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Kent City Council, business owners to discuss proposed LID for street-railroad projects

Published 3:40 pm Thursday, September 11, 2014

By Steve Hunter

A computer rendering of a proposed underpass at the Union Pacific railroad tracks along South 228th Street. City officials junked a local improvement district proposal to help pay for the project.
A computer rendering of a proposed underpass at the Union Pacific railroad tracks along South 228th Street. City officials junked a local improvement district proposal to help pay for the project.

Kent business owners impacted by a potential local improvement district (LID) by the city of Kent to pay for railroad-vehicle grade separation projects can attend a meeting with Kent City Council members on Monday, Sept. 15 at the ShoWare Center.

The event runs from 5:30-8 p.m. with a presentation about the proposal from 5:45-6:15 p.m. followed by feedback from business owners. The Kent Chamber of Commerce set up the meeting.

The bottom line is the city of Kent has grants to complete three grade separations (overpasses or underpasses) on South 212th and 228th streets over the BNSF and UP rail lines, said Andrea Keikkala, chamber CEO, in a letter to members. The city needs approximately $80 million to complete these projects.

City officials are targeting the business community near the streets in the form of an LID to pay for about $60 million of the funds. The LID is to be paid over a 15-year period with approximately a 5 percent interest rate but no penalties for paying in full.

Keikkala also encouraged members to testify at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16 about the proposed LID.

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