a multi-modal, City arterial "Main Street" from its current State Highway status.
  • A savings to both WSDOT and the City in reviewing project designs, design deviations and exceptions, and other components of the various City-sponsored projects along the corridor.
  • The ability to clean up the westerly portion of the corridor, mostly unbuilt, including the waterfront of the Port of Ridgefield, their recent railroad overpass project and their upcoming waterfront development plans.
  • Removal of maintenance responsibilities and thus a cost savings to WSDOT. The City is already responsible for maintenance and operations on the westerly portion of this corridor.

The limits of the request are between MP 16.91 and MP 19.88, see the map (PDF).

Request Process

In January 2023, City staff, at council direction, initiated an inquiry into the transfer of jurisdiction of Pioneer Street. The process for considering this route jurisdiction transfer includes several steps. The city initiates the request which is then processed through the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC). The WSTC completes several steps, including technical assessment and gathering public input, and then issues a recommendation to the legislature. Learn more about the Route Jurisdiction Transfer Program on the Washington State Transportation Commission website.

In June 2023, some residents and businesses along Pioneer Street received a “Dear Resident” letter about the “Route Jurisdiction Transfer” (RJT) request. The letter offered an opportunity to provide public comment on the request to WSTC. WSTC also conducted a public hearing regarding the transfer in August.

City staff have been assessing the benefits and cost implications of acquiring the SR 501 assets from WSDOT. This includes the road right-of-way, an old quarry near Reiman Road, and any stormwater facilities not associated with I-5 runoff that are along the alignment. The assessment includes a wealth of pavement, traffic, and slide information from WSDOT as well as bridge inspection reports for the bridge over Gee Creek. The following cost implications were determined:

  • Pavement: Review by City engineering and pavement management staff indicate a pavement repair project to bring the pavement condition to fair condition would be on the order of approximately $1 million for surface and base repairs if the City were to incorporate this into the City’s annual pavement repair program.
  • Slide Area: A geotechnical firm conducted an assessment of the “slide area” in the curves between Reiman Road and Gee Creek. This assessment noted that future slope instability is highly likely in the current condition. The firm suggested some deep patching work to alleviate future slumping for $250K to $1 million. The City review indicated adding some base work and drainage to direct water under the road (rather than eroding away the roadside) would provide some longer-term stability, estimated to cost in the range $500,000 to $750,000.

The Transportation Improvement Board reviewed the request and determined that, with the exception of the original legislative designation, SR 501 does not meet any of the state highway urban route criteria.

In September 2023, Ridgefield City Council passed Resolution No. 632 (PDF), supporting the transfer of route jurisdiction of Pioneer Street (State Route 501) from the Washington State Department of Transportation to the City of Ridgefield. If approved by the WSTC, it is the intent of the City of Ridgefield to seek funding from the State Legislature to provide $1.75 Million for pavement repairs and slide protection/prevention for the section of Pioneer Street/SR 501 from Main Avenue to the 35th Avenue roundabout.

In October 2023, WSTC recommended to de-designate SR-501 through Ridgefield and transfer jurisdictional control to the City.

The Washington State Legislature codified the transfer in the 2024 Legislative Session with HB 2318.

The City of Ridgefield asked for funding from the State Legislature to provide $1.75 Million for pavement repairs and slide protection/prevention for the section of Pioneer Street/SR 501 from Main Avenue to the 35th Avenue roundabout. This request was denied.

FAQ

Will this transfer raise my taxes?

No, this will have no effect.

What are the benefits of the transfer, if it happens?

If the transfer happens the city would have decision-making power for all street maintenance, traffic control and design decisions on Pioneer Street.

Will we get more sidewalks?

The transfer from WSDOT to the City enables the City to set its own priorities for improvements including bike lanes and sidewalks along Pioneer. While it will not create new funding for these, the decisions on making these improvements a priority would be under the control of the City rather than having to compete with other state highways for funding.