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impacting pedestrian mobility. The bulbouts are specifically designed to shorten pedestrian crossings at <br />each intersection of the corridor, while heightening driver awareness throughout Cle Elum's pedestrian- <br />interactive downtown setting. <br />Street <br />The now auto-centric thoroughfare of First Street will be placed on a road diet. Driving lane widths will <br />be reduced to 11 feet to promote speed calming through the corridor. Both driveway entrances on the <br />southem block will be removed and allow for more diagonal parking at 30-degree desirable angles without <br />adding more impervious surfacing. Street lighting will be a blend of pedestrian-level and street lighting. <br />Electrical GFCI receptacles, incorporated into the light poles, will increase access to City planned <br />downtown events such as holiday lighting. Designing and constructing the street for a right-sized <br />downtown feel and dimension allows the City to better maintain the roadway and integrated infrastructure <br />systems. <br />2. Explain how the infrastructure project will help meet the economic development goals of your community and/or <br />region. If this project is not done, will the anticipated private development still take place? <br />Although Phase 3 has required project division due to the overall cost being greater than available funding <br />opportunities, construction of Phase 3C completes both sides of First Street between Pennsylvania Avenue <br />and Harris Avenue, completing approximately 40%o of all improvements as planned for in the Downtown <br />Revitalization Plan. With completion of streetscape improvements, the City's residents and businesses <br />will witness implementation of the expressed downtown vision of stakeholders on another half block <br />prepared for immediate economic development opportunities. <br />By planning the proposed streetscape improvements in the subphase manner, necessary interruptions to <br />local transportation, coflrmerce, and day-to-day operations on each block of First Street will be limited to <br />one occasion, placing Cle Elum in a positive light with existing and prospective businesses not only on that <br />block, but throughout the corridor. Separately, project elements in Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 addressed <br />infrastructure issues that are linked to economic development. When considered together, the Phase 3C <br />streetscape improvements project is undeniably well aligned with the purpose of the Distressed County <br />Sales and Use Tax Infrastructure Improvement Program. <br />Though all Phase 3 streetscape improvements have been completed at the easternmost and westemmost <br />intersections and along various blocks throughout the corridor, the City is already experiencing <br />redevelopment and reinvestment along First Street. In 2019 and 2020, the City saw seventeen new <br />businesses, seventeen building sales, one infill project, one redevelopment, and four aesthetic improvement <br />projects for local businesses. Several businesses have experienced record sales each month since the start <br />of the pandemic, but even prior to COVID-I9, the entire Upper Kittitas County was experiencing record <br />tourism Thursdays through Mondays, primarily from the Seattle metropolitan area. As a result of the <br />tourist-generated transportation gridlock, the County has initiated a coalition to work with WSDOT and <br />other stakeholders to accelerate the 6-laning of I-90 from Snoqualmie Pass all the way to Cle Elum. This <br />Downtown Revitalization, with an emphasis on a safe and walkable streetscape will bolster Cle Elum's <br />already thriving tourist economy, enticing many of the 30,000 vehicles that pass Cle Elum every day to <br />stop and spend money at local businesses. <br />However, it is not just tourists or Cle Elum's population of 2,000 that will benefit. A flourishing downtown <br />will also positively reach all of Upper Kittitas County's 5,000 residents as Cle Elum's "downtown" is <br />considered the Upper Kittitas County downtown. With very limited commerce opportunities in the <br />neighboring communities of South Cle Elum, Roslyn, Ronald, and Suncadia, Cle Elum's regionally <br />significant Downtown Revitalization can meet all of Upper Kittitas County's day-to-day needs including <br />retail, dining, service, medical, grocery, fuel, amongst many other industries. Completing Phase 3C <br />5