ARLINGTON — The city received a plaque from the state Transportation Improvement Board to recognize the success of the 67th Avenue final phase project.

“The state TIB has a dashboard for measuring the quality of transportation improvement projects,” city Public Works Director Jim Kelly said at the July 21 City Council meeting. “We received this award for the leadership, management and transparency of our project.”

Although Kelly presented to the plaque to Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert, she asserted that it belonged to the public works director and staff.

“The results of your work are beautiful and speak for themselves,” Tolbert told Kelly.

“Nobody pays this many compliments to our wastewater treatment plant,” Kelly joked.

The city had worked for more than a decade to improve safety and mobility for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians on 67th Avenue NE, prior to the final phase of construction, which ran from 2013-14.

The enhancements to the one-mile stretch of arterial roadway between Lebanon and 204th streets included: new sidewalks, lighting and gateway features leading to the business district, an upgraded railroad crossing at Lebanon Street, and a new roadway with a center-turn lane and traffic signal at 211th Place NE.

The project also yielded the completion of Centennial Trail within city limits, and improvements to the wetlands and stormwater treatments, among them new fish-passable culverts.

The city celebrated the official opening of the new 67th Avenue NE on June 7.