Sammamish staff: aligning plan recommendations with state guidance could improve grant competitiveness; no funding commitments yet

At the community workshop staff and consultants said aligning the mobility plan’s recommendations with state guidance may improve chances of securing grants but that no formal grant-eligibility analysis had yet been completed. A resident asked specifically about the Climate Commitment Act funding changes that may allow non-motorized projects; Wintana Miller said the team had not yet analyzed which draft projects would be competitive for that funding and that having adopted plans and alignment with state guidance typically strengthens grant applications. Audrey Sarci and Lindsey Channing said projects would be entered into the Transportation Improvement Plan and the CIP so funding applications could be pursued; staff reiterated that the draft plan itself would not commit funds but would produce a prioritized project list that the city and applicants could use for grant applications. Staff also noted overlay projects and pavement-management requirements can complicate adding sidewalks during repaving, and that porous pavement and other pavement choices have maintenance implications.