The conceptual framework for the Imagine Downtown Chehalis rejuvenation project is complete, and the next phases can now take place as the Chehalis City Council unanimously voted to adopt the master plan Monday.
The council’s approval of the master plan allows staff to apply for funding to advance the engineering and construction phases.
City Manager Stacy Denham said the city is in a better position than ever to receive grants as it faces a total estimated construction cost of $46.7 million to $47.4 million over five phases that will be spread out throughout the construction period.
“With a lot of these grants that come forward, you have to demonstrate that you have skin in the game, that you’ve done your homework and that you’re serious about this,” Denham said. “This is a living, breathing article that we can do as much as possible, little as possible, whatever we can actually afford or whatever grants we can get. It just puts us in the driver’s seat to be able to compete for grants.”
According to the master plan, city transportation projects may be eligible for state or federal grant programs. One federal grant option could be the Highway Safety Improvement Program administered through the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The next call for projects is in February 2026 with a maximum award of $1.5 million.
WSDOT also presents grants through the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program, with a call for projects in the first quarter of 2026. The Transportation Improvement Board has several grant options that open in May of 2025, including the Urban Arterial Program, Active Transportation Program and the Complete Streets Program.
The master plan shows the project divided into five phases, with two options for one phase. The phases include:
• Phase Intersections: Intersection improvements at North Market Boulevard
• Phase Market: North Market Boulevard
• Phase Perimeter: Northeast Washington Avenue and Northwest Pacific Avenue (includes Concept A and Concept B that city staff can choose from)
• Phase Boistfort: Northeast Boistfort Street
• Phase North Lots: North parking lots
Due to the significant changes to the traffic flow proposed by Concept A, city staff directed that the project move forward with two master plan concepts. This provides the city with the option of improving the infrastructure and aesthetic qualities of the project area with or without adjusting the existing one-way couplet that bypasses much of the historic downtown.
Aaron Luoma, principal architect at HBB Landscape Architecture, showed the council the two concepts during a March 24 meeting. Concept A included a two-way Washington Avenue, which he said would calm Pacific Avenue and remove through traffic along Washington. One design of Washington showed 10-foot travel lanes on both sides and a 10-foot planted median dividing northbound and southbound lanes, along with 6-foot sidewalks and 8-foot parallel parking spaces. The Concept A design of a one-lane Pacific Avenue showed additional angled parking, wider sidewalks, and loading zones, similar to Market Avenue.
Concept B keeps the traffic movement similar to what it is today, Luoma said, but traffic lanes are narrowed. The Concept B design of Washington Avenue displayed two one-way, 10-foot travel lanes and added areas for trees and sidewalks on both sides, while Pacific Avenue’s design featured two one-way, 10-foot lanes with 12-foot spaces for sidewalks on both sides.
The project will boost the downtown total tree count from 23 trees to between 161 and 170 trees, depending on the concept. It will also increase the total parking stalls from 226 to between 240 and 245 stalls, according to the master plan.
Chehalis Public Works Director Lance Bunker told the councilors that the downtown rejuvenation project is necessary to address the “failing” roads and infrastructure.
“This is gonna be a phased approach. I have met with the Transportation Improvement Board and did a presentation with them earlier this year. They were very high on the project, and they do have funding,” Bunker said.
“They’ve funded several of these projects, and they’re looking for a project to help.”
To view the Imagine Downtown Chehalis rejuvenation project master plan, visit the council’s April 28 agenda report on pages 59 to 118 at https://tinyurl.com/4b8tmdj8.