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Council reviews six‑year transportation plan as federal grants, REIT revenues and curb ramp work reshape schedule
Summary
Staff presented a draft 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The plan reflects smaller REET revenues, two federal grant cycles in even years, and added curb‑ramp upgrades tied to ADA standards; council requested a few project scheduling adjustments and will take final action June 17.
City transportation staff presented a draft update of Newcastle’s six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on June 3, highlighting changes driven by lower real‑estate‑excise‑tax (REET) revenue, scheduled federal grant matches, and the need to upgrade substandard curb ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Director Bronze (presenter) said the TIP is “a planning document required by state law” and that projects generally must be on the six‑year TIP to be eligible for grant funding. The draft TIP covers 2026–2031 and shows a roughly 30% drop in six‑year expenditures compared with the prior TIP because REET receipts have declined.
Staff described key items in the draft: two federal grants are anticipated for even years (2026 and 2028) for overlay projects on Lake Washington Boulevard and segments of Coal Creek Parkway; each requires a 50% local match. The plan also includes work to repair or replace substandard curb ramps as part of pavement projects — tasks that raise project costs because many ramps date from before current standards and must be rebuilt to ADA dimensions and grades.
Director Bronze explained technical constraints: “When you do an overlay, you’re required to bring up any substandard curb ramps to current standard,” and that curb‑ramp work often benefits from being constructed before or separate from asphalt crews. The department also noted a projected $1,000,000 engineer’s estimate increase for project T33 (crossing at Waterline Trail), partially offset by a $500,000 Transportation Improvement Board grant.
Councilors debated moving specific projects earlier in the schedule. Council member Charbonneau asked whether Coal Creek Parkway improvements (the “QFC parking lot” intersection) could be advanced from 2030 to 2027; staff said moving it to 2027 is feasible without harming cash flow. The council also agreed to swap the sequencing of two neighborhood projects so the Golf Club Road/Newcastle Way improvement appears earlier in the plan.
No final TIP adoption occurred at the meeting. Staff said the draft will return for a public hearing and adoption at the June 17 council meeting, and that the adopted TIP typically feeds into the city’s capital improvement program and the budget process in the fall. Staff also recommended updating the capital facilities plan appendix later this summer to keep the documents consistent.
The TIP draft shows funding sources roughly distributed as: about 60% from REET, 20% from grants, 14% from impact fees, and about 6% from the stormwater (SWIM) fund for drainage elements. Staff emphasized that if revenues decline further projects will be pushed out to keep the TIP balanced.
