The city of Snoqualmie has selected a Seattle consulting group to push forward with its new downtown master plan.

This month, the Snoqualmie City Council approved a $669,547 contract with KPG, Inc. of Seattle and Tacoma, for the firm to survey and plan downtown infrastructure improvements, as part of the new downtown redesign envisioned for the area between River Street, Falls Avenue, King Street and Railroad Avenue. The firm will completely prepare the job to go out for bid.

Created last summer, the Snoqualmie master plan seeks a more pedestrian-friendly and inviting downtown tourist district caling for wider sidewalks, new curbs and gutters, and parking upgrades for the entire area.

KPG will work with the Washington State Department of Transportation to come up with a pedestrian-friendly redesign of Railroad Street where it passes through the downtown district.

The city negotiated for a month and a half prior to picking the Seattle firm.

“KPG was the consulting firm that the interview group decided was the best one for it,” said Alan Lobdell, Snoqualmie’s interim Public Works Director.

The downtown redesign uses grant funds from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Final approval of the contract requires federal approval. The Economic Development Administration is currently reviewing the contract, Lobdell said.