City transportation staff presented an annual update to Vancouver’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), describing a draft six‑year work plan for 2026–2031, the proposed project lists and scoring methodology, and next steps including a June 16 public hearing on formal adoption.

The TIP is the city’s six‑year plan of transportation projects. “The transportation improvement program is the city's six‑year plan of what we intend to construct and work on for our transportation system,” Mr. Malone said during the presentation. He described the document’s structure — introductory letter, financial tables and graphs, a statutorily required project list with detail sheets for each project, and an arterial map — and said staff adds information beyond the state requirement to increase transparency.

Why it matters: the TIP coordinates construction timing with neighboring jurisdictions and utilities, supports eligibility for state and federal grants, and informs the city’s capital planning. Malone told council the draft includes a funded list (projects with full construction funding), a partially funded list (design and right‑of‑way work underway but construction not fully funded) and an unfunded list, which staff has separated into near‑term and long‑term unfunded tracks as the city transitions to a true six‑year TIP.

Key funded projects named in the presentation include the 130 Seventh Avenue corridor (last segment to be improved), the Main Street Promise project (under construction downtown), the Jefferson Street realignment (to link Mill Plain with the waterfront), and Eighteenth Street phases. Staff said the city is processing a RAISE grant agreement for the Heights Grand Loop project and noted several complete‑streets projects also are on the funded list.

Partially funded projects listed include additional phases of Eighteenth Street, corridor improvements on Second Avenue, and multiple complete‑street segments (examples cited by staff included portions of Fourth Plain and multiuse paths). Ongoing, annually funded programs shown in the draft include pavement management, sidewalk management, traffic signal and lighting, neighborhood traffic calming and a new Safe Routes to School program.

On finances, Malone said capital spending will peak in 2025–26 because multiple large projects are moving into construction; he cited tens of millions of dollars for individual projects such as 130 Seventh Avenue, Main Street and Jefferson Street. He described major revenue sources: real estate excise tax, motor vehicle fuel tax and general fund contributions for operations; grants, impact fees, utility tax proceeds, business license surcharge and the Transportation Benefit District (vehicle license fee and sales tax) primarily fund capital work. Malone said the Transportation Benefit District revenues are roughly $12,000,000 per year.

Council questions focused on scoring, flexibility and federal grant risk. Councilmember Fox asked whether component criteria (equity index, safety, growth potential) are on the same scale and how combined scores are calculated; Malone said criteria are weighted differently and offered to provide the detailed scoring data to the council. Malone and staff said projects are rescored annually and that changes in grant status, design readiness or right‑of‑way can move projects between near, medium and long‑term buckets.

On federal grants, Transportation Manager Ryan LaPosta told council he prepared a January white paper assessing risks from executive‑level actions and identified about $55,000,000 in federal transportation funding that could be at risk; he said federal highway administration dollars are still coming through and that the city has not been told it has lost those grants. LaPosta said the RAISE grant for the Heights Grand Loop is still in agreement processing and that such federal agreements can take a year or more even under normal circumstances.

Council asked for follow up on several operational items. Staff committed to provide a sidewalk infill memo with a map of streets lacking sidewalks, estimated costs and a proposed infill strategy; to circulate the TIP scoring details on request; to continue coordinating with the Regional Transportation Council on rebidding and grant pursuit for Evergreen Highway; to pursue interim pothole repairs at 100th and 112th pending a waterline project next year; and to report back on requests for new street lighting drawn from a compiled master list.

On Eighteenth Street near Evergreen High School, staff said consultant selection is near completion and that the design phase will consider options to minimize removal of a mature stand of Douglas firs along the corridor, including potential lane alignment alternatives that would thread the widened roadway through the grove.

Next steps: staff will accept public comment on the draft TIP and hold a public hearing at the council meeting on June 16. The Transportation and Mobility Commission has recommended council adopt this year’s draft TIP. Staff also said it will provide the requested memos and the scoring documentation to council members ahead of final action.