WSDOT Approves Projects for FFY 2007-2009 STatewide Transportation Enhancements Funds

The Secretary of Transportation has approved the list of projects recommended to receive the remaining Statewide Transportation Enhancement program funds through the end of SAFETEA-LU. The list of projects was compiled during a meeting of the State Enhancements Advisory Committee on November 6, 2007. Each of the MPO/RTPO regions was allowed to submit three projects to compete for $14.8 million of funds. The recommendation was to fund all Priority 1 and 2 projects submitted from each region, along with any Priority 3 projects that need additional funds or would be completed in 2008.

Projects in the PSRC region recommended for funding:
1. City of Issaquah, Issaquah Regional Trail System Last Link, $3,050,000
2. City of Lakewood, Pacific Highway-Gravelly Lake Drive to Bridgeport Way, $3,000,000

Click here for the Statewide List of Recommended Projects

Click here for additional information on the State's process

Click here for background information on the PSRC process

In addition, PSRC recommended nine projects to receive $2,243,000 of Transportation Enhancement funds that have been returned from canceled or completed projects in our region. WSDOT has determined that only those funds returned from projects awarded in the SAFETEA-LU time period are eligible for reprogramming, which reduces the amount available to $1,443,000. This amount will fund five of the nine projects originally recommended. These five projects will be forwarded to WSDOT by December 7, 2007; project sponsors will be notified by WSDOT when the funds are available for use.

  
Sponsor Project Title Amount Status
Suquamish Tribe Archaeological Sensitivity Model for Kitsap County $90,000 Funded
Kitsap County Mosquito Fleet Trail Extension (Miller Bay Road Bike/Ped Trail) $575,000 Funded
City of Snohomish Centennial Trail Extension $476,000 Funded
City of Everett West Marine View Drive (SR 529) Nonmotorized Transportation Improvements $193,800 Funded
City of Edmonds SR 99 International District Enhancements $57,000 Funded
City of Tacoma Spanish Steps Historic Rehabilitation $280,000 Unfunded
King County Cultural Resource protection Phase II $200,000 Unfunded
WSDOT I-90 High Point to Preston Trail $240,000 Unfunded
City of Lynnwood Heritage Park Phase II $110,000 Unfunded

For more information, contact:
Kelly McGourty, kmcgourty@psrc.org, 206-971-3601
Karen Richter, krichter@psrc.org, 206-971-3289

The Transportation Enhancements Program was created in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA), and reauthorized in 1998 with passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Under this legislation, every state must reserve at least 10 percent of its Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for designated Transportation Enhancement activities. Transportation Enhancements (TE) are transportation-related activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation's transportation system. The focus of these actions is to improve the transportation experience in and through local communities. The TE program provides for a variety of non-traditional projects, within 12 eligible categories. Each category has specific eligibility requirements, and every project must demonstrate a relationship to the surface transportation system.