Lawrence and Tyler Streets Project
With the support of Disability Awareness Starts Here (DASH), the Jefferson County Farmers Market, and Port Townsend Main Street, the City was pleased to receive two separate grants to provide funding for work on Lawrence and Tyler Streets in Uptown Port Townsend.
The project will include:
- Paving Tyler Street
- Installing new ADA compliant wheelchair ramps on Tyler Street
- Repairing sidewalk on Lawrence Street
- Installing bulbouts and wheel chair ramps on Lawrence Street
- Installing a new bus stop at the corner of Lawrence and Tyler Streets
- Removal of trees buckling the sidewalk and planting of new, compatible trees. Nine trees need to be removed based on damage to the sidewalk and arborist evaluation. The City plans to plant 13 trees in locations that are sustainable with enough room to support the tree. See planting plan below.
Sidewalk Heaving ground tree roots
- New parking configuration in front of Tyler Street businesses
The City has received great support for these projects as they will remove barriers to access businesses, the Community Center, the Library, and the Farmers Market in Uptown.
The project grants require the project be constructed this summer. Staff anticipates construction from August through October, 2024 with an emphasis to get Tyler Street done first to facilitate paving while it is warm. The streets will remain open, but there will be disruptions in areas where sidewalk is being reconstructed, and the Jefferson County Farmers Market will relocate temporarily during the construction period. Closing of Tyler Street will occur for paving only which is not expected to take more than a couple of days.
One key element of the project is parking. In April, City Council requested an evaluation of parking alternatives on Tyler Street and solicited public feedback. The resulting decision from Council was to change the parking configuration on Tyler street, in front of businesses at the intersection with Lawrence, to head-out angled parking. See the graphic below.
The project strives to maintain legal parking. Many of the existing parking stalls do not meet requirements for setbacks from cross walks and intersections and thus, there will be a perception of a loss of parking. Thus, staff developed a map illustrating the difference in legal parking before the project and after the project. Currently 44 legal parking stalls exist on Lawrence Street between Harrison Street and Tyler Streets. After the project there will be 43 parking stalls with tick marks for more efficient parking. Currently 59 legal parking stalls on Tyler Street between Lawrence Street and Jefferson Street. After the project there will be 56 parking stalls including 2 ADA parking stalls. Please see the parking count map.
For more information on the Council decision to have head-out angled parking installed, please refer to the City Council meetings on April 1, 2024 and April and April 15, 2024. The project strives to maintain legal parking.
Please click on the links below for more information on the project and stay tuned as additional details and the construction schedule are released. Read the City Quarterly, City Facebook Page, and City Utility Bill Newsletter to stay up-to-date. You can contact Public Works Director Steve King or Project Manager Laura Parsons with questions about this project.
City Council Project Grant Authorization
Tyler Street Paving Project Info Sheet
Lawrence St. ADA and Pedestrian Safety Project: Complete Streets
Lawrence Street Accessibility Upgrades Grant Opportunity
Tree Planting Plan - Lawrence St
Property Owner and Business owner letter
Read about other grants and work on Lawrence and Tyler Streets here.
