Annual Transportation Benefit District (TBD) street maintenance and preservation projects are currently underway in the city of Battle Ground. TBD projects are funded by city of Battle Ground residents through a $20 vehicle tab fee. The revenue generated, approximately $240,000 each year, is used for the sole purpose of transportation infrastructure improvement projects within the city of Battle Ground.
This year’s TBD-funded projects include crack, slurry and chip sealing of streets in the northwest quadrant of the city, extensive pothole repair, and the mill and fill paving process on the north section of the South Parkway Improvement Project.
The crack, slurry and chip sealing processes protect streets from damaging water intrusion that would otherwise lead to potholes and eventual failure of the roadway. Crews began the project last week by applying asphalt rubber sealant to cracks in the streets. Slurry sealing, the application of an oil mixture from curb to curb on the entire street, will take place in mid-August. The chip sealing project, estimated to take place in September, is similar to a slurry seal but adds rock to create greater structural integrity.
Maps of the crack, slurry and chip sealing projects are
attached. Residents of the affected areas will receive door-hanger notifications prior to the work, and updates will be posted on the city’s
Facebook page.
TBD funds will also be used for extensive pothole repair. The city will leverage approximately $8,800 of TBD funds to receive a $50,000 grant specifically for pothole repair. The state’s Transportation Improvement Board offered the grants to cities in response to the increased number of potholes created by last winter’s weather conditions.
The South Parkway Improvement Project will also benefit from the TBD. This year, the city leveraged $65,000 of TBD revenue as a required match to obtain a much larger $366,000 grant that will pay for the mill and fill process and the necessary ADA upgrades on South Parkway between Rasmussen and Main Street. With the mill and fill process, the existing roadway will be milled away, excavated where needed, and a new layer of asphalt laid.
The city recognizes that many more streets in the city are in need of maintenance and repair. The usable life of a paved street, very much like a car or household appliance, is dependent on when and how it was constructed, how much it is used, its exposure to the elements, and preventive maintenance. The crack and slurry sealing maintenance process, while least costly, would not be the appropriate method to repair other streets. Some streets necessitate more expensive methods, ranging from chip sealing or a mill and fill process, to complete reconstruction. Through a comprehensive assessment of city streets, engineers determine the most appropriate and cost-effective method of maintenance and/or repair and the best use of annual TBD revenue. The city will continue to seek opportunities such as utilizing TBD revenue for grant matches, to leverage and enhance the taxpayer’s investment.
For up-to-date information about ongoing street projects, follow the city on
Facebook or
twitter.
For more information about the Battle Ground TBD including maps of previous and current TBD projects, visit the
TBD website page.