Urban Programs
Urban programs serve cities with a population of 5,000 or more and counties with urban unincorporated areas.
he Legislature created the Transportation Improvement Board to foster state investment in quality local transportation projects. The TIB distributes grant funding, which comes from the revenue generated by three cents of the statewide gas tax, to cities and counties for funding transportation projects. TIB's grant programs are catagorized by the type of customer agency each program is intended to serve.
Urban programs serve cities with a population of 5,000 or more and counties with urban unincorporated areas.
Small city programs are designed to serve cities and towns with a population of less than 5,000.
Other TIB funding opportunities that may have specialized eligibility requirements.
TIB typically issues a call for projects each June for the next year's funding program. The TIB application process follows these steps:
During the call for projects, TIB engineering staff conduct funding program workshops at various locations throughout the state. The TIB funding workshops provide information about the funding programs TIB administers, the scoring criteria for each program and the application process. TIB's workshops are intended to increase the probability of a successful project application. For more information on workshops or to register, see the TIB Training page.
To determine which TIB programs your agency is eligible for, select your agency from the list.
The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) pertaining to TIB's grant programs, can be found in:
WAC 479-05 - Grant Administration
WAC 479-10 - SCPP and Sidewalks
WAC 479-14 - Urbans and SCAP
The statutes governing TIB's programs can be found in RCW 47 - Public Highways and Transportation.
IB typically issues a call for projects each June for project selection done in November. The most recent call for projects, for award in November 2019, opens on June 1, 2019 with TIB funding workshops and webinars held at various locations across the state. Project selections will be announced at the November 2019 TIB meeting. For more information about registering for a workshop, visit the TIB Training page.
2019 Call for Projects - Anticipated Program Sizes | |
---|---|
Urban Arterial Program | $70.0 Million |
Arterial Preservation Program | $8.0 Million |
Urban Sidewalk Program | $5.0 Million |
Small City Arterial Program | $12.0 Million |
Small City Preservation Program | $4.0 Million |
Small City Sidewalk Program | $3.0 Million |
2019 Call for Projects - Schedule | |
---|---|
Preliminary call size presented to board | May 16-17, 2019 |
Applications posted online | May 21, 2019 |
Funding Workshops | June 3-14, 2019 |
Grant applications due | August 16, 2019 |
Application evaluation and field reviews | Sept. to Oct. 2019 |
Staff recommendation presented to the board | November 21, 2019 |
Recommended adoption of new projects | November 22, 2019 |
At the November 22, 2019 Board meeting in Federal Way, the Transportation Improvement Board selected projects for the FY 2021 funding cycle.
A summary of the projects funded is below. For more details, view the new project selections on the TIB Performance Management Dashboard.
Program | Total Funding | # Selected | Applications | Total Requested | Total Project Costs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UAP | $68,938,270 | 31 | 76 | $191,026,483 | $503,115,252 |
SP | $5,181,698 | 16 | 43 | $14,106,522 | $26,409,817 |
APP | $7,555,273 | 18 | 35 | $15,217,473 | $17,977,200 |
SCAP | $11,937,988 | 28 | 57 | $27,444,230 | $38,237,099 |
SCSP | $2,626,109 | 11 | 22 | $5,283,414 | $5,503,374 |
SCPP | $4,067,443 | 34 | 63 | $8,351,318 | $8,819,731 |
For detailed information on project selections, view the Project Selections section of the TIB Performance Dashboard.
he TIB provides funding to cities with a population of 5,000 or more and counties with urban unincorporated areas through three grant programs: the Urban Arterial Program (UAP), the Urban Sidewalk Program (SP) and the Arterial Preservation Program (APP). Eligible projects must be located within the federally designated urban area and be in compliance with the Growth Management Act. Projects are selected annually on a competitive basis. Each program has distinct characteristics for the best suited project. Qualification and criteria are different within each program. Once selected, TIB staff provides grant oversight and acts as facilitators to bring projects to completion.
At the March 2013 board meeting, the Transportation Improvement Board adopted new criteria to evaluate grant applications for urban agency construction projects. Criteria were redeveloped to make a stronger connection to statewide transportation priorities, with the intent of giving agencies clearer guidelines for competitive projects.
Previously, TIB operated two grant programs for urban agency construction projects: Urban Arterial Program (UAP); and Urban Corridor Program (UCP). In order to score well in either program, projects generally needed to meet a combination of factors, such as poor street condition and safety concerns. The effect of averaging scores sometimes meant that the top projects in a single area (like safety or growth & development) were not selected.
With the new criteria, a successful arterial project must score well in one of four areas called "bands." These bands are:
The Urban Arterial Program funds projects in the areas of Safety, Growth and Development, Mobility, and Physical Condition. A maximum of 65 points may be achieved in any one band; the remaining 35 points come from both Sustainability and Constructability criteria.
Additional program information:
TIB uses a priority array process to identify projects that best meet the intent of each funding program. Criteria are developed by the Board in cooperation with local agencies.
Funding applications are available during each year's call for projects (from June to August).
The Sidewalk Program was established by the Legislature in 1995 to provide funding for pedestrian projects. The program is available to both small city and urban agencies. Urban and small city projects compete separately.
To be eligible for the program:
The intent of the Urban Sidewalk Program is to provide funding for projects that address safety, access to generators, and system connectivity. All projects must be transportation related on a federally classified route and be consistent with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
General criteria for the Sidewalk Program include:
TIB uses a priority array process to identify projects that best meet the intent of each funding program. Criteria are developed by the Board in cooperation with local agencies.
Funding applications are available during each year's call for projects (from June to August).
During the 2012 Legislative Session, funds from the Highway Safety Account were appropriated to TIB to address declining street condition in cities. TIB created the Arterial Preservation Program for medium sized cities in response.
Because the Legislature appropriates the Highway Safety Account funds biennially, these funds could be at-risk due to other state transportation budget pressures. Therefore, the APP will not be included in the June 2014 Call for Projects. Future programs are dependent upon budget appropriation.
The APP provides funding for overlay of federally classified arterial streets in cities with a population greater than 5,000 and assessed valuation less than $2 billion. Although the program offers critical preservation assistance, it is not enough to substitute for a city's street maintenance program. Therefore, the program is limited to overlay in an effort to defray high cost preservation projects, allowing cities to concentrate limited resources on lower cost preventative maintenance.
Rather than a regional distribution, funding is targeted for road maintenance opportunities across the state.
Continuation of this program is contingent upon future funding from the Legislature.
Local match for TIB funding is based upon a city's assessed valuation (AV). Cities with AV of less than $1 billion are required to match 10%; cities with AV between $1 billion and $2 billion are required to match 15%.
To determine the matching percentage required for your city, select from the list below:
Funding applications are available during each year's call for projects (from June to August).
The main goal of the Relight Washington Program is to lower city's street light costs by helping cities convert to more energy efficient LED streetlights.
A sustainable return on investment study found that cost, energy, and environmental benefits returned more than twice the installation expense over 15 years. A challenge in converting to LED streetlights is the initial capital costs. The TIB decided it would pay the initial capital costs.
Eligible cities include all small towns (population less than 5,000) and urban cities with a total assessed value of less than $2 billion. A full list of currently eligible cities can be found here.
For more information you can contact your TIB engineer or Vaughn Nelson.
he TIB provides funding for cities and towns with a population less than 5,000 through four grant programs:the Small City Arterial Program (SCAP), the Small City Sidewalk Program (SCSP), the Small City Preservation Program (SCPP) and the Relight Washington Program (LED).
These programs fund projects with the intent of reconstructing or maintaining the transportation infrastructure. Funding is distributed regionally, with projects competing only in their own region.
The Transportation Improvement Board understands that the state's smallest communities do not have the financial ability to fund large portions of transportation improvements. TIB's programs for small cities have been developed to require little or no local match. Match requirements are determined by population.
TIB's small city funding is awarded annually through a competitive process. Applications are reviewed by TIB staff and projects are rated based on criteria developed by the Board.
The Small City Arterial Program was formally established by the Legislature in 1995. Projects preserve and improve TIB classified arterials consistent with local needs in cities with a population less than 5,000.
A TIB classified arterial must meet at least one of the following conditions to be eligible for TIB funding:
The intent of the Small City Arterial Program is to rehabilitate TIB arterials.
Funding specifics include:
TIB uses a priority array process to identify projects that best meet the intent of each funding program. Criteria are developed by the Board in cooperation with local agencies.
Funding applications are available during each year's call for projects (from June to August).
The Sidewalk Program was established by the Legislature in 1995 to provide funding for pedestrian projects. The program is available to both small city and urban agencies. Urban and small city projects compete separately.
To be eligible for the program:
The intent of the Small City Sidewalk Program is to provide funding for projects that address safety, access to generators, and system continuity by filling in gaps within the system. All projects must be transportation related on a federally classified route and be consistent with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
General criteria for the Sidewalk Program include:
TIB uses a priority array process to identify projects that best meet the intent of each funding program. Criteria are developed by the Board in cooperation with local agencies.
Funding applications are available during each year's call for projects (from June to August).
During the 2005 Legislative Session, Substitute Senate Bill 5775 established the Small City Preservation Program. This program provides funding for chip seal and overlay of existing pavement and sidewalk maintenance in incorporated cities with populations less than 5,000.
Because program funds are transferred biennially, SCPP may not be offered every year. Check with your TIB engineer or attend a funding workshop to learn more about funding opportunities.
Funds are provided through the maintenance management program administered through TIB. Condition ratings, economies of scale, and assessed valuation of cities are all considerations in amount of funds provided.
This is a non-competitive program and funds are not distributed regionally, rather, funding is targeted for road maintenance opportunities across the state.
In 2005, the state legislature found that it was in the state's best interest to support economic vitality in small cities. The legislature recognized that the cities and towns with small populations are unable to fully maintain and preserve their street infrastructure system, but that there is also a need for the cities to contribute something to the work being done which will allow the city or town to take ownership of the project and help make it their own. This could be in the form of in-kind services or donations of plants and other landscaping or beautification activities.
In order to be able to fund more projects around the state, the higher valued cities demonstrated an ability to contribute cash to the projects to assist with the project costs. Therefore, a funding match based upon a city's assessed valuation was set at 10% for cities over $500 million and 5% for cities over $100 million. No match is requested for valuations under $100 million. In the event that WSDOT is the provider of the services, no matching funds are required, regardless of the city's assessed valuation.
To determine the matching percentage required for your city, select from the list below:
Funding applications are available during each year's call for projects (from June to August).
The main goal of the Relight Washington Program is to lower city's street light costs by helping cities convert to more energy efficient LED streetlights.
A sustainable return on investment study found that cost, energy, and environmental benefits returned more than twice the installation expense over 15 years. A challenge in converting to LED streetlights is the initial capital costs. The TIB decided it would pay the initial capital costs.
Eligible cities include all small towns (population less than 5,000) and urban cities with a total assessed value of less than $2 billion. A full list of currently eligible cities can be found here.
For more information you can contact your TIB engineer or Vaughn Nelson.
he Transportation Improvement Board occasionally offers funding opportunities with specialized eligiblity requirements in addition to its regular grant funding programs for Urban and Small City customers.
The Complete Streets Award is a funding opportunity for local governments that have an adopted complete streets ordinance. Board approved nominators may nominate an agency for showing practice of planning and building streets to accommodate all users, including pedestrians, access to transit, cyclists, and motorists of all ages and abilities.
This program awards grants every two years starting in 2017. Agencies with an adopted complete streets ordinance should confirm their eligibility on the TIB eligibility list and maintain close relationships with the approved nominators listed below.
The next awards are anticipated for an open call in Summer 2020 and awards in 2021. Nominating organizations will set their own deadlines for local agencies to be considered. Cities and counties with a current complete streets award must finish their work plan items and have their closeout paperwork processed in order to be eligible for the next cycle of awards. Awards are anticipated to range between $100,000 and $1,000,000.
Eligible agencies may be nominated by any of the established nominating partners. Nominating partners include board approved state agencies and non-profit organizations that have an interest in transportation or complete streets. Current approved state agency nominators include:
Eligible agencies may be nominated by any of the established nominating partners. Nominating partners include board approved state agencies and non-profit organizations that have an interest in transportation or complete streets. Current approved non-profit nominators include:
Any city or county that has an adopted complete streets ordinance is eligible to be nominated. Agencies with a known complete streets ordinance are listed below.
If your agency has an ordinance and it is not listed, please contact your TIB engineer. Cities and counties with a current complete streets award must finish their work plan items and have their closeout paperwork processed in order to be eligible for the next cycle of awards.
For more information about this program please contact Chris Workman at ChrisW@tib.wa.gov.
More information about complete streets policies can be found on the MRSC website as well as through Smart Growth America's website.