The City of Tukwila is partnering with Renton on the extension of Strander Boulevard in Southcenter into Renton, a key part of another major east-west corridor across the Green River Valley.
When the project gets under way will depend on each city’s ability to come up with its share of the cost.
Strander Boulevard dead-ends just to the east of its intersection with West Valley Highway before the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks.
In Renton Strander becomes Southwest 27th Street, which runs right past the Federal Reserve Bank.
Tukwila and Renton are working on an interlocal agreement to complete this next phase of the new corridor. The cities are also working with BNSF and other agencies on an agreement to run the corridor underneath the BNSF tracks.
The roughly $20 million project will cost each about $4.5 million.
The $4.5 million is an issue for Tukwila, which is facing a $9 million shortfall in its 2011 budget, said City Administrator Steve Lancaster.
“Because of our financial situation, we can’t put that money into the project immediately,” he said. He expects the two cities will sign the interlocal agreement by the end of the year, even if Tukwila’s money isn’t available.
Renton has grant money available for the project.
The Strander corridor could carry up to 55,000 vehicles in the future as the region grows.
Renton and Tukwila also partnered in the 1980s to develop the South 180th Street corridor when the border between the two cities was straightened, he said. The Strander/27th Southwest corridor will help ease pressure on South 180th.
