Spokane Valley council authorizes application for state safety grant to fund Barker–Appleway and pedestrian crossing projects

The Spokane Valley City Council voted 5–2 to authorize the city manager to apply for the Washington State City Safety Program grant, which staff said could fund a Barker–Appleway roundabout, three Appleway pedestrian crossings and several arterial crossing upgrades.

Adam Jackson, the city's engineering manager, told the council the program has "approximately $30,000,000 available for the 2729 biennium," and that the application package lists the Barker & Appleway roundabout as a primary candidate with an estimated project cost of about $4.5 million and roughly $200,000 carved out for engineering and preliminary work.

Why it matters: The City Safety Program favors roundabouts for intersection projects unless a design justification proves otherwise, Jackson said; that funding preference shapes which alternatives the city can reasonably propose and could require a "quiltwork" of other funding sources if the state funds less than the requested amount.

Jackson said staff used a five-year crash window (2020–2024) for the application scoring and expects the South Barker corridor to be the highest-priority candidate because of traffic volumes and safety needs. He described the Arterial Crossings project as a set of multiple, community-requested locations intended to provide protected or enhanced crossings.

Council debate focused on program strings and public input. Councilmember Merkel cautioned that state funding can steer local design choices and urged staff to consider lower-cost alternatives. Councilmember Kelly raised whether the public has had adequate engagement on specific intersection designs, and Jackson and City Manager John Holman said the authorization is only to apply; further public outreach and design work would follow if funding is awarded.

Mayor Laura Padden asked how many projects might be funded; Jackson replied, "One. If we were lucky and good, it'd be two, but I think one." The motion to authorize application passed by voice vote; the council recorded the outcome as approved with a 5–2 margin.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 26-002 (declaring certain city property surplus): approved (motion carried; council authorized disposal per city policy). - Motion to authorize the city manager or designee to apply for the City Safety Program grant (projects in Table 1, including Barker & Appleway roundabout, Appleway crossings and arterial crossings): approved, 5–2. This action authorizes application only; it does not obligate the city to accept grant terms or to construct projects until further council decisions and design steps occur.

What happens next: Staff will submit the application on the program timeline, continue preliminary design work where funding is already secured for P&E, and, if the city is awarded funds, return to council with design alternatives, required public engagement, and a plan for closing any funding gaps.