City engineering staff told the Spokane Valley City Council on Jan. 7 they will seek council consensus to apply for the U.S. Department of Transportation's competitive RAISE grant program for the Sullivan and Trent interchange project, part of the city's long-running corridor improvements.

Adam Jackson, the city's engineering manager, said the Sullivan and Trent interchange project is about 30% design-complete; preliminary engineering and right-of-way phases are funded and work on NEPA and public engagement is underway. Jackson reminded the council the RAISE program allows up to an 80% federal share and a single-award cap that the city would request up to $25 million if invited. The application would require a 20% non-federal match. Jackson said a RAISE award would be one part of a funding package and that past city RAISE applications produced large federal awards for other grade-separation projects.

Jackson said the 2025 application round has a $1.5 billion total program and that applications are due at the end of January; grant awards would be announced in summer with obligation and spending deadlines running through 2029 and 2034 for project obligations and spending, respectively, if awarded. Staff presented a funding table showing eligible costs for a $49 million eligible-cost project estimate and explained the $25 million RAISE cap.

Council members discussed local-match sources that could be used: Jackson identified REIT funds, Fund 312 amounts and PAO (Plan Action Ordinance) funds that had been identified as potential matches, and noted that some previously committed funds have already been obligated to other grants and therefore are not available as match for RAISE. Council members discussed the competitiveness of repeated applications and the value of staying in the queue for multi-year discretionary programs. Several council members urged staff to continue federal and state outreach; Deputy Mayor Hatenberg, Council Member Wick and others noted the corridor's operational and safety problems and urged continuing pursuit of federal and state funding.

Jackson asked council for consensus to return next week with a motion to formally apply and, if awarded, to request the full $25 million RAISE award; councilmembers indicated support and staff said they would return with formal motion language and a plan for matching funds if the city proceeds with an application.