Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Spokane Valley targets state transportation grants for Sullivan, Barker corridors and park connection
Summary
City staff presented recommended projects and a grant strategy for the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) call for projects, including Sullivan Road preservation, Barker Corridor improvements and a Sullivan Park shared-use path; staff will submit applications and return with a motion for final approval.
City engineering staff told the Spokane Valley City Council on July 22 that the city will apply for multiple Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) and active-transportation grants to fund projects on Sullivan Road, the Barker Corridor and a sidewalk/shared-use-path connection into Sullivan Park.
Engineering Manager Adam Jackson described three main project proposals for the TIB call for projects: a preservation and multimodal improvement on South Sullivan Road (including pavement preservation, sidewalk work, stormwater treatment, ITS and a pedestrian crossing near Central Valley High School), a Barker Corridor segment that could include a roundabout or full-width reconstruction with bike lanes and sidewalks, and a shared-use path connection in Sullivan Park on city-owned property that would avoid right-of-way acquisition.
Why it matters: the TIB programs fund roadway, safety and active-transportation projects statewide. Staff said projects that are construction-ready and that minimize right-of-way needs score well in grant review. The council asked procedural and technical questions and directed staff to return next week with a motion for formal consideration after further review.
Key details - Deadlines and funding: the TIB call was due Aug. 15 with awards to be announced Nov. 21; the city must provide at least a 20% local match; program pools include the Urban Arterial Program, Active Transportation Program and Complete Streets. - Project examples and requests: Jackson said the Sullivan Road application would request roughly $2,000,000; the city has additional preservation funding from a state asset-management program (a cited $4,000,000 award) on related Sullivan segments. - Scoring considerations: staff said TIB often favors projects without complex right-of-way acquisition and that the city has, in the past, overmatched beyond the 20% minimum when needed.
Council members emphasized different priorities: some urged focusing on high-use sidewalks and filling gaps in the pedestrian network, others raised concerns about committing city matching funds while police staffing obligations remain priorities. Council members asked for pavement condition indexes and pedestrian-count data, which staff said they would provide when they return with a formal motion.
Ending: Jackson asked for consensus to proceed with applications and to return with a formal motion; staff will bring additional pavement and usage metrics for council consideration before final application submission.
