EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council unanimously accepted a nearly $600,000 Transportation Improvement Board grant to fund chip sealing on around 3.5 miles of arterial and collector roadways in 2026.  

“What this grant is for is to go in and chip seal like we did this last spring, to chip seal the roads that you see there, that are in the red,” Project Engineer and Grant Writer Dave Bren said.  

The city has a 10% match, or around $680,000 to get the grant. In total, it will have around $700,000 to spend on chip sealing roads next year.  

“Good job, Dave,” council member Sarah McDonnell said.  

The following roads will receive chip sealing repairs in 2026: Alder Street Northwest from Division to State Route 28, Alder Street Southwest from Division to Nat Washington Way, Third Ave Northeast, A-Street Southeast, First Avenue Northwest, Frey Street Northwest and Airport Street.  

The city has filed a second TIB grant, but it was not accepted. If the city had received the grant, it would have been an around $500,000 apartment, with an about $55,000 match. The grant was filed to improve pedestrian areas on Basin Street.  

“In a meeting with them (TIB), they told me they really liked it. It was a really good application, but I think two in one year was too much,” Bren said.