Airway Heights is in a dispute with the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) concerning snow removal on the section of Highway 2 that runs between the city’s east and west boundaries. Both sides have contacted state lawmakers about the matter.
After it annexed the area east of Hayford Road in 2012, Airway Heights and WSDOT began discussions about a contract for snow and ice removal from all five lanes of Highway 2. WSDOT estimated that it would cost the city anywhere from $30,000-$50,000 for services per year.
Despite no agreement, WSDOT continued to remove snow on Highway 2 and billed the city for it. Airway Heights owes a total of approximately $18,490.40 — $13,878.20 for January, February, March and May 2013 and $4,612.20 for November and December 2014.
“We haven’t billed them anything for the 2013-14 season, we were hopeful that both parties would come to an agreement,” WSDOT Eastern Region Communications Manager Al Gilson said.
Airway Heights City Manager Albert Tripp said the city feels it is being billed unfairly and that maintaining a state highway is not its responsibility. Gilson said WSDOT is responsible for laying asphalt, pavement, patching up potholes and other highway maintenance but not for snow removal within cities, except for freeways and limited-access corridors.
The stretch of Highway 2 in Airway Heights is mostly used for commuter and freight purposes. Most of the traffic — 25,000 trips per day — is generated by drivers who come from outside of the city.
“It doesn’t even qualify as a street,” Tripp said. “It was listed as a U.S. Highway and a state highway before Airway Heights existed.”
In regards to snow removal, the Revised Code of Washington 47.24.020(6), states that “a city or town at its own expense shall remove all snow from its streets. The state, when necessary, shall plow the snow on the roadway. In cities and towns with 25,000 or less people, the state, when necessary for public safety, shall assume, at its expense, responsibility for the stability of the slopes of cuts and fills and the embankments within the right-of-way to protect the roadway itself.”
Gilson said the city of Spokane performs its own snow removal for the portion of Highway 2 within the West Plains area it annexed, as well as North Division Street, which is a part of the highway. Spokane Valley reimburses WSDOT for snow removal along Pines Road, which is a part of State Route 27, and Trent Avenue, which is a part of SR 290.
Tripp said that only a small amount of cities such as Spokane Valley have contracts with WSDOT for snow removal.
“We looked at cities in various counties such as Whitman, Stevens, Chelan and Walla Walla,” Tripp said. “There are numerous cities that are not in contract with WSDOT for paying for snow or ice removal on the highways that go through their land.”
According to Gilson, WSDOT has offered to have plows drop their blade to plow the snow as they are passing through but not drop de-icer, sand or clear the intersections. Airway Heights declined the offer.
The city currently allocates $30,000 a year for snow removal from its streets and does not have the funding or personnel to maintain Highway 2. Gilson added that WSDOT also has a tight budget.
Tripp said the city offered to perform snow removal on Highway 2 for the state on a reimbursement basis.
“The state will reimburse the city which would allow it to the lower cost of equipment and personnel,” Tripp said.
If the city does not pay the bill, one option for WSDOT is to take a portion of gas tax revenue that is allocated to Airway Heights.
“We would only take the amount that the city owes,” Gilson said.
As far as state lawmakers are concerned, Rep. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney said state lawmakers prefer WSDOT and Airway Heights settle the conflict without the Legislature’s intervention.
“This is probably not the best first stop to attempt to resolve this issue,” Holy said.
Gilson said if the Legislature takes action then WSDOT will continue to operate as it has done in the past.
“We would like to work with Airway Heights as much as possible,” Gilson said.
Like Gilson, Tripp hopes both parties can work together to find a solution that meets both of their needs.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)