May 9 - 15, 2019
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Richard May to run for Blaine city council, page 7
New webhouse to be constructed, page 10
Fresh approach taken to school health data, page 13
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Legislators appropriate $500,000 for east Blaine infrastructure By Jami Makan
(See East Blaine, page 7)
s The Blessing of the Fleet took place on May 5. As part of the ceremony, the names of those lost at sea were read aloud. After each name was announced, a bell was rung and a flower was placed in a wreath. The Plover Ferry took the wreath out to sea, where it was placed in the water by Coast Guard Auxiliary members. For photos from the ceremony, turn to page 15.
Photo by Wayne Diaz
Budget supports project to ease traffic at Bell Road By Jami Makan A project addressing traffic congestion at Bell Road has gained new momentum, after state legislators appropriated $1 million for grade separation. Grade separation is defined as putting two or more transportation routes at different heights, or grades, so that they will not disrupt each other’s traffic flow. The grade separation project at Bell Road would create an overpass over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) mainline where the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) is located, just south of city limits. In 2002, DHS placed VACIS on the BNSF mainline, creating traffic backups in all directions for up to 45 minutes for every train inspected. This results in a significant congestion problem for travel along north and southbound SR 548 (at Bell Road) and the I-5’s northbound offramp. It also delays emergency response
to the entire west side of Blaine. To alleviate this issue, the city has proposed utilizing a grade separation design from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This solution would create an overpass over the BNSF mainline where VACIS is located, tying in on Blaine Road (SR548) before the Dakota Creek Bridge and on Portal Way south of the I-5 northbound on-ramp. This would allow drivers heading to and from Semiahmoo, for example, to pass over the train tracks rather than having to wait for trains to pass by. The trains proceed at such a low rate of speed because they are being scanned by VACIS. “VACIS has impacted our city more than any other piece of infrastructure in our community,” said Ravyn Whitewolf, Blaine’s public works director. “It could block several intersections in the city, Bell Road being one of them. That’s the primary road between Semiahmoo and the rest of Blaine.” For years, the city has been trying to lobby the federal government to move
VACIS. “We were told that there’s just no way that facility is going to move,” said Whitewolf. During the previous legislative session, $550,000 was appropriated towards the project, which was the first time the city was successful in obtaining state funding (See Bell Road, page 3)
INSIDE
In the recently approved biennial state budget, an additional $500,000 was appropriated for the east Blaine infrastructure project. The project includes the construction of water, sewer and electricity utility mains to serve planned housing developments in east Blaine. In the 2019 legislative session, the city of Blaine requested $2 million to complete the design and construction of the infrastructure project, which is intended to be the catalyst for private developers to proceed with the construction of three approved housing developments totaling more than 1,400 units and 48,000 square feet of neighborhood and commercial space. However, because only $500,000 was appropriated this year, construction of the full length of the utility infrastructure will have to wait until complete funding is arranged. But the project is already underway, with phase one aiming to reach Harvey Road this summer. The three approved housing developments in east Blaine are known as Grandis Pond, East Maple Ridge and Bridges Plat. Grandis Pond was approved in 2011 and was recently granted an extension by city council. It is owned by Grandis Pond, LLC and the approval is set to expire on June 1, 2020. East Maple Ridge was approved in 2010 and was granted an extension by city council in 2018. It is owned by Douglas and Louise Connelly, and the approval is set to expire on July 26. Meanwhile, Bridges Plat was approved in 2010 and was granted an extension in 2018. It is owned by Lloyd Ford and is set to expire on August 23. Construction is currently taking place at Bridges. Totaling an estimated $6.2 million, the full infrastructure project will extend 3,200 feet of 15-inch wastewater main from Bridges Plat through East Maple Ridge Plat, and 7,000 feet of 12-inch wastewater main to the west boundary of Grandis Pond Plat. The project will also extend 3,000 feet of 12-inch water main from East Maple Ridge Plat to the west boundary of Grandis Pond, and electrical infrastructure for 11,000 feet from Odell
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