Tag: Mason County

  • Hood Canal Spot Shrimp Season Opens May 10 — and a Wetlands Restoration Is Reshaping Belfair’s Shoreline

    Hood Canal Spot Shrimp Season Opens May 10 — and a Wetlands Restoration Is Reshaping Belfair’s Shoreline

    Hood Canal Spot Shrimp Season Opens May 10 — and a Wetlands Restoration Is Reshaping Belfair’s Shoreline

    Mason County’s outdoor calendar heats up this May with two significant developments along Hood Canal: the first spot shrimp opening of the year arrives Saturday, May 10, giving local shrimpers one of the most anticipated mornings on the water, while just north in Belfair, a long-running restoration project at the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve is entering its most visible phase yet — the construction of a 1,200-foot elevated boardwalk through a newly rehabilitated salt marsh.

    Both stories speak to what makes Hood Canal worth protecting and celebrating: the fishery that feeds families across the county, and the habitat that makes those fisheries possible in the first place.

    Spot Shrimp Season: Hood Canal Gets the First Opener

    For recreational shrimpers, Marine Area 12 — Hood Canal — is the place to be on the morning of May 10. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has confirmed that Hood Canal will receive an early opportunity this year, opening a full two weeks before most of the rest of Puget Sound, where the broader season begins May 24.

    The 2026 Marine Area 12 schedule runs on specific dates: May 10, May 24, May 26, June 7, and June 21. Each opening is tightly windowed — anglers may fish from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. only. WDFW has noted that additional dates may be announced later in the season depending on stock assessments.

    The daily limit remains 80 spot shrimp per licensed fisher, with a combined total weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) for all shrimp species. Shrimpers who retain only spot shrimp may remove and discard the heads while still on the water; those retaining any other shrimp species must keep the heads until they are back on shore to allow compliance verification with the weight limit.

    For Mason County families, the May 10 opener is more than a fishing trip — it is an early-summer tradition along the entire Hood Canal corridor, from Hoodsport down through Union and north toward Belfair. Spot shrimp, known for their rich, sweet flavor, are among the most prized recreational catches in the state. Demand for the limited openings is high, and experienced shrimpers typically arrive early to launch before the 9 a.m. window.

    Before heading out, anglers should confirm current rules at wdfw.wa.gov, as emergency closures and rule changes can occur on short notice based on stock conditions. A valid Washington recreational fishing license is required. The WDFW hotline and website are the definitive sources for any last-minute schedule adjustments.

    Theler Wetlands: A 1,200-Foot Boardwalk Is Coming to Belfair This Summer

    A few miles north of Highway 3 in Belfair, a quieter but equally significant outdoor story is unfolding at the Mary E. Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve. This summer, WDFW and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) will begin construction of a 1,200-foot elevated, piling-supported boardwalk through the heart of a newly restored estuary — the capstone of a multi-year effort to bring Hood Canal summer chum salmon back to the Union River system.

    The Theler Wetlands restoration project has been restoring approximately 7 acres of estuarine wetland habitat at the southeast end of Hood Canal. Work that concluded in fall 2025 included removing a failing levee, replacing a 12-inch metal culvert with a 15-foot-wide concrete box culvert, digging a new sinuous tidal channel, and raising a section of Northeast Roessel Road to serve as a set-back levee. The goal: reconnect the tidal processes that were disrupted when the wetlands were diked decades ago.

    Hood Canal summer chum salmon are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Theler Wetlands sit at the mouth of the Union River, which is critical spawning and rearing habitat for that run. By expanding tidal connectivity, the restoration creates the shallow, food-rich, low-salinity estuarine conditions that juvenile summer chum need to grow before entering Hood Canal.

    The summer 2026 boardwalk construction will be the project’s most visible phase for the public. The elevated structure — built in the footprint of the removed levee — will reconnect the preserve’s currently fragmented trail network, giving visitors and birders full access to what will become a restored salt marsh. The Theler Wetlands is already one of Mason County’s most-visited nature spots, drawing birdwatchers, school groups, and families year-round. The new boardwalk will make the wetlands more accessible and complete the loop trail that has been partially closed during construction.

    The preserve is located at 22871 NE SR-3 in Belfair, just off the highway before the town center. Visitors are welcome during daylight hours. For project updates and trail access status, check the HCSEG website at pnwsalmoncenter.org or WDFW’s habitat recovery pages.

    What to Watch This Season

    Taken together, these two stories reflect the dual outdoor identity of Hood Canal and Mason County’s shoreline: a working fishery used by thousands of families every spring and summer, underpinned by habitat restoration work that most people never see but everyone benefits from. The spot shrimp fishery depends on a healthy canal; the canal depends on functioning estuaries like the one being rebuilt at Theler.

    For residents looking to get outside this May, both opportunities are close and accessible. The shrimp opener on May 10 is days away — time to get gear ready, check your license, and confirm the launch site. And when construction wraps at Theler Wetlands later this year, the newly completed boardwalk trail will be one of the more remarkable walks in all of Mason County: a path through restored tidal marsh, built where a levee used to be, beneath skies that — if the restoration takes hold — should one day carry kingfishers and herons back to a corner of Hood Canal that had been quiet for a very long time.

    Sources

    Related Expansion Coverage

  • New to North Mason? The Leading Levy Result Tells You How This Community Works

    New to North Mason? The Leading Levy Result Tells You How This Community Works

    If you’ve moved to Belfair, Allyn, Tahuya, or anywhere in North Mason recently — or you’re thinking about it — the school levy result you’ll see in the headlines this week is one of the more revealing data points about the place you’ve landed in.

    The North Mason School District levy is leading 53.50% yes (2,130 to 1,851) in early returns from the April 28 election. Certification by the Mason County Canvassing Board is set for May 8, 2026. That sentence on its own probably doesn’t tell you much. The story behind it tells you a lot about how this community works.

    Why this vote took three tries

    Most school levies in Washington pass the first time. North Mason’s didn’t. The February 2025 measure failed. The November 2025 attempt failed too. By the time the April 28, 2026 measure came up, the district had already cut about $4.5 million from its budget, plus another $1.3 million in pre-vote 2026 reductions, plus two administrative positions.

    The community had been signaling something specific across two votes: not “we don’t believe in our schools” but “we don’t trust the ask.” When the district came back at $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value (down from the $1.28 rate on the failed measures), with a smaller administrative footprint and more visible internal cuts, the math changed for enough voters to flip the result.

    If you’re new here, that is the texture worth understanding. North Mason is not a community that automatically supports tax increases — but it will support its schools when it believes the district has done its own homework first.

    What a “levy” actually is in Washington

    In Washington, the state pays for “basic education.” Levies pay for everything else schools actually do — nurses, counselors, safety officers, athletics, music, AP courses, custodians, after-school programs, curriculum materials. So when a Washington school district loses a levy, it is not losing a wishlist; it is losing the staff and programs that make a school feel like a school.

    North Mason has been operating without levy funding through 2026. That is unusual in the Puget Sound region. Other districts you may have driven through on the way here — Central Kitsap, North Kitsap, Bremerton, Olympia — have not been navigating this. North Mason has, for more than a year. The April 28 result, if it holds, is the moment the district climbs out of that hole — though programs already cut will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year.

    Where this matters for newcomers

    Three places. First, if you have school-age kids, this affects what they will and won’t have access to at North Mason High School (the Bulldogs, at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair) and Hawkins Middle School over the next two school years. Second, if you bought a home in the district, the school-funding posture affects the resale signal of your house — the value of stable, supported schools is real even for buyers without kids. Third, even if you have no school-age kids, this is one of the more transparent windows you’ll get into how this community deliberates.

    How to read what just happened

    The Belfair / North Mason area is small enough that the levy conversation happened in real life — at the Belfair IGA, at the Mary E. Theler Community Center, at Hood Canal property owner meetings, at the schools themselves. There were no slick mailers driving the result. People talked, the district adjusted, voters reconsidered.

    That is unusual. In bigger districts, levy outcomes are shaped by media spend and political infrastructure. In North Mason, the outcome looks more like a community working something out at human scale — the same way water-quality decisions, road-funding decisions, and waterfront development decisions tend to play out here.

    Welcome to a place that does its civic life this way. It can feel slow if you’re coming from somewhere bigger. It is also one of the things that makes this corner of Hood Canal what it is.

    What’s next

    The Mason County Canvassing Board reviews challenged ballots on May 7 at 2:00 PM and certifies the election on May 8 at 2:00 PM. The certified result will appear at results.vote.wa.gov. After that, the North Mason School Board — Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas, working with Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael — begins the 2026-27 budget conversation publicly at the district office.

    If you’re new and want a way to plug in to your community, that meeting cycle is one of the better entry points.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does it mean that a Washington school levy “failed” twice before this one?

    It means North Mason has been operating without levy funding since the second 2025 defeat — running on basic-education state dollars only, which do not cover athletics, AP courses, music, school nurses, counselors, or safety staff. The April 2026 measure was the third attempt and is leading.

    Why was North Mason’s third levy attempt different from the first two?

    The district lowered the rate from $1.28 to $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value, eliminated two administrative positions, and made $1.3 million in additional pre-vote cuts. The community read that as the district doing its own work before asking again, and a meaningful share of 2025 no-voters appear to have switched to yes.

    Is North Mason a good school district for someone moving here?

    It’s a small, community-rooted district that has been visibly tested and is now stabilizing. The Bulldogs run a full slate of athletics. AP coursework continues. Class sizes are smaller than larger Puget Sound districts. The honest read is that the next two years are about returning to a healthy operating posture, not about expansion.

    Where can I find official information about North Mason schools as a newcomer?

    The district website is northmasonschools.org. The district office is at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair, (360) 277-2300. Board meeting schedules and public comment information are posted on the site.

    How does North Mason compare to Central Kitsap or North Kitsap districts?

    It’s substantially smaller and more rural. Central Kitsap and North Kitsap have not faced repeated levy failures. North Mason offers a different feel — closer-to-home, smaller cohorts, more direct community involvement — but with thinner program redundancy than the larger Kitsap districts.

    Related coverage: North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified · Newcomer Guide: The April 28 Levy and Why Your Vote Matters in Belfair · Belfair Real Estate 2026

  • North Mason Property Owners: What the 53.5% Levy Lead Means for Your 2027 Tax Bill

    North Mason Property Owners: What the 53.5% Levy Lead Means for Your 2027 Tax Bill

    If you own property in North Mason — Belfair, Allyn, Tahuya, Union, or anywhere else inside the school district boundary — the April 28 levy result is now leading, and what happens between now and certification on May 8 will land on your tax bill in 2027.

    Here is the practical homeowner framing on the early numbers, the rate, the certification timeline, and what passage actually means for the value of where you live.

    What the rate actually is

    The April 2026 measure is set at $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value, levied over four years. That is the lowest rate North Mason has put on the ballot in the recent attempts — down from $1.28 per $1,000 on both 2025 measures.

    The simple translation:

    • $300,000 home: about $25 per month, $303 per year
    • $400,000 home: about $33 per month, $404 per year
    • $500,000 home: about $42 per month, $505 per year
    • $600,000 home: about $50 per month, $606 per year

    If you’ve been in your North Mason home for more than a year or two, your assessed value is likely closer to $400,000-$500,000 in the current Mason County assessor cycle. Waterfront and view properties on Hood Canal trend higher.

    The current count and what’s left to certify

    Combined Mason and Kitsap county totals as of election night: 2,130 yes (53.50%) to 1,851 no (46.50%). Mason County alone — which is where almost all of the district’s voters live — is at 2,089 to 1,808 (53.61% yes). The Kitsap County sliver split 41 to 43 against.

    The Mason County Canvassing Board has a challenged-ballot review meeting scheduled for May 7 at 2:00 PM and will certify the election on May 8 at 2:00 PM. Late ballots will continue to be processed through that window. The official tally is at results.vote.wa.gov.

    A 53.5% lead is durable but not invulnerable. In Mason County, late-counted ballots have historically drifted slightly more progressive on tax measures, which works in the levy’s favor. Still, the margin is narrow enough that homeowners watching closely should treat May 8 as the real deadline before adjusting any planning.

    The property-value question

    Here is the part of this conversation that does not get enough airtime in tax-rate debates. North Mason homes do not exist in a vacuum. Buyers compare them to homes in Bremerton, Silverdale, Port Orchard, Shelton, and the Gig Harbor periphery. School district reputation is part of that comparison, even for buyers who do not have children — because they are pricing in resale to the next family who does.

    Two consecutive levy defeats and the resulting program cuts had a real, if hard-to-isolate, effect on how North Mason listings looked to buyers comparing districts. School-rating sites flagged the cuts. Realtors had to answer questions. Listings in the district sat slightly longer than they would have in a flush-funding scenario.

    A passing levy reverses that signal. It tells the market that this community has decided to stabilize its schools, and that the district will not be forced into another round of visible cuts heading into 2026-27. For a property owner thinking about a 5-to-15-year horizon — which is most North Mason owners — that signal is worth real money on the eventual sale.

    What passage doesn’t change for owners

    Two things to be clear-eyed about. First, the levy revenue does not arrive at the district until April 2027, so programs already cut will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year. The visible school-side improvements that affect community feel — restored athletics depth, returning AP courses, fuller staffing — are 2027-28 questions at the earliest.

    Second, this is a four-year levy, not a permanent funding source. North Mason will be back at the ballot for renewal before this cycle ends. The conversation does not stop on May 8.

    What to watch this week

    The certification meeting on May 8 at 2:00 PM at the Mason County Auditor’s Office is the deadline that matters. If the lead holds, the levy is in. If you want the formal record of the result for refinancing, listing prep, or an appraisal conversation, that is the date to bookmark. Until then, results are leading — not certified.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much will the North Mason levy add to my property tax bill?

    The rate is $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value over four years. On a $400,000 home that is about $33 per month or $404 per year. The rate is down from $1.28 on the two failed 2025 measures.

    When will the April 28, 2026 levy result be certified?

    The Mason County Canvassing Board certifies on May 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM after a challenged-ballot review on May 7. Until then, the 53.50% yes lead is preliminary.

    Does a passing school levy actually affect property values in North Mason?

    The signal effect is real, even if hard to isolate from other factors. After two defeats and visible program cuts, North Mason listings carried a school-funding cloud that buyers asked about. Passage tells the market that the district is stabilizing, which supports values over a 5-to-15-year hold.

    When does the new levy money actually start being collected from homeowners?

    If certified, the levy is collected on property tax bills starting in 2027 — meaning the first new line item appears on the statement issued in early 2027 and paid in April and October of that year.

    Is this a permanent tax or does it expire?

    It expires. The April 2026 measure is a four-year replacement levy. North Mason will return to the ballot before the end of the cycle to renew or replace it.

    Related coverage: North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified · Homeowner’s Guide to the April 28 Levy: Cost, Programs, and Why It’s on the Ballot Again · Belfair Real Estate 2026

  • North Mason Parents: What the Leading Levy Result Actually Means for Your Child’s Programs

    North Mason Parents: What the Leading Levy Result Actually Means for Your Child’s Programs

    If you have a kid at North Mason High School or the middle school, the April 28 levy result matters to you in a different way than it does to most other voters in the district — and the leading numbers do not mean what most people are assuming.

    The levy is currently passing with 53.50% yes votes (2,130 to 1,851) in combined Mason and Kitsap county totals. The Mason County Auditor will certify the result on May 8, 2026, after the challenged-ballot review on May 7. Until then, results are preliminary.

    The honest framing for North Mason parents is this: passage stabilizes the floor. It does not bring back what was already cut, and it does not change anything for the 2026-27 school year that starts in September. Here’s what that actually looks like for your student.

    What you should expect for fall 2026 either way

    Even if the levy is certified passing, the first revenue does not reach the district until April 2027 at the earliest. That timing is a hard constraint of how Washington school levies work: they are collected on property tax bills the following calendar year.

    So the practical answer to “Will my kid’s program be back in September?” is: the programs and positions that were already eliminated — the two administrative positions, the $1.3 million in cuts the district made before the vote, and the roughly $4.5 million cut after the second 2025 defeat — are not coming back for 2026-27. Superintendent Kristine Michael said this publicly before the election: “We would not be in a position to restore programs or positions already reduced.”

    What passage does prevent is another round of cuts on top of what already happened. That matters because the 2026-27 budget conversation that starts at the district office at 250 E. Campus Drive will look very different with $18.9 million in incoming levy revenue on the horizon than it would with another defeat.

    How North Mason High School students are most directly affected

    The North Mason levy historically funds the things most parents associate with a real high school experience: athletics, music, Advanced Placement coursework, school nurses, counselors, safety officers, custodians, and after-school programs. State basic-education dollars do not pay for those — that’s what a levy is for, in every Washington district.

    Bulldogs sports have continued through 2025-26, but families have noticed thinner schedules, more parent fundraising for travel and equipment, and tighter coaching budgets. AP course offerings narrowed. Music programs have run on reduced staffing. The full effect of the 2025 cuts has been distributed across the building in ways that compound over the year — and parents who have been paying attention can feel it.

    If certification holds, the question for next school year is not “what gets restored” — it is “what does not get cut further.” That is a real win compared to the alternative, but it is a different conversation than the one many yes-voters thought they were having.

    The middle school side

    At Hawkins Middle School the impact tracks differently. Middle school athletics, after-school activities, and counselor staffing have all been pressured. Younger students who would normally be building toward high school programs are entering a system that has been quietly shrinking for two years.

    Passage means that pressure doesn’t get worse. It does not mean middle school programs that were lost are coming back this fall.

    What to do this week and this month

    Three concrete things parents can do while certification finishes. First, watch the May 8 certification — if the lead holds, the long-term outlook for the district stabilizes. Second, plan to attend or watch the next North Mason School Board meeting, where Superintendent Michael and board members Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas will begin the 2026-27 budget conversation publicly. Third, make peace with the timeline: any restoration of cut programs is a 2027-28 question at the earliest.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    If the levy passes, will my child’s programs be restored for fall 2026?

    No. The first levy revenue arrives no earlier than April 2027, and Superintendent Michael has stated publicly that programs and positions already cut will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year even with passage. Restoration is a 2027-28 question at the earliest.

    What North Mason programs were cut after the 2025 levy failures?

    The district made roughly $4.5 million in cuts following the second 2025 defeat, and an additional $1.3 million in pre-vote reductions in 2026 along with the elimination of two administrative positions. Cuts have hit athletics, music, AP coursework, support staff, and after-school programming across both the high school and middle school.

    When will I know whether the levy actually passed?

    The Mason County Canvassing Board certifies the April 28 election on May 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM, after a challenged-ballot review on May 7. Until then, the 53.50% yes lead is preliminary. Track results at results.vote.wa.gov.

    Where can North Mason parents weigh in on the 2026-27 budget?

    The North Mason School Board meets at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair. Meeting schedules are posted on the district site, and public comment is part of every regular meeting. The first post-election meeting will be the most consequential one for parents to attend.

    What does the levy actually cost a North Mason family that owns their home?

    The April 2026 rate is $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value — roughly $33 per month on a $400,000 home. That is down from the $1.28 rate on the two 2025 measures.

    Related coverage: North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified · North Mason Parents: What the April 28 Levy Means for Your Child’s Programs · North Mason Schools: Ratings & Programs

  • North Mason School Levy Leading at 53.5% — Certification Set for May 8

    North Mason School Levy Leading at 53.5% — Certification Set for May 8

    The North Mason School District levy is leading in early returns from the April 28 special election — a stark reversal after two consecutive defeats and more than a year of program cuts that reshaped what students in Belfair and the Hood Canal corridor get from their schools.

    According to the Mason County Auditor, the four-year replacement levy received 2,130 yes votes (53.50%) and 1,851 no votes (46.50%) in the combined Mason and Kitsap county tally as of election night. In Mason County alone — which casts the overwhelming majority of North Mason ballots — the measure leads 2,089 to 1,808 (53.61% yes). In the small Kitsap County portion of the district, the early count showed 41 yes to 43 no.

    These are preliminary numbers. Washington is a vote-by-mail state, ballots arrive for days after election day, and nothing is final until certification. The Mason County Canvassing Board has a challenged-ballot review meeting scheduled for May 7 at 2:00 PM and the formal certification meeting on May 8 at 2:00 PM. Track the running total at results.vote.wa.gov.

    What changed this time

    The district lowered the ask. The April measure requests $18.9 million over four years at a rate of $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value — down from the $1.28 rate that voters rejected twice in 2025. On a $400,000 North Mason home, that is roughly $33 per month, compared with about $43 per month at the prior rate.

    The district also eliminated two administrative positions and cut another $1.3 million from the operating budget before the vote — a direct response to community feedback that earlier campaigns had not gone far enough on the spending side. Combined with roughly $4.5 million in cuts that followed the second 2025 defeat, North Mason has trimmed substantially more than $5 million from its operations in less than 18 months.

    “We are very pleased and encouraged by these preliminary results, and we will be monitoring closely as ballots continue to be counted and certified,” Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael said on election night. “If this outcome holds, it reflects the trust this community is placing in our schools and our students.”

    What the levy actually pays for

    Replacement levies in Washington fund the things state basic-education dollars do not cover: school nurses, counselors, safety officers, athletics, music, Advanced Placement courses, custodians, after-school programs, and curriculum materials. North Mason has been operating without levy funding in 2026 — a situation almost no comparably sized district in the Puget Sound region has had to navigate.

    The day-to-day evidence has been visible at North Mason High School and the middle school all year: thinner athletic schedules, reduced extracurriculars, fewer support staff in the buildings, and curriculum decisions made under tight constraints. The Bulldogs’ spring sports season has continued, but families have absorbed more of the cost.

    The catch: passage doesn’t reverse 2026

    Even if certification holds, the money does not arrive immediately. The first levy revenue would not flow to the district until April 2027 at the earliest. That timing means programs already cut — including the two administrative positions and the $1.3 million in operating reductions — will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year.

    “Those funds would allow us to avoid making additional reductions, but because we are operating with only a partial year of levy revenue even in a passage scenario, we would not be in a position to restore programs or positions already reduced,” Michael said in a statement issued before the vote.

    That nuance matters for families who voted yes expecting a quick rebound. The realistic frame is: passage stabilizes the floor and prevents another round of cuts. Restoration of what was lost is a longer conversation that depends on enrollment, state funding formulas, and the district’s reserve position by the time levy money lands.

    Why this vote was different

    North Mason had not just lost a levy — it had lost two. The February 2025 measure missed the threshold. The fall 2025 attempt failed again. Each defeat tightened the district’s operating posture, and each round of cuts changed the conversation. By April 2026, the choice in front of voters was no longer abstract; it was a referendum on a school district that had been visibly bleeding.

    The district responded by listening. Lower rate. Fewer administrators. More transparent reporting on where the money goes. Whether that read as humility or as accountability depended on the voter — but the ballots suggest a meaningful share of the electorate that voted no in 2025 was willing to vote yes in 2026 once the ask was reframed.

    What to watch this week

    Three things will determine whether the 53.5% lead holds. First, the late-arriving ballots: in Mason County’s recent history, late-counted votes tend to drift slightly more progressive on tax measures, which would help — but the margin in this race is narrow enough that a swing is possible. Second, the challenged-ballot review on May 7. Third, certification on May 8, after which the result is final.

    School board members Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas will be working through what passage means for the 2026-27 budget cycle. Their next meetings — held at the district office at 250 E. Campus Drive in Belfair — will be the first public window into what stabilization looks like.

    For now: results are leading, not certified. The community that just put two defeats behind it has reason to be cautiously optimistic and every reason to keep watching.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Did the North Mason School District levy pass on April 28, 2026?

    The levy is leading with 53.50% yes votes (2,130 to 1,851) in early returns from the Mason and Kitsap county auditors. Results are not certified. The Mason County Canvassing Board will certify on May 8, 2026, after a challenged-ballot review on May 7.

    How much will the North Mason levy cost a homeowner?

    The April 2026 levy is set at $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed value — about $33 per month on a $400,000 North Mason home. That is lower than the $1.28 rate attached to the two failed 2025 measures.

    When will levy money actually reach North Mason schools if the result is certified?

    The first revenue would arrive no earlier than April 2027. That means programs already cut — including two administrative positions and $1.3 million in other reductions made before the April 2026 vote — will not be restored for the 2026-27 school year.

    What programs does the North Mason levy fund?

    Replacement levies fund items state basic-education dollars do not cover: school nurses, counselors, safety officers, athletics, music, Advanced Placement courses, custodians, after-school programs, and curriculum materials.

    Where can I track the official North Mason levy results?

    The official source is the Washington Secretary of State results portal at results.vote.wa.gov/results/20260428/mason/. The Mason County Auditor’s elections page at masoncountywa.gov mirrors the certified totals.

    What happens if the lead doesn’t hold through certification?

    If the levy fails certification, North Mason would face a third consecutive defeat and would continue operating without levy funding through 2026 and beyond, almost certainly triggering another round of program cuts heading into 2026-27.

    Related coverage on Tygart Media: North Mason’s Third Levy Vote Is April 28 — Here’s Everything Belfair Needs to Know · The Levy in Initial Counts: What a Third Defeat Would Trigger · North Mason Schools: Ratings & Programs

  • North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified

    North Mason School Levy Leading in Early Returns — Results Not Yet Certified

    After two consecutive defeats and more than a year of painful budget cuts, the North Mason School District’s levy is leading in early returns — but results are not yet certified.

    According to the Mason County Auditor’s Office, the April 28 special election produced 2,130 yes votes (53.50%) and 1,851 no votes (46.50%) in combined Mason and Kitsap county totals as of election night. The Mason County Auditor’s website notes that ballot processing continues through May 7, 2026. These are preliminary results. Final certified totals are available at results.vote.wa.gov.

    Superintendent Kristine Michael responded cautiously. “We are very pleased and encouraged by these preliminary results, and we will be monitoring closely as ballots continue to be counted and certified,” Michael told local media on election night. “If this outcome holds, it reflects the trust this community is placing in our schools and our students.”

    The district lowered its ask substantially heading into this vote. The April levy requests $18.9 million over four years at a rate of $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value — down from the $1.28 rate attached to the two 2025 proposals that both failed. Before the election, the district also made $1.3 million in additional cuts and eliminated two administrative positions as a concession to community feedback.

    The levy funds programs that state basic education dollars don’t cover: safety officers, school nurses, counselors, athletics, music, Advanced Placement courses, custodians, and curriculum materials. North Mason has been operating without levy funding in 2026 following back-to-back 2025 failures, which forced the district to cut roughly $4.5 million from its budget.

    Even if the levy is certified, funds won’t arrive until April 2027 at the earliest — meaning the programs already cut will not be immediately restored. “Those funds would allow us to avoid making additional reductions, but because we are operating with only a partial year of levy revenue even in a passage scenario, we would not be in a position to restore programs or positions already reduced,” Michael said in a prior statement.

    The school board is composed of Arla Shephard Bull, Leanna Krotzer, Erik Youngberg, Nicole González Timmons, and Nicholas Thomas, with Superintendent Dr. Kristine Michael leading the district from its Belfair campus at 250 E. Campus Drive, Belfair, WA 98528, (360) 277-2300.

    This story will be updated when results are certified by the Mason County Auditor. Track live results at results.vote.wa.gov.

    Related Coverage on the April 28 Levy Result

  • Mason County Business Owner’s Guide: PUD 3 Gigabit Fiber for Business and the Olympic Highway Parking Decision

    Mason County Business Owner’s Guide: PUD 3 Gigabit Fiber for Business and the Olympic Highway Parking Decision

    Two infrastructure projects moving through Mason County in 2026 have direct implications for local businesses. The completion of PUD 3’s Three Fingers Fiber Project means that businesses in the Grapeview area that previously operated without reliable broadband now have access to symmetrical gigabit fiber — a connectivity baseline that changes what’s operationally possible. And for businesses operating on or near Olympic Highway North in Shelton, the city’s $6 million road reconstruction project means a design decision about parking and traffic flow is coming, and the window to influence it is open right now.

    What Gigabit Fiber Means for Mason County Businesses

    The Three Fingers Fiber Project completion isn’t just about residential internet. Businesses in the Three Fingers area of Grapeview — whether retail, service-based, agricultural, or home-based — are now on the same fiber network that urban businesses have built their operations around. PUD 3’s open-access gigabit fiber delivers symmetrical 1,000/1,000 Mbps speeds for approximately $85 per month. Symmetrical upload speed is the detail that matters most for business use: cloud backups, video conferencing, point-of-sale systems, and file transfers all depend on upload, not just download.

    The open-access model gives Mason County businesses something rare: genuine provider competition on a single physical network. PUD 3 owns the fiber infrastructure; multiple retail ISPs compete over it. Businesses can compare service-level agreements, support quality, and pricing between providers — and switch if a better option emerges — without any new wiring or construction. For businesses that have been locked into a single slow provider by geography, this changes the economics of operating from rural Mason County.

    Businesses in Three Fingers that haven’t yet applied for service can reach PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org. An Engineering Designer will assess the specific construction needed to reach your location.

    Cloquallum Businesses: Fee Waiver Expires May 31

    If your business is in the Cloquallum Communities area — PUD 3’s next active fiberhood — an application fee waiver is in effect through May 31, 2026. After that date, the standard application fee applies. For businesses evaluating the cost of getting fiber established, applying before the deadline is a straightforward way to reduce the upfront expense. Visit pud3.org for current program details.

    Olympic Highway North: What Business Owners Need to Know Now

    The City of Shelton is in the process of selecting a design for the reconstruction of Olympic Highway North, the stretch from C Street to Wallace Kneeland Boulevard. The road last saw pavement in 1989 and the city has secured up to $6 million in funding — including a $3.7 million Washington State Transportation Improvement Board grant — to rebuild it from the ground up. That TIB grant requires bike lanes in the final design. The question is how those bike lanes are configured, and what that means for on-street parking.

    Consultant Transpo Group has developed four design options. For businesses along the corridor, the core variable is customer parking access:

    • Option 1: Parking on both sides retained; traditional painted bike lanes
    • Option 2 (city staff recommendation): Parking on one side; buffered bike lanes that physically separate cyclists from vehicle traffic
    • Option 4: All on-street parking removed; businesses would rely on on-site or side-street parking

    City staff recommend Option 2, citing the balance between safety, parking retention, and the TIB grant requirements. For businesses whose customers depend on on-street parking — retail, food service, personal services — the difference between Option 1 and Option 4 is material. Construction isn’t until summer 2027, but the design is being locked in this winter.

    If you operate a business on or near Olympic Highway North between C Street and Wallace Kneeland Boulevard, attending a city public comment process or submitting input online at sheltonwa.gov is the most direct way to influence the outcome. Once Transpo Group finalizes the design this winter, the configuration is set.

    For more on what PUD 3 fiber means for Mason County businesses, see What PUD 3’s Gigabit Fiber Means for Mason County Business Owners in 2026. Full infrastructure context at Mason County Infrastructure Update — May 2026.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How does PUD 3’s open-access fiber network benefit Mason County businesses?

    PUD 3 owns the fiber infrastructure and multiple retail ISPs compete to deliver service over it, giving businesses genuine provider choice without requiring new wiring. Businesses pay approximately $85/month for symmetrical 1,000/1,000 Mbps gigabit service — with matching upload and download speeds critical for cloud operations, video conferencing, and large file transfers.

    My business is in Three Fingers — what’s the process to get fiber?

    Contact PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org. An Engineering Designer will assess what construction is needed to reach your specific location and walk through next steps. The Three Fingers project is now complete, so connections are being processed for all businesses that have applied.

    How will Olympic Highway North construction affect my business access in 2027?

    Construction is planned for summer 2027. Specific traffic management and temporary access plans will be set by the contractor selected in spring 2027. The bigger near-term decision is the design: which option is chosen determines whether on-street parking survives. Businesses should submit input on the design options at sheltonwa.gov before winter 2026, when the design locks in.

    What is the TIB grant requirement for bike lanes on Olympic Highway North?

    The $3.7 million Washington State Transportation Improvement Board grant awarded to Shelton for the Olympic Highway North project requires that the final design include dedicated bicycle lanes. This requirement is non-negotiable — it’s a condition of the funding. All four design options presented by Transpo Group include bike lanes in some form; the debate is about configuration and how much parking each option preserves.

  • Mason County Property Owner’s Guide: PUD 3 Fiber Completion, Property Values, and the Olympic Highway Parking Question

    Mason County Property Owner’s Guide: PUD 3 Fiber Completion, Property Values, and the Olympic Highway Parking Question

    Two infrastructure decisions are moving through Mason County right now that property owners should be tracking closely. The completion of PUD 3’s Three Fingers Fiber Project brings gigabit internet connectivity to Grapeview parcels that previously had limited broadband access — a change with measurable implications for rural property values. Meanwhile, Shelton’s planned $6 million reconstruction of Olympic Highway North is entering the design phase with a question that matters directly to commercial and residential property owners along the corridor: how much on-street parking survives the rebuild?

    Fiber Internet and Property Values in Rural Mason County

    The connection between rural broadband access and property values is well-documented. Properties in previously unserved areas that gain access to high-speed internet — particularly fiber — tend to see measurable increases in assessed and market value, driven by expanded buyer pools: remote workers, retirees, and small business operators who require reliable connectivity now consider properties they would have previously passed over.

    For property owners in the Three Fingers area of Grapeview, PUD 3’s April 2026 completion of the Three Fingers Fiber Project represents exactly that kind of step-change. More than 250 homes and businesses are now connected to PUD 3’s open-access gigabit network — the same symmetrical 1,000/1,000 Mbps service available in Mason County’s more developed areas. For parcels that were previously off the broadband map, this changes the calculus for potential buyers evaluating rural Mason County real estate.

    If you own property in Three Fingers and haven’t yet applied for a connection, the process runs through PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org. An Engineering Designer will assess what drop construction is needed to reach your parcel specifically. A connected property is a more marketable property.

    Cloquallum: Apply Before May 31

    If your property is in the adjacent Cloquallum Communities area, PUD 3 has extended a fee waiver for new fiber applications through May 31, 2026. That deadline is approaching. Owners of Cloquallum parcels — whether primary residences, rental properties, or undeveloped land — should weigh whether getting fiber service established before the waiver expires makes sense for their specific situation. Visit pud3.org for current terms.

    Olympic Highway North: The Parking Question for Property Owners

    Shelton’s $6 million reconstruction of Olympic Highway North — the corridor from C Street to Wallace Kneeland Boulevard — is in the design phase, and the core tension for commercial property owners along the route is parking. The road hasn’t been paved since 1989, and the rebuild is funded in part by a $3.7 million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board that requires dedicated bicycle lanes in the final design. That grant condition is non-negotiable.

    Consultant Transpo Group has prepared four design options, each with a different approach to the bike lane requirement. The critical variable for property owners is on-street parking:

    • Option 1: Retains parking on both sides of the road; traditional (painted) bike lanes
    • Option 2 (city staff recommendation): Retains parking on one side; buffered bike lanes separating cyclists from vehicles
    • Option 4: Removes all on-street parking; relies on on-site and side-street parking for nearby businesses

    City staff recommend Option 2 for its balance between safety and parking retention, and because it meets the TIB grant funding requirements. Option 4, which eliminates all on-street parking, could significantly affect commercial properties along the corridor whose customers rely on street parking. If you own property or operate a business on Olympic Highway North between C Street and Wallace Kneeland Boulevard, the design selection process happening now is the moment to engage.

    Transpo Group will finalize the design this winter. The project goes to bid in spring 2027 and construction is slated for summer 2027. Provide input now at sheltonwa.gov — once the design is locked, the parking configuration is set.

    For the full infrastructure update, see Mason County Infrastructure Update — May 2026. For Mason County real estate context, see Mason County Real Estate: Prices, Trends and Neighborhoods.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does fiber internet increase rural property values in Mason County?

    Research consistently shows that rural properties gaining access to fiber broadband tend to see increased market appeal and value, particularly as the remote-work buyer pool has expanded. Properties in the Three Fingers area of Grapeview now have access to PUD 3’s gigabit fiber network following the April 2026 project completion — a connectivity upgrade that changes how potential buyers evaluate those parcels.

    If I own property in Three Fingers, what do I need to do to get fiber connected?

    Contact PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org. An Engineering Designer will review your specific parcel’s connection requirements and walk through next steps. If you haven’t applied yet, do so now — the project is complete and connections are being processed for applicants.

    Which Olympic Highway North design option keeps the most parking?

    Option 1 retains parking on both sides of the road while adding traditional bike lanes. Option 2 (the city staff recommendation) retains parking on one side with buffered bike lanes. Option 4 eliminates all on-street parking. The design won’t be finalized until winter 2026 — property owners along the corridor should submit input now at sheltonwa.gov.

    When does Olympic Highway North construction start, and how long will it affect access?

    Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2027 following a spring 2027 bidding process. Specific traffic management and access plans will be determined by the selected contractor. Property owners along the C Street to Wallace Kneeland Boulevard corridor should monitor sheltonwa.gov for contractor updates as the 2027 construction date approaches.

  • Mason County Resident’s Guide: How to Get PUD 3 Fiber and What the Shelton Road Project Means for You

    Mason County Resident’s Guide: How to Get PUD 3 Fiber and What the Shelton Road Project Means for You

    If you live in the Three Fingers area of Mason County and have been waiting for fiber internet, the wait is officially over. Mason County Public Utility District No. 3 completed its Three Fingers Fiber Project in April 2026, meeting its federal deadline and connecting more than 250 homes and businesses in the Grapeview community to symmetrical gigabit fiber. And if you’re a Shelton resident who drives Olympic Highway North, you should know the city is moving forward — slowly but seriously — on a $6 million reconstruction of the corridor that hasn’t been resurfaced since 1989.

    How to Get Fiber Connected to Your Home in Three Fingers

    If you live in the Three Fingers area and haven’t yet applied for PUD 3 fiber service, the process is straightforward. Contact PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org and an Engineering Designer will review what construction is needed to reach your specific property and walk you through the next steps.

    Once connected, you choose your own internet service provider — that’s what makes PUD 3’s open-access network different from a traditional cable or DSL provider. PUD 3 owns the fiber cable running to your home, but multiple retail ISPs compete to deliver service over it. You can switch providers without any new wiring being installed. Most customers pay approximately $85 per month for unlimited, symmetrical 1,000/1,000 Mbps (gigabit) internet — speeds that match what urban customers in Seattle or Tacoma pay significantly more for.

    What does gigabit fiber mean day-to-day? Streaming video on multiple devices simultaneously with no buffering. Video calls without freezing or dropped connections. Large file uploads that used to take hours finishing in minutes. For households with remote workers, students doing homework, or anyone who has been frustrated by slow rural internet, the practical difference is significant.

    What About Cloquallum? You Still Have Time

    If you’re in the neighboring Cloquallum Communities area rather than Three Fingers, PUD 3’s next fiberhood is underway. An application fee waiver was extended through May 31, 2026 — but that deadline is close. Residents in Cloquallum should visit pud3.org now to check the current status and apply before the waiver expires.

    What the Olympic Highway North Project Means for Your Commute

    For Shelton residents who use Olympic Highway North to get around — the stretch from C Street to Wallace Kneeland Boulevard — the road project is still years away from breaking ground. Design won’t be finalized until winter 2026, bids won’t go out until spring 2027, and construction is targeted for summer 2027. So the cracked pavement you’re driving on now will be there a while longer.

    What’s being decided right now is what the rebuilt road will look like. The city has four design options on the table from consultant Transpo Group. A $3.7 million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board requires that dedicated bike lanes be included — that’s not optional. The debate is about how to configure the bike lanes: buffered, traditional, one-sided or two-sided, and how much on-street parking survives in each option.

    City staff are recommending Option 2, which keeps parking on one side of the road and uses buffered (not just painted) bike lanes. If you have an opinion on the design, now is the time to voice it. Visit sheltonwa.gov for the project page and public comment opportunities.

    For more on the broader fiber buildout across Mason County, see When Is Fiber Internet Coming to My Mason County Neighborhood? and the full infrastructure update at Mason County Infrastructure Update — May 2026.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    I live in Three Fingers — how do I sign up for PUD 3 fiber?

    Go to pud3.org and contact PUD 3’s Telecom Team. An Engineering Designer will assess what construction is needed to connect your specific property and walk you through the sign-up process. The Three Fingers project is complete, but individual home connections may still be pending if you haven’t applied yet.

    Can I choose my own internet provider with PUD 3 fiber?

    Yes. PUD 3 operates an open-access fiber network, meaning multiple retail internet service providers compete to deliver service over the same physical fiber cable that PUD 3 owns. You select the ISP you prefer and can switch without any new infrastructure installation. Gigabit service runs approximately $85/month.

    Will Olympic Highway North be closed during construction?

    Construction isn’t expected to begin until summer 2027, so no closures are imminent. When construction does begin, specific lane closure and traffic management plans will be determined by the contractor selected during the spring 2027 bidding process. The City of Shelton will publish project updates at sheltonwa.gov.

    What is the Cloquallum Communities Fiberhood fee waiver?

    PUD 3 extended an application fee waiver through May 31, 2026, for residents in the Cloquallum Communities area — the next fiberhood after Three Fingers. If you live in Cloquallum and want to apply for fiber service with the fee waived, visit pud3.org before May 31.

  • Three Fingers Fiber Complete, Shelton Eyes $6M Olympic Highway Overhaul: Mason County Infrastructure Update May 2026

    Three Fingers Fiber Complete, Shelton Eyes $6M Olympic Highway Overhaul: Mason County Infrastructure Update May 2026

    After five years of engineering, federal permitting, and neighborhood-by-neighborhood construction, Mason County Public Utility District No. 3 has crossed its finish line. The Three Fingers Fiber Project — funded in part by a $2.4 million USDA ReConnect Pilot Program grant — reached its April 2026 federal completion deadline with more than 250 homes and businesses in the Three Fingers area of Grapeview now connected to symmetrical gigabit fiber internet. At the same time, Shelton is taking its first deliberate steps toward the most significant road reconstruction the city has seen in nearly four decades, with a $6 million overhaul of Olympic Highway North moving into the design phase. Both projects represent infrastructure investments that will shape how Mason County residents live, work, and move for a generation.

    Three Fingers Fiber: What the Completion Milestone Means

    The Three Fingers area sits in one of the harder-to-reach pockets of Mason County’s broadband map — a community that until recently had to make do with slow or unreliable connections while the rest of the county moved toward fiber. That changes now.

    PUD 3 was the first utility in Washington state to be awarded a USDA ReConnect Pilot Program grant when it received the $2.4 million award in 2020 to extend high-speed wholesale broadband to the Three Fingers area of Grapeview. Construction of the mainline distribution network was completed ahead of schedule despite early COVID-related delays. Over the final months, PUD 3 crews worked block by block through what the district calls its “Fiberhood” model — connecting individual homes and businesses that had applied for service — to hit the April 2026 federal deadline.

    The completion brings PUD 3’s countywide fiber network to more than 3,000 connected premises across Mason County. The open-access design means residents aren’t locked into a single provider: PUD 3 owns the physical fiber infrastructure while multiple local internet retailers compete to deliver service over it. Customers can choose from providers offering unlimited, symmetrical 1,000/1,000 Mbps gigabit internet, HDTV, and phone service — and switch between them without any new wiring — for approximately $85 per month.

    Residents in Three Fingers who have not yet applied for a connection can contact PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org. An Engineering Designer will review what construction is needed to reach the home and walk through next steps.

    Cloquallum Communities: The Next Fiberhood

    For residents in the neighboring Cloquallum Communities area, PUD 3’s expansion isn’t finished yet. The Cloquallum Communities Fiberhood is the district’s next active buildout, and an application fee waiver was extended through May 31, 2026, for residents in that service area. Anyone in Cloquallum who has not yet applied should check pud3.org for current terms and timelines before the waiver expires.

    Shelton Eyes $6 Million Overhaul of Olympic Highway North

    On the other end of the county, Shelton is beginning a methodical planning process for the most consequential road project the city has taken on in decades. Olympic Highway North — the stretch running from C Street to Wallace Kneeland Boulevard — was last paved in 1989. After 37 years, the pavement is fractured and deteriorating, and the City of Shelton has secured funding to rebuild it from the ground up.

    The total project cost is estimated at up to $6 million. The largest share of that comes from a $3.7 million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board — funding that comes with a firm requirement: the final design must include dedicated bicycle lanes. That condition is shaping the conversation among residents and decision-makers about how to balance competing uses on the corridor.

    About 50 residents attended a community meeting at the Shelton Civic Center on March 10 to hear consultant Transpo Group present four design options. Each option addresses the road differently, with varying configurations for travel lanes, on-street parking, and bike lanes.

    City staff have recommended Option 2, which features buffered bike lanes that physically separate cyclists from vehicle traffic, parking retained on one side of the road, and a configuration that meets the TIB grant requirements. The staff recommendation notes that Option 2 “offers the greatest balance of modes within the right of way compared to other options” and that the buffered lanes provide improved safety and comfort for cyclists relative to traditional painted bike lanes.

    Transpo Group is expected to finalize the design this coming winter. The project would then go out for bid in spring 2027, with construction potentially beginning in summer 2027. Residents who want to provide input on the design options can visit sheltonwa.gov for project information and public comment opportunities.

    Two Projects, One Theme

    Taken together, the Three Fingers fiber completion and the Olympic Highway North planning process reflect a county working through the accumulated infrastructure debt of rural communities that grew before modern utility and transportation standards caught up. Fiber internet for Three Fingers closes a connectivity gap that left residents effectively offline in a digital economy. The Olympic Highway reconstruction addresses a road that has outlasted multiple generations of patch repairs. Neither project is flashy. Both are exactly what long-term residents and newcomers alike need from their county and city governments.

    For residents with questions about either project, the contact points are clear: pud3.org for fiber service inquiries, and sheltonwa.gov for Olympic Highway North project updates and public input.

    Related Coverage

    For more context on PUD 3’s broader fiber expansion across Mason County, see Mason County PUD 3 Fiber Internet Is Reaching More Homes in 2026 and When Is Fiber Internet Coming to My Mason County Neighborhood?

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Has the Three Fingers Fiber Project been completed?

    Yes. Mason County PUD 3’s Three Fingers Fiber Project reached its federal April 2026 completion deadline. More than 250 homes and businesses in the Three Fingers area of Grapeview are now connected to PUD 3’s open-access gigabit fiber network. Residents who applied for service and have not yet been connected should contact PUD 3’s Telecom Team at pud3.org.

    What is the USDA ReConnect grant that funded Three Fingers fiber?

    The USDA ReConnect Pilot Program provides federal grants to extend broadband to unserved rural areas. Mason County PUD 3 received a $2.4 million ReConnect grant in 2020 — the first such award to a Washington state utility — specifically to fund the Three Fingers buildout. The grant required the project to be completed by April 2026, a deadline PUD 3 met.

    How much does PUD 3 fiber internet cost in Mason County?

    PUD 3 fiber customers pay approximately $85 per month for unlimited, symmetrical 1,000/1,000 Mbps (gigabit) internet through a retail provider of their choice. Because PUD 3 operates an open-access network — owning the fiber infrastructure while multiple ISPs compete to deliver service over it — customers have a choice of providers and can switch without any new wiring.

    What is the Cloquallum Communities Fiberhood, and can I still apply?

    The Cloquallum Communities Fiberhood is PUD 3’s next active fiber buildout, adjacent to the Three Fingers area. An application fee waiver was extended through May 31, 2026. Residents in the Cloquallum area should visit pud3.org to check current terms and apply before the waiver expires.

    Why does Shelton’s Olympic Highway North project require bike lanes?

    The City of Shelton received a $3.7 million grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board to help fund the Olympic Highway North reconstruction. A condition of that grant is that the final design must include dedicated bicycle lanes. The city is currently evaluating four design options from consultant Transpo Group, all of which incorporate bike lanes in different configurations.

    When will Olympic Highway North construction begin?

    The current project timeline calls for Transpo Group to finalize the design in winter 2026, followed by a bid process in spring 2027 and construction beginning in summer 2027. The road runs from C Street to Wallace Kneeland Boulevard in Shelton and has not been paved since 1989.

    How can I give input on the Olympic Highway North project?

    The City of Shelton is continuing to gather public feedback on the four design options presented by Transpo Group at the March 10 community meeting at Shelton Civic Center. Residents can visit sheltonwa.gov for project information and public comment opportunities as the design process continues through 2026.