LOCATION
Yelm, WA

CLIENT(S)
City of Yelm

INVOLVEMENT
2018 - 2019

The City of Yelm secured a Surface Transportation Program (STP) grant and partnered with SCJ Alliance to carry out a transportation study centered around the intersection of 1st Street (SR 507) and Yelm Avenue (SR 510/SR 507). The study area included local businesses, civic buildings, community parks, regional trails, and Yelm’s busiest intersection.

The effort involved significant public and stakeholder engagement to evaluate existing conditions, infrastructure constraints, and potential opportunities within the study area. The resulting Downtown Transportation Strategy includes fourteen projects with conceptual designs, preliminary cost estimates, and potential funding opportunities for each.

Taken together, the plan addresses congestion and safety concerns, enhances connectivity between community assets and open spaces, promotes economic development opportunities, and improves mobility for everyone in Yelm’s historic downtown core.

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

“I am seriously proud of the work you all did to make the Downtown Transportation Strategy a really cool tool to help our downtown businesses and residents thrive.”

Grant Beck
Community Development Director, City of Yelm

“SCJ Alliance provided amazing guidance and knowledge in the plan creation and resulting concepts for our city. This plan establishes the vision for downtown and will act as a template for what the community wants our city to look like going forward.”

Tami Merriman
Associate Planner, City of Yelm

STAFF STORY

“It’s always rewarding working with clients that understand how much street design influences the way a community looks, feels, and functions. Throughout the planning process, Yelm staff, residents, and business owners shared important insights, exciting ideas, and valuable feedback which helped shape the final plan. We look forward to seeing these concepts become realities.”

Eric Johnston, PE
Executive VP/COO