City of Walla Walla
Poplar Street / Alder Street
S Colville St to Howard St
TIB Award Amount
$2,554,000
Region: Southeast   |   Legislative District: 16   |   Length: 0.51 mi. FY 2022 Urban Arterial Program (UAP)

Existing Conditions

The City recently updated their Local Road Safety Plan in February of 2020 (see attached). This Plan contained crash data statistics for the 5-year period of 2014 - 2018 and identified 25 fatal or serious injury crashes within the City. The segment of Poplar Street from Northeast Myra Road to Howard Street (a 2.2–mile corridor) has experienced 151 total crashes (all severities), including one serious injury crash. This segment of Poplar had an average of over 30 crashes per year. Poplar Street accounts for 4% of the City of Walla Walla's fatal and serious injury crashes between 2014 and 2018. The roadway pavement is failing. The PCI ratings from 2019 scored Poplar Street within the project area from 35-49 which puts it at the point necessitating full reconstruction. Illumination is poor and sidewalks are damaged, containing utility poles and other objects creating obstacles that impact accessibility. The sidewalks also lack sufficient ADA facilities. Most of the corridor lacks bicycle facilities. Traffic signals do not have detection or support turning movements.

Project Funding

  TIB Funds Local Funds Total Costs
Design 0 0 0
Right of Way 0 0 0
Construction 2,554,000 2,351,175 4,905,175
Project Totals $2,554,000 $2,351,175 $4,905,175

Local Match

TIB Participation Local Match Minimum Local Match
52.1% 47.9% 15%

Summary of Improvements

  • Improves safety;
  • Optimizes traffic flow

Description of Improvements

The City completed a corridor study of Poplar Street from 2018 to 2019. The goal of the study was to improve the multimodal facilities, improve safety, and foster well informed community support for the project. The public was engaged through the study with open houses and stakeholder meetings. The proposed road diet, converting Poplar Street to two through lanes with a center turn lane and buffered bicycle lanes on both sides was selected as the preferred configuration for Poplar Street with large public support. By implementing this change, a reduction in collisions by 29% is anticipated. In addition to the road diet, the existing traffic signals at the Poplar St/Alder St/Park St intersection, Poplar St/Palouse St intersection and the Alder St/Palouse St intersection will be replaced with roundabouts. Roundabouts can reduce injury crashes by up to 78%. The Poplar St/Palouse St roundabout will also have rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) to further improve pedestrian safety. Enhanced pedestrian crossing with curb extensions, and RRFB will be added at the Poplar St/Colville St intersection and the Alder St/Howard St intersection. The Alder St/Howard St intersection had a pedestrian fatality in September 2016. Adding bike lanes will extend the existing bike lanes from the eastern edge of the City to Colville Street. New LED illumination will be installed, improving visibility.