### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council Public Works and Health Committee met on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, to review the proposed Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2026-2031. County Engineer Doug Ranney presented the plan, which prioritizes transportation projects across the county and serves as a planning document for upcoming infrastructure investments. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP):** A planning document that prioritizes transportation improvement projects across multiple categories including roads, bridges, ferries, and multimodal facilities. **FEMA-funded projects:** Infrastructure repair projects funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, typically following declared disasters like the 2021 flood. **Fish passage barriers:** Culverts or other infrastructure that prevent fish from moving freely through waterways, often requiring removal or replacement to restore natural habitat. **Safe Routes to School (SRTS):** Federal and state programs that fund infrastructure improvements to make walking and biking to school safer for children. **Annual Construction Program:** The first year of the Six-Year TIP that becomes the authorized spending plan for construction projects. **Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) funds:** Dedicated funding for projects that remove barriers preventing fish and other aquatic organisms from moving through waterways. **Bay to Baker Trail:** A regional trail system connecting Bellingham Bay to Mount Baker, with segments developed in phases. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Committee Chair, Council Member | | Mark Stremler | Committee Member | | Ben Elenbaas | Committee Member | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member (attending) | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member (attending) | | Doug Ranney | County Engineer, Public Works Department | ### Background Context The Six-Year TIP is a critical planning tool that helps Whatcom County prioritize and sequence major transportation investments. This program coordinates with the annual budget process and positions the county to apply for federal and state grants. Many of the projects included address ongoing challenges from the 2021 flood damage, aging infrastructure, and the need to improve multimodal transportation options. The program also reflects environmental priorities through fish passage restoration projects and climate considerations through bicycle and pedestrian improvements. ### What Happened — The Short Version Doug Ranney presented the proposed 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, highlighting major projects including flood repair work from 2021, the Birch Bay-Lyndon-Blaine Road roundabout construction, Marine Drive pedestrian improvements, bridge replacements and repairs, ferry terminal upgrades, and new Safe Routes to School initiatives. The program will go through public comment before being introduced at the September 9th Council meeting alongside the Annual Construction Program. Council members asked questions about project coordination, the aging bridge infrastructure, and specific local projects like Swift Creek maintenance and Drayton Harbor Road repairs. ### What to Watch Next - Public comment period opens after August 6th with a webpage for community input - September 9th Council meeting for introduction of both the Six-Year TIP and Annual Construction Program - September 27th Council meeting for public hearing on both programs - Early 2026 Safe Routes to School grant application opportunity ---