2020-12-14-minutes-public-works-study-session

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Washington State Legislature December 1, 2020 Mark R. Cook, Director Kittitas County Department of Public Works 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Dear Mr. Cook: This letter affirms our support of Kittitas County Department of Public Works submittal of a 2021-2023 Federal Lands Access Program Grant replacing the Swauk Creek bridge on Liberty Road. This load limiting bridge is prohibiting implementation of the US Forest Services' Swauk Pine Project. Since 2010, the Okanogan -Wenatchee National Forest has been working towards restoration efforts in the Liberty area, Kittitas County, WA. The restoration strategy produced in 2010 and updated in 2012 evolved in response to continuing large-scale uncharacteristically severe wildfires and insect outbreaks. The Cle Elum Ranger District began initial planning on the Swauk Pine Project responding to the high risk of habitat loss resulting from high fire risk and the high ratio of Wildland Urban Interface associated with the Town of Liberty land use development. The action supports efforts outlined in the Swauk Basin Wildfire Protection Plan authored by the citizens of Liberty with assistance from Cle Elum Ranger District staff. The Swauk Pine Project reduces the risk of wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels and reestablishing natural fire regimes reducing wildfire management costs and better protecting late successional and old forest structure. The plan cannot be fully implemented without replacement of the County's load limiting bridge on Swauk Creek. It is our understanding that in 2018, Kittitas County Department of Public Works completed an update to its twenty-year Transportation Plan. The plan is completely revised from previous efforts reflecting impacts from deferred maintenance of County bridges over a ten-year period (2007-2017). The plan contains a funding plan reflecting a comprehensive evaluation of all transportation funding mechanisms in Washington State law as of the publication date (2018). A funding shortfall in the Public Works revenue, addressing significant infrastructure needs through 2038, identifies as shortfall of nearly $100,000 million. Without federal funding support for replacing the Swauk Creek Bridge, other local priorities will likely result in continued load limiting on the structure.