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Mount Rainier wins $9.76 million federal Safe Streets grant; NEPA review next
Summary
Mount Rainier received an $9,764,000 SS4A award (80% of a $12.2M program) to implement Vision Zero projects over five years; staff said the federal NEPA categorical exclusion and Maryland Historic Trust review must clear before construction or procurement begins.
Mount Rainier will receive $9,764,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, city officials said at the Oct. 15 council work session. City Manager Karesh Kamali told the council the award covers about 80% of an estimated $12,205,000 five‑year program; the city’s match is roughly $2,441,000.
The money is intended to implement the city’s Vision Zero action plan, officials said. Dan Goodman of Tool Design Group, the consultant that helped prepare the grant, said the city received a fully executed grant agreement in September 2024 and held a formal kickoff with the Federal Highway Administration’s Maryland office on Oct. 1. Goodman said the next required federal step is NEPA review and that the team submitted a single categorical exclusion (CE) to the Maryland FHWA office covering the bundle of projects.
Why it matters: the CE and any subsequent NEPA findings determine whether the projects can move into final design, procurement and construction. Goodman said submitting one CE for the whole bundle speeds the process; FHWA and the city expect to revise the CE as designs evolve. The Maryland Historic Trust must be notified and issue an acknowledgement letter before FHWA will accept the CE, Goodman said.
What’s next: if the CE is accepted, staff plan to recruit a pavement-and-marking contractor to install high-visibility crosswalks and speed humps quickly (weather permitting), then advance ADA-related engineering as needed. The first three design priorities in the Vision Zero list are the Levee Trail crossing, the Food Forest mid‑block crossing, and Bunker Hill improvements. Councilmembers asked staff to post concept-design PDFs and a clear list of next steps and environmental milestones on the city website so residents know when to expect outreach and construction, and staff agreed to do so.
At the Oct. 15 session councilmembers thanked staff and Tool Design Group for securing the grant and for the outreach plan to involve school communities near Thomas Stone and Mount Rainier elementary schools. The city cautioned that the project timeline is multiyear and depends on federal review and seasonal constraints.
